Though I have only spent an hour or two in the game, Starcraft 2 has already demonstrated that decade old game mechanics can still remain amazingly fresh. Current gaming culture, as well as design, has morphed into a leviathan that is desperately trying to entangle every demographic. Often, “mature” or “hard-core” titles feel the need to cater towards a new demographic, possibly rejecting their original audience in the process. Blizzard’s other successful title, Word of Warcraft, has shown that it can design gameplay around varying degrees of player types and still create challenges for its “veterans”. But it is with Starcraft that we see a very matured genre that feels incredibly familiar and ultimately fresh; tossing away the welcome mat for the “casual audience”. With little time played, there were 3 game elements that quickly demonstrated Starcraft 2′s ability to morph a timeless classic into an unforgettable sequel.
Familiarity: Though I never played much of the original Starcraft, I did spend a fair amount of time with Warcraft 3. When I first began the Wings of Liberty campaign, it felt like I was coming home for the first time in years. Navigating the game’s interface, commanding my units, and listening to characters’ vocal reactions were incredibly fun to experience.
HUBs: A great choice to help push players to investigate additional story elements are the HUB areas in between each mission. This helps deliver tidbits of narrative that can be causally pursued by the player. Games that have had HUB areas before generally provided a greater sense of belonging for the player; pushing them more towards an immerse experience.
Art Style: Colorful palettes and vibrant worlds are key to any Blizzard game. The misdirected anger over Diablo 3′s art direction was never a “hot-button” issue with Starcraft 2. Bright tones and exaggerated details define the universe of Starcraft 2; not only making the game feel like a Blizzard game, but a visual one as well. Startcraft 2 represents a mature title that does not suffer from underexposed environments that typically plague many console FPSs.
It will be exciting to revisit these thoughts after I have finished the campaign and achieved a winning record online. However these three elements; Familiarity, HUBs, and Art Style illuminate the first pathways to an incredible gaming experience.
