Starcraft II Heart of the Swarm

[jomni]

Opening Cinematic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MVbeoSPqRs4#!

[Martok]

Very cool. 

I'm not even a Starcraft fanboy, and I'm still impressed. 

[Jarhead0331]

Blizzard has always made kick butt cinematics, with a flair for personality.  I can't say I loved the first release of Starcraft II, but I'll probably still pick this one up. 

[son_of_montfort]

I liked the first section of SCII, and will pick this up. I'm kicking around pre-ordering to get into the Beta (it's not like it will drop in price anytime soon). They say this one is going to have more RPG and character-driven elements, so that sounds good. Also, the Zerg were always my favorite race.

[Windigo]

Blizzard has always made kick butt cinematics, with a flair for personality.  I can't say I loved the first release of Starcraft II, but I'll probably still pick this one up.

I am interested in why you didn't like StarCraft II? I haven't bought it but I still yearn for it.

[Jarhead0331]

Blizzard has always made kick butt cinematics, with a flair for personality.  I can't say I loved the first release of Starcraft II, but I'll probably still pick this one up.

I am interested in why you didn't like StarCraft II? I haven't bought it but I still yearn for it.

I thought it was way too "rock, paper, scissor," and it was all about the "rush."  It just seemed that there was no real strategy involved.  Additionally, there have been so many innovations in the RTS genre since the original SC release, and I felt like this one was exactly like the original...some would think this is a good thing, but it left me feeling hollow and underwhelmed...like, "been there, done that."  Sure, it added some neat features for the in-between mission stuff, but the actual gameplay I thought was flat.

[Windigo]

Blizzard has always made kick butt cinematics, with a flair for personality.  I can't say I loved the first release of Starcraft II, but I'll probably still pick this one up.

I am interested in why you didn't like StarCraft II? I haven't bought it but I still yearn for it.

I thought it was way too "rock, paper, scissor," and it was all about the "rush."  It just seemed that there was no real strategy involved.  Additionally, there have been so many innovations in the RTS genre since the original SC release, and I felt like this one was exactly like the original...some would think this is a good thing, but it left me feeling hollow and underwhelmed...like, "been there, done that."  Sure, it added some neat features for the in-between mission stuff, but the actual gameplay I thought was flat.

that makes sense... thanks

[Greybriar]

My days of buying Blizzard games on the day of their release is over. Neither StarCraft II nor Diablo III were as good as they should have been and the necessity of being online to play a single player game was the last straw. I will probably buy a Blizzard title in the future, but I will be very selective about which one it will be...if I buy any at all.

[jomni]

Stupid Terran. can't they think of a better strategy than standing in a line at the city square where it's easy to get mobbed and flanked?

[son_of_montfort]

Blizzard has always made kick butt cinematics, with a flair for personality.  I can't say I loved the first release of Starcraft II, but I'll probably still pick this one up.

I am interested in why you didn't like StarCraft II? I haven't bought it but I still yearn for it.

I thought it was way too "rock, paper, scissor," and it was all about the "rush."  It just seemed that there was no real strategy involved.  Additionally, there have been so many innovations in the RTS genre since the original SC release, and I felt like this one was exactly like the original...some would think this is a good thing, but it left me feeling hollow and underwhelmed...like, "been there, done that."  Sure, it added some neat features for the in-between mission stuff, but the actual gameplay I thought was flat.

He is very right. You have a strong "this-counters-that" mechanic and it pretty much retreads the exact SC RTS style. That, however, is exactly what I wanted (and many other fans), so if you want that - then SCII is a good buy. If you want originality and innovation, it is not going to float your boat. The story was also a little hackneyed, not quite as epic as the original (but not quite as blah as Diablo III).

That being said, I had a lot of fun with SCII and a round plays in about 30 minutes, so it is a little faster-paced than newer and more ponderous RTS games like Supreme Commander or what-have-you.

[JasonPratt]

I have lived to exist in a time when Supreme Commander is still regarded as a newer RTS...

[son_of_montfort]

I have lived to exist in a time when Supreme Commander is still regarded as a newer RTS...

Weird isn't it... I was typing that post and said "new RTS like..." and paused for a moment, looked at my desktop, scratched my head, and went "wow... it is strange to think that TBS is actually starting to come back harder than RTS!"

[Jarhead0331]

"wow... it is strange to think that TBS is actually starting to come back harder than RTS!"

From your mouth to God's ears.

[Martok]

I have lived to exist in a time when Supreme Commander is still regarded as a newer RTS...

Weird isn't it... I was typing that post and said "new RTS like..." and paused for a moment, looked at my desktop, scratched my head, and went "wow... it is strange to think that TBS is actually starting to come back harder than RTS!"

You know, I hadn't really considered that until you said so just now, but you're right.  I was used to RTS being more popular than TBS for so long, that it had become the accepted norm. 

In the last several years, however, the situation has changed pretty radically...not that I'm complaining! 

[Windigo]

"wow... it is strange to think that TBS is actually starting to come back harder than RTS!"

From your mouth to God's ears.

Frig the way gussy takes his time making moves, he'd make a RTS into a TBS