Introduction to Starcraft II

A simple introduction and breakdown of the units you have available to you in the multiplayer aspect of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty.

'Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty' is a Real Time Strategy (RTS) game for the PC. It was released in 2010 and is the sequel to the now legendary 'Starcraft' and 'Starcraft: Brood War' titles created by Blizzard in 1998. Wings of Liberty is the first of three instalments of Starcraft 2, with 'Heart of the Swarm' on the horizon and 'Legacy of the Void' in the distant future.

Starcraft II has a large competitive scene which continues to grow as more and more people discover the game. In competitive Starcraft II, two players are pitted against each other in a 1 on 1 situation to test which player has the best mechanical skill and decision making in the game. The rapid growth of Starcraft II has come from the fascinating levels of skill required to play the game at the highest level. Players who are dedicated to truly being the best in the world and are signed to professional teams can practice Starcraft for up to twelve hours a day, where Starcraft has become their job.

Competitions such as Major League Gaming, one of the top tournaments in America provide a whole weekend’s worth of entertainment with the best players and commentators from around the world being showcased in a fast paced, exciting environment. Other competitions assume a longer format; the Global Starcraft 2 League, or GSL, is regarded as the pinnacle in competition for Starcraft 2. The GSL is broadcast from Seoul, South Korea and features almost exclusively the best Korean players in the world.

There are three playable races in Starcraft 2. The 'Terran' are the Human race of the game and fight with recognisable units such as 'Marines' wearing powered combat suits. The strength of the Terran army lies within their ability to create powerful ‘Siege Tanks’ which have the ability to decimate the majority of an enemy army from a far in a small number of shots.

The Zerg are the insect like race, relying on large numbers to overwhelm and swarm their opponents.' Zerglings' are the primary unit of the Zerg race; they use their incredible speed to surround their unfortunate victims. Zerg units are spawned from eggs and are bred for the sole purpose of destroying all who stand in their way.

The ‘Protoss’ are the last race in Starcraft and are the most elite of the three armies. Protoss units are expensive when compared to Terran and Zerg, but are capable of surviving longer in battle. ‘Zealots’ are the first available units for Protoss, and have a strong melee attack. The rechargeable shields of Protoss units also allow them to survive for longer without losing any health permanently.

Now that you’ve been introduced to each of the playable races in the game, this series will go in more depth on each race individually, first looking more closely at the Terran race in the next instalment. We’ll be covering the multitude of different units in each army as well as some strategies to use and soon you’ll be ready to play against other people using the online multiplayer ladder system.

James 'Stress'O'Leary