StarCraft

The bottom line with Starcraft is that it’s just plain fun, and you can’t fake that. No matter how much money you pour into a game, no matter how flashy the graphics are, no matter how innovative the interface or features, if the game isn’t fun, it’s not a good game. I don’t know how Blizzard does it, but every game they make is fun, and Starcraft is no exception. Here’s how good Starcraft is: I review a lot of games, and most of the time I get bored with even the very good ones by the time I finish reviewing them; usually I just want to get on to the next one. But I really hope nobody sends me anything to review for a while, just so I can spend more time with Starcraft.

In the last five years Blizzard has had a cascade of top grossing award winning games, the second last of which was Starcraft. This game was a phenomenon in and of itself, selling upwards of 1.5 million copies worldwide (according to Blizzard’s press release), and took real-time strategy/resource management gaming to new heights. This blockbuster game has now made its way to the smiley-faced screens of the Mac, complete with a one-button interface.

StarCraft is one of those rare games that is not overly complex, but provides a challenging and fun gaming experience. It never seems to get old or boring, and the free online service provides an always changing game experience. This game is one of the best in the genre and should be a part of all strategy gamer's libraries. You'll find yourself coming back to StarCraft again and again.

To begin with I'll lay my cards on the table. The Warcraft series is arguably the finest in the history of gaming. So, with that noted, I'll go on to say that Starcraft - the latest incarnation - is the best game yet done. Forget all other real-time strategy titles - even Command and Conquer and Total Annihilation - Starcraft is light years ahead as it improves the series in every respect and throws in a ballsy touch of Aliens savagery as well.

Finally, Starcraft is still a thriving multiplayer game. Consider the numerous third party maps, scenarios, and even campaigns that are available for download. Consider, too, the game's phenomenal sales. There are still people playing Starcraft all over the world. Just log onto Blizzard's battle.net and you'll find thousands of them.

Det är helt klart att det är värt att vänta på StarCraft. Spelet är bra inom alla områden, trots att det inte erbjuder några avancerade strategiska element. Blizzard har alltid legat steget före Westwood på senare tid, men snart kommer Command & Conquer 2: Tiberian Sun. Tills dess rekomenderas alla strategifans att rikta sina blickar mot StarCraft.

Starcraft is een klasse product in alle opzichten. Wanneer je een liefhebber bent van het genre, mag je dit niet laten liggen.

Auch wenn es doch noch länger gedauert hat als angenommen, ist und bleibt StarCraft für mich das derzeit beste Echtzeit-Strategiespiel. Überragendes Missionsdesign, ausgewogene Rassen und die dichte Atmosphäre sorgen besonders für diesen Erfolg. Natürlich wünschte ich mir noch weitere Extras, unter anderem richtige Höhenunterschiede, eine höhere Auflösung sowie Sicht- und Schußlinien. Daß diese Features größtenteils komplett fehlen, trübt den Spielspaß jedoch kaum. Blizzard hat die essentiell wichtigen Punkte verwirklicht und somit ein klassisches Echtzeit-Strategiespiel erstellt, das keinen Vergleich mit moderneren Genrevertretern scheuen muß.

Passing judgment on the most eagerly anticipated game of the last few years is no easy task; it's difficult to set aside prejudices that would sway one's opinion either way. Let's face it: Starcraft comes with a great deal of anticipatory baggage, and it would be easy to say that it's either a huge disappointment or the greatest thing since real-time strategy became a household phrase. Truth is, it's neither. Weighed on its own merits, Starcraft is an extremely well-crafted game, albeit one with a few notable problems. It doesn't stray far from the blueprint created by its predecessors (namely the Warcrafts and Command & Conquers), but it is, without a doubt, the best game to ever adhere to that formula.

What makes a good game good? I suppose, in a way, this is what the reviews section is all about (along with what makes an awful game awful). But in the case of Blizzard's Starcraft-a very good, if outwardly rather conventional game-the question seems particularly apt. Why has a game that doesn't feature any significant advances or innovations kept me fastened to the computer for hours on end?

