The popular real-time strategy game StarCraft commands an impressive legacy: it was so wildly popular worldwide that it essentially created Esports as they are known today, and the competitive scene that thrived throughout the '90s and early '00s defined a lot of the elements that would become standard for big-budget pro gaming competitions in the future. Furthermore, the game had a reputation as being among the most tactically deep and mechanically complex strategy games out there.
Skip ahead a little over a decade, and although the sequel in the series, StarCraft II, drummed up enormous enthusiasm back in 2010, it's hard to deny that the heyday of StarCraft II, and strategy games in general, seems to have ed. Despair not, though, for StarCraft II's isn't down for the count yet. Between over a decade of balance patches, expansions, and evolving playstyles, there are now a ton of reasons why even new players should try out StarCraft II.
Strategy Games Deserve
Although real-time strategy games like StarCraft and save for the Age of Empires 4, which might change things). Most fans of the genre will tell you that it's not quite the same as it was during the heyday of the '90s.
However, that's just all the more reason why more people should play competitive strategy games in this day and age. If StarCraft II continues to do well and sparks renewed interest in the genre, it might catch the attention of developers willing to fork over the cash to try and capitalize on that interest.
Its System Requirements Aren't Hefty
Those without much background in the world of PC gaming often find themselves fretting about what games they can and cannot play on their current hardware. This is understandable because, for those without gaming PCs, playing a video game isn't quite so simple as inserting a disk into a console.
Thankfully, StarCraft II's system requirements are quite light, meaning that pretty much anybody will be able to install and enjoy the game. These technical considerations, combined with StarCraft II's price tag of zero dollars have considerably lowered the bar of entry to the game, making it far more accessible for even those without any experience with strategy games.
Learning To Play Is Easier Than Ever
StarCraft II is an intensely competitive game, as are its counterparts in the world of RTS, and for fairly obvious reasons. Most of the time, this is a one-versus-one affair; there's nobody to help the player if they make mistakes, meaning they only have themselves to blame for winning and losing. The game is extremely complex, with upgrades, units, workers, and soldiers all needing to be managed simultaneously.
Thankfully, there's more excellent tutorial material out there for players new to the game than ever. A simple YouTube search will bring up a trove of information available for each race and playstyle, meaning that despite the intimidating exterior, it's actually easier to learn StarCraft now than it ever has been.
The Singleplayer Campaign Is Great
Similar to its predecessor, StarCraft II features three separate campaigns, each focusing on one of the three main races populating the game's setting: the Terrans, Protoss, and Zerg. These campaigns are a great way to learn the very basics of how to play, but they're also a good time in themselves.
There's a ton of variety to the mission structure in StarCraft II's singleplayer modes: some require careful management of special resources, others require defending or escorting a certain objective, while a few task the player with simply annihilating an enemy presence. Although there are complaints to be had about the story, the gameplay itself is as entertaining as ever.
There's Tons Of Multiplayer Content
While one-versus-one ranked matches make up the core of the multiplayer experience in StarCraft II, there is a range of other modes to be enjoyed for players looking for some variety. Community-created content is available, as are team-based games, with two or more players making up each side.
There's also a cooperative game mode for players looking for a break from the intensity of their ladder matches, in which players select heroes from the singleplayer campaign to play as, and are tasked with completing any number of cooperative objectives. Since each hero commands special units with unique abilities, there's a lot to be discovered here.
Game Balance Is Better Than Ever
In the early days of StarCraft II, back before its first expansion in the time of Wings of Liberty, there were complaints that the game rewarded what was perceived as a less-than-impressive "deathball" strategy. This was an issue because players felt that it encouraged mindlessly commanding an entire army to attack, rather than the skillful micromanagement exhibited in the professional scene for the first StarCraft.
Thankfully, a lot has changed since then. After two full-scale expansions and countless balance patches, the game's meta and general playstyle are far more interesting now than they were back in vanilla. Although people will still argue about who's faction is more powerful than who's, it's generally agreed that the game is in a much better state.
The Competitive Scene Is Still Strong
It doesn't seem like too long ago that StarCraft was still the king of Esports. After all, the original StarCraft is the game that basically pioneered the very concept of Esports as we know them today, thanks to its vibrant competitive scene in South Korea. Although things aren't quite the same today, there's still a good deal of fun to be had in engaging with the pro