| The full versions of StarCraft and the acclaimed expansion
pack Brood War, as well as complete strategy guides for each,
make StarCraft: Battle Chest a treasure chest for real-time
strategy fans.
Instead of two similarly powered enemies facing off, the three
distinct races in StarCraft have unique capabilities and
strategies. Everyone still competes in the RTS genre's typical race for
resources, but that's the only shared trait. Terrans can move their
bulky mechanized bases as necessary, while the reptilian Zerg grow their
colonies and warriors from mutating larvae. Meanwhile, the noble Protoss
warp in equipment from their home world using psionic powers.
Not only does game maker Blizzard juggle the races' playability and
match it with superb art and sound effects, it also weaves together an
engrossing three-act plot. Early on, as a Terran magistrate, you spend a
breathtaking 30 minutes defending against a Zerg onslaught. As the story
unfolds around you, you'll experience the Zerg's hive mentality and
decipher the mysterious Protoss by the game's dramatic conclusion.
Missions vary in scope and are effectively framed with dialogue,
chapter screens, and in-mission exposition. Multiplayer games are also
very well represented by Blizzard's own free Battle.net service. If
you'd rather play over a local area network, StarCraft will
generously "spawn" up to seven copies so your friends can join in.
In keeping with StarCraft's groundbreaking design, Brood
War presents you with three sides of a galactic conflict. Scheming
humans, insidious Zerg, and proud Protoss collide again, with stunning
new cinematics setting the stage. Old friends and foes and ominous new
arrivals give the story a breakneck pace, while a handful of additions
to each race's arsenal makes for tense battles. Brood War also
features stellar new environments and ambient art, as well as more than
100 additional multiplayer maps.
Some missions require a bit of finesse, breaking the
resource-gathering routine while making good use of the new units.
Humans now have Valkyrie missile frigates as well as medics who
automatically try to heal your grunts. New for the Zerg air force is the
acid-spewing Devourer; the new Lurker unit provides heavy-duty (under)ground
support. Along with the Corsair fighter, the Protoss reenter the fray
with Dark Templar, which can merge to form the devastating Dark Archon.
Unfortunately, units old and new still suffer from weak artificial
intelligence in path finding.
- This includes the hit StarCraft, the
incredible StarCraft - Brood War, and two official strategy guides,
for hours & hours of space-based action and combat
- Play through 56 mission in 6 unique
campaigns, to decide the fate of the galaxy
- Over 175 player maps over a wide
variety of battlefields
- Play multiplayer battles over
battle.net
- Battle for control of the galaxy with
the StarCraft Battle Chest!
- Rated: Teen
- Windows/Macintosh
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