Starcraft 2 game review
Test: Starcraft II: Wings of LibertyTwelve years to wait for the sequel to Starcraft, it is certainly long, but who has seen them pass? For many, the release of Brood War was yesterday. Starcraft is not one of those acclaimed games for a while and then put aside while waiting for the second installment. Practiced assiduously on Battle.net or on the network since its launch, its success has never wavered, especially in Korea where it has become a national sport. In short, one thing is certain: the worst enemy of Starcraft II, it can only be Starcraft. To avoid comparison, Blizzard has therefore chosen to include this sequel in the careful continuity of the previous episode. As a result, Starcraft II is awfully good, but it's also really classic. But don't worry, it works the other way too: Starcraft II is classic, but it's really cool!
If Starcraft has marked the genre so much, it is mainly thanks to its three asymmetrical races. In a Red Alert, a Warcraft II or an Age of Empires, there were some real differences between the factions. But in Starcraft, the particularities of each race induce a specific gameplay and a triangular tactical approach. Terran, Protoss and Zerg therefore became in 1998 the symbol of modern STR, damaging the pawn to a certain Total Annihilation. Twelve years later, Starcraft II perpetuates more or less the same formula as its predecessor. Can he still claim to embody any modernity? The question no longer arises in the same terms: Starcraft being still very popular, Blizzard preferred not to stray from its bases and its proven gameplay. We therefore find the same three races, not one more nor less: why try to introduce a fourth at the risk of unbalancing everything? On the other hand, it is a terrible pity that the three campaigns are not all available in Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, which only offers a scenario dedicated to Terran; it will be necessary to wait for the two following parts to live that of Zerg and Protoss. At 60 euros a box (which is above the average of a PC title), we have a little trouble swallowing it, even if multiplayer is obviously the nerve center of the game.
If Starcraft II is classic on the bottom - we will have the opportunity to come back to this throughout this article - it embodies a certain avant-garde form inherent in the integration of the new Battle.net, which has underwent a major makeover for the occasion. Clear and elegant, the interface allows, with a single click, to launch a solo or multi game, to view replays or video tutorials, to consult the technological trees of each race, the unlocked achievements, the stats of your player profile and your ranking in leagues, but also to take advantage of all the integrated social features (chat, messaging, list of friends). Everything you need is there and there, even if you do not play from your usual machine since all of your data (configuration, saved games, progress in the campaign) is hosted on the game servers and linked directly to your Battle.net account. Starcraft II therefore shows, despite everything, a certain modernity. We will not complain, except perhaps for some features inherent in the solo campaign, such as autosaves and ultra detailed briefings that chew your work and sometimes make the course of missions too predictable. Since we are broaching this subject, know that the game is not without challenge - far from it - but that you will have to practice it at least in difficult mode to benefit from it.
In addition to skirmish and challenge modes that will be limited to quoting, Starcraft II offers a campaign of 26 levels dedicated to Terran. We find there Jim Raynor, that the players of the first opus know well. With the help of his rebels, this ex-marshal is determined to overthrow the Dominion, led with an iron fist by his former ally Arcturus Mengsk. But during his just crusade, Raynor is faced with a larger problem: the Queen of Blades Sarah Kerrigan, whom he once loved before she was contaminated by the Zerg, is back to continue the expansion of the Swarm ... Although it mainly serves as a gigantic tutorial for multi mode (the different possibilities are only available gradually), the solo campaign is synonymous, as usual with Blizzard, epic atmosphere and exemplary finish. The missions are interspersed with kinematics well done, even when they are with the engine of the game, which offer the luxury of lip synchronization in French. Once in play, the graphic improvements are obvious without being exceptional: the visual effects are pleasant, but the sobriety of the decorations (sometimes enlivened by some animations) and the lack of details of the units and buildings testifies to the multiplayer orientation of the title. Slightly closer to the action than in the first Starcraft, the camera is likely to annoy some players.
While the genre tends to get away from traditional resource management (we think of Dawn of War II), the gameplay of Starcraft II retains a place of choice. The order of construction of the buildings (a phase which, let us remember, takes a different form depending on the race controlled), the rate of harvest of the ore and Vespene gas: this is always of considerable importance, because the faster you develop, the more you have the opportunity to gain the upper hand over your opponent, solo or multi. Especially since Starcraft II ignores the micro-management of heroes typical of Warcraft III (which some feared to find) to favor large-scale battles more than tactical skirmishes. If the economic side remains preponderant, Blizzard has integrated a novelty to strengthen the strategic aspect of the construction of your base: some Terran buildings now have the possibility of accommodating two different extensions, offering them a specific orientation. Thus, a base barracks will be able to benefit from two production lines or recruit more advanced troops, a drastic and decisive choice for the rest of the events. In general, the tactical dimension of Starcraft II depends very much on the choice of units produced. And on this ground, we will have to unlearn and relearn since about half of the units differ from the first game.