StarCraft erfindet zwar technisch keine einzige Radkappe neu, reizt aber die etablierten Genre-Zutaten perfekt aus. Seit C&C 1 und Age of Empires hatte ich nicht mehr so viel Spaß mit einem Echtzeit-Spiel!

All in all, Starcraft is a crowning achievement in this cluttered genre. It truly revolutionizes and sets a new standard for real-time strategy games on the PC.

Overall, Starcraft is an excellent game. The minor drawbacks outlined above keep it from being among the best currently available and yes, it's based on an overused idea. However, its well-developed plot, unique races, intuitive interface, and excellent campaign editor make it worth the price of admission, especially for those that liked Warcraft II. Blizzard took everything it learned from its years in this business to create a very well-rounded game, one that excels in execution, polish and overall playability.

StarCraft is a fun and addictive game that I have enjoyed playing immensely. It expands upon the framework of WarCraft by adding more variety in the races and missions, and it does it extremely well. There are different music tracks for each of the three races, which adds to the ambiance and mood. The graphics and special effects are detailed and realistic. However, I think that the size of the units and buildings is too small. Although the units are more in proportion to the buildings and ships then in WarCraft, they lose some detail. In WarCraft the troops were big and detailed enough so that their faces were visible, yet in StarCraft the only way to see the characters' faces is in the close-up window.

Es gibt viele Sterne am Echtzeitstrategie-Himmel, aber nur wenige funkeln so hell wie StarCraft: Blizzard hat ein handwerklich solides, hochqualitatives Spiel kreiert. Leider fehlt es an technologischen und spielerischen Impulsen: 2D-Grafik dieser Qualität hatte der Vorgänger schon vor zwei Jahren, und eine StarCraft-Mission unterscheidet sich letzten Endes kaum von einem Level in WarCraft 2 oder Alarmstufe Rot – Gegner in Schach halten, Basis aufrüsten, Einheiten bauen, noch mehr Einheiten bauen, Gegner vernichten. Dank des enormen Unterhaltungswertes ist StarCraft sein Geld mehr als wert, allein schon wegen des erstklassigen Editors und der hollywoodreifen Inszenierung. Und auch mit dem konkurrenzlosen Mehrspieler-Modus samt Battle.Net ist Blizzard allen anderen um ein Lichtjährchen voraus. Wer sich seine Begeisterung für Spiele im WarCraft 2-Format bewahrt hat, sollte zugreifen.

Starcraft wird nicht ganz seinem Hype gerecht, vereint aber nahezu alle denkbaren positiven Tugenden des Genres. Wer eine Art verbessertes "Warcraft 2 im Weltraum" erwartete, wird keinesfalls enttäuscht.

Deux ans qu’on l’attend. Deux ans à souffrir les nombreux retards de Blizzard, à voir défiler les images du jeu dans les magazines spécialisés. Mais nous tenons maintenant le messie du RTS entre nos mains, le seul capable de nous faire revivre les émotions procurées par un Warcraft 2, le seul, l’unique, Starcraft. Trêve de plaisanterie, redescendons sur notre belle terre ferme et mettons de côté la campagne de pub géante que Blizzard a orchestrée pour mettre en avant son petit dernier. Alors ? Est ce qu’on tient le Warcraft de l’espace entre nos mains ? Non, on tient bien mieux.

The whole StarCraft experience, through the original and the Brood War Expansion set, is rich and visually entertaining. It's a strategy game that works like a sim game up close, and is engaging for both the alien bloodshed and the strategy required. Blizzard has proven conclusively with this and games like Diablo that they are a creative force to be reckoned with. In fact, had Blizzard had Mrs. Marble as their mythology teacher, I'm sure they would've received at least a B; or, in other icons...

Well, Starcraft is and was a global phenomenon. It was GotY when it came out, it has been nominated for Walk of Game 2005, and millions of people still play it to this day.

All in all, if you buy StarCraft, you're buying it for the multi-player. The single-player is just too short and disappointing. The multi-player is a great setup, and, if you buy StarCraft, you will enjoy countless hours of gaming goodness. Unfortunately, the game just doesn't live up to the lofty goals of its predecessors, and for that, it suffers.