I was having mixed feelings about Starcraft 2 up until about a month away from launch. It had been 12 years since the first title and the focus and direction Blizzard has taken in the intervening decade in regards to matters external to their game development left me somewhat hesitant as to the final form that Starcraft 2 would take and it's ability to mindfuck me as surely as the first.
I really need not worry so much. The two parts of Wings of Liberty are finely crafted and polished to a golden pearl. I'd be comparing it's qualities to a blood diamond if I thought it was entirely appropriate. The single player uses a similar foundation to that of multiplayer but employs it in a range of fantastic scenarios that never feel derivative despite the aged mechanics the game employs so masterfully. The narrative arc of the game is not as high reaching as the gameplay it supports but is interesting enough to keep you playing through the missions.
The use of the Hyperion as an in between mission stop off is a great addition with the ability to research and purchase upgrades, hire mercenaries and talk to the other characters adding a bit more meat to the campaign.
The Multiplayer is the true behemoth of Starcraft though. A complex piece of competitive gaming that will be hard pushed off it's mantle as choice e-game. It's not hard to see why after a dozen or so games. Enjoyable, rewarding skill in micromanagement but still able to cater the casual gamer I'm looking for this to be my next staple game for a while coming.
If you like RTS games on any level this one is a must have, the definitive RTS that is heavily skill based, one of the games of the year.
