StarCraft It Heart of the Swam

There is, arguably, no other game that has ever achieved what the original StarCraft has. There have been and always will be genre defining games, but when a game is still played competitively over fifteen years after its release, when the conventions it laid down are still upheld and adhered to by titles to this day, in many ways it’s fair to say the StarCraft IS the real-time strategy genre. Blizzard would have been forgiven cursing their own success as the release of long-awaited StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty drew near, yet all was well, and the game has done brilliantly in the last two years. Thankfully, Blizzard has chosen to only make us wait three years for the next release, and with StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm looming on the horizon, once again the gaming world is beginning to hold its breath with nervous anticipation.

StarCraft is known for its amazing storytelling, and Heart of the Swarm doesn’t look set to disappoint. Following the events of Wings of Liberty, you will step into the role of Sarah Kerrigan, the once Queen of Blades, now human again. The events of the game will see Kerrigan attempt to re-exert control over the Zerg swarm, which has been crippled but far from eradicated, as she seeks vengeance against Arcturus Mengsk, emperor of the Terran Dominion.

Heart of the Swarm will feature several new gameplay elements, apart from the expected unit changes. Kerrigan will reportedly be a playable character throughout most of the campaign, and must choose a role for each mission. Each role translates into a Battle Focus that opens unique abilities, and as you progress through the story existing roles will be upgraded and new roles will be unlocked. Additionally between missions you will have the chance to mutate the various Zerg species under your command, ultimately culminating in each unit having two separate strains that will unlock extra capabilities.

No discussion on StarCraft would be complete without examining the changes being made to the multiplayer. Blizzard has and is going through extensive beta testing, and is apparently working with professional gamers to nail any balance issues before the release date. While the exact details are likely to change between the time you read this and the actual release, each of the three races will be receiving new units and alterations to current ones, with the ultimate goal being the refinement of the existing multiplayer structure. Blizzard will be adding a new levelling system, where by levels gained go to unlocking decals and portraits, and both clan and unranked matchmaking will be supported.

On top this Blizzard will add a new training area designed to help ease the transition between the campaign and multiplayer. The mode will gradually increase in difficulty as the player becomes more proficient, providing tips and training until the player is ready to compete in unranked AI matches, and ultimately against fellow human generals.