Best Improvements in Starcraft II Over the Original

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is now (finally) available for sale and the Internet is abuzz with joy and excitement. The first Starcraft, after all, has been a PC mainstay for over a decade. Still, all is not well across the Dominion. There have been some inter-galactic rumblings that this Starcraft sequel is nothing more than "Starcraft 1.5" or "Starcraft with a coat of paint." In short, some people are saying it's just like the original. This is true to an extent. Blizzard did not reinvent the wheel here.

If you sleuth around the net, you'll find most reviewers say pretty much the same thing. Starcraft II is similar to the original. But, that's not all it is. Blizzard was smart to keep what worked which, considering the original's unprecedented success, was most of it. The developer didn't just plop a new coat of space paint on the game, however. There are many changes and improvements that make this new iteration a massively fun and, dare I say, original experience. Here are the best changes and improvements made to the Starcraft series with this new title.

1. The story is not only great for a video game, but great period

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is only the first release in a purported trilogy of releases that will make up the Starcraft II story. This first one focuses in on those familiar Terrans and some galactic intrigue via their Confederacy. The story is dark, atmospheric and, most importantly, extremely well-written. If you've ever wanted to play a video game with the gravitas of real science fiction, then this is for you. Sure, the first one had great writing too, but the past decade has been extremely kind to the technologies that help tell stories. The cutscenes are fantastic and the voice work (even the contested new actors) are spot on.

2. Battle.Net 2.0

The original Battle Net, Blizzard's online gaming service, was launched in 1997 to go alongside Diablo. It attracted gamers due to its comprehensive feature list and helped set the standard for how PC games are played online. In 2009, Blizzard revamped Battle Net to what has affectionately been referred to as "Battle Net 2.0." There are tons of changes that benefit players of Starcraft II. You can connect all of your accounts across all of the games you play and group them into one easily-searchable account. There's also an improved matchmaking system for online battles, and a nifty instant messaging system that allows you to chat with any friend playing any Blizzard game. Simply put, it makes the experience more social than ever before. This is made even more evident by its recent linking with Facebook. When the first Starcraft came out, Facebook wasn't even a glimmer in Mark Zuckerberg's annoying little eye.

3. In with the new, out with the old

Starcraft II has made tons and tons of changes to the various units that populate the game. Many units from the first one have been removed and many new ones have been created. On the Terran front, say goodbye to Vultures, Valkyries and Firebats (Among others) and say hello to Reapers, Banshees and Vikings. The Protoss are weeping over the loss of Dragoons, Corsairs and Dark Archons but are smoking cigars over the births of Immortals, Void Rays and Motherships. Finally, those dastardly Zerg bid a nasty adieu to Guardians, Defilers and Devourers and gave a great big bear hug to Queens, Corrupters and Brood Lords. Of course, only a few for each race were listed. This is only the tip of the iceberg on the unit front. Some are sad to see their favorite units go to the galactic junkheap, but most agree it was done in the name of fairness, to keep everyone on equal footing online.

4. Graphics and sound are important

The original Starcraft is over a decade old and, as such, the graphics look kind of dated. Starcraft II has fixed this problem with a new 3D engine that not only makes things prettier (the graphics and cutscenes look superb), but also changes up the gameplay a bit. With three dimensions comes another level of strategy to take into account. Certain units can go over high terrain and certain units cannot. This simple and realistic change promises to twist your brain into tiny knots during all-night play sessions. Also, the sound design is some of the best ever heard. Add to that, Blizzard promises support for the "other" kind of 3D via a patch in the near future. You know, the Avatar glasses kind of 3D. Make sure you have quality speakers (preferably surround sound) and a capable graphics card so you can get the full experience.

5. RPG elements are go

The single player campaign of the first Starcraft was really straightforward. You'd complete a mission and then get flung to the next one. There were no branching paths and no real decisions to make. The sequel has changed all of this by adding some good ole RPG elements into the mix. You spend time between missions inside the ship of your protagonist, Jim Raynor. This serves as a hub of sorts, and allows you to complete a host of tasks. You can spend money to buy upgrades, which offer stat enhancements and other goodies. You can also bum around and complete small sidequests. Also, the game allows you to tackle many of the missions in whatever order you choose. These are welcome changes from the original's obsession with all things linear.

6. Online is streamlined and improved

We already went through some of the automatic improvements via Battle Net 2.0. The improvements to online play goes well and beyond that, however. For one, the replay feature from the original Starcraft has seen a beefy overhaul. After a battle is over, you can replay it however you see fit. Watch it at regular speed, fast forward through it or, if you are really bored, watch it in slow motion. This really raises the stakes as analyzing a failed battle can be just as important as winning a battle. There are also gads of stats to track and oodles of achievements to unlock. All told, it's a robust system that places an emphasis on fairness. From matchmaking to the battles themselves, the online system will try its best to make sure you are never cruelly over-matched. Don't expect to be getting a girlfriend (or boyfriend) anytime soon.

So there you have it. Sure, it's similar but there are certainly enough changes to keep old fans happy. What do you think?

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