The Terrans, renowned for their iron defense with their good old bunkers and their tanks in siege mode, now line up formidable offensive units like the Reapers, these Marines equipped with jet-packs capable of making devastating raids on bases enemies at the start of the game. Do they finally have a rush weapon worthy of the name? But beware, because opposite, the Zerg now have defensive assets that honor their insectoid nature. Faster and more powerful when they fight on their creep (the sticky and nourishing membrane on which they build their "buildings"), they can now move their turrets as needed. For their part, the Protoss have retained what made them famous, by aligning expensive and powerful units, but which today have a fiddling with terrifying capabilities. Improved trackers take advantage in particular of the possibility of teleporting at a reasonable distance from their initial position: ideal for continuing to bombard the enemy while avoiding close combat! These are just a few examples of the modifications that allow each breed to gain both personality and versatility. And as you can imagine, these new features impact the multiplayer mode, where the progression curve is truly diabolical. You thought you had mastered Starcraft? You may fall heavily from your pedestal!
If it must be recognized that the gameplay of Starcraft II has changed little in its foundations, the novelties are fortunately not limited to a modification of the units and a redefinition of strategies: the single player campaign abounds. If the first levels are very classic and distil an unfortunate impression of already played, the following are much more sought after. Aware of betting on proven game mechanics, Blizzard has chosen to boost missions by maintaining constant pressure on the player. For example, one level will bring you to reconcile convoy protection and development of your base, another to operate sites that the Protoss try to close as they go along, yet another to evolve in volcanic environments where the washing goes up regularly (evacuation compulsory!). One of the maps even brilliantly exploits one of the novelties: the day / night cycle. Infested Zerg only appear there at night: it is necessary to protect the base from their attacks and then rebuild at dawn while sending the surviving units to decimate the enemy structures. Intense and varied, the missions are not easy, and that's good! Be aware that Wings of Liberty gives you the opportunity, like a Dawn of War II, to choose the order in which you perform your missions. This allows you to prioritize the aspects of the plot that you want to develop in priority....
But it is of course in multi that Stacraft II takes all its salt, even if we deplore a big defect, of which you are already aware if you have followed the bubbling news of the game: the impossibility of playing on a local network. All those who discovered the first opus in an internet cafe, who lived crazy nights on LAN, yes who used to organize parties with friends via Hamachi-type software, have only their eyes for cry. Because the new Battlet.net officiates like a despotic octopus through which everything must pass. In return, this allows Blizzard to tailor its game for e-sport and at this level, the small dishes have been put in the big ones. Whether you want to play in 1v1, 4v4, in cooperation against the AI or in each for yourself mode, Battle.net allows you to select your server or launch a rather effective matchmaking. Evaluation games are offered to you to determine the division suited to your level and finally propel you into the deep end of league matches. If the learning curve is unforgiving, if it is regrettable that twelve years later, the different rush tactics (Zergling, cannon or Protoss portal) are still as effective and if the level of a player comes down a little too often at its APM rate, everything else is oiled like a clock and makes Starcraft II one of the best multiplayer games in existence. In front of or behind Starcraft? It's up to you!
The notes
Graphics 16/20
Although the graphic overhaul is obvious and significant (especially with regard to the effects of light and particles), the visual qualities of this suite are not exceptional either. The slightly sad maps and the lack of details of the buildings are all concessions made to multiplayer (fluidity, readability of the action). On the other hand, mention very well for the menus, whether it is Battle.net or the specific interface of the campaign mode.
Gameplay 19/20
The game mechanics of Starcraft II may be dated, they approach perfection as they have been made more intuitive and polished to the extreme. The gameplay has also been improved with the possibility of selecting a very large number of units (which corrects a defect in the first game) and of creating groups with a simple click of the mouse. As for balancing the three races, it seems to have been a constant concern on the part of Blizzard during the multiplayer beta.
Lifespan 17/20
With several solo modes (including a long-term campaign), a multiplayer mode which will undoubtedly be practiced diligently for the next 10 years and a map editor available, you will get your money's worth. So why sanction this criterion a little? Quite simply because the lack of Zerg and Protoss campaigns remains damaging and the impossibility of playing on the local network, penalizing and unforgivable, is a drift that we cannot condone.
Soundtrack 17/20
The musical themes and sound effects are very successful. Even if they are probably a little less striking than those of Starcraft first of the name, they still contribute as much to the immersion of the player. As for dubbing in French, it is generally good without being exceptional: some actors get away with the honors, others lack conviction. We appreciate on the other hand the lip synchronization in French, which testifies to the degree of finish of the game.
Scenario 15/20
While it has its share of twists and turns and epic moments, the storyline for the Terran campaign is not as memorable as that of the first Starcraft. The characters may be more worked, they do not escape the caricature. Fortunately, cutscenes once again honor Blizzard's reputation in this area. Finally, even if the course of the missions is often too linear, we appreciate that the player is constantly under pressure.
If Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty were a unit, then it would be a Terran. Entrenched behind its certainties like a Marine sheltered in its bunker, this suite perpetuates proven game mechanics by carefully weighing each novelty so as not to unbalance a formula that has proven itself. However, it must be admitted that once again, Blizzard wins hands down his bet: if Starcraft II does not invent anything, it nevertheless risks marking the genre of its imprint as it proves to be enjoyable to practice. The solo campaign, monstrous in efficiency, even pays the luxury of being just the mouthful of a title resolutely turned towards multi and perfectly tailored for that - which makes all the more regret the absence of LAN game. We will therefore take advantage of this new benchmark of real-time strategy, while hoping that the following episode, Heart of the Swarm, will further reflect risk taking and the thirst for evolution. a Zerg.
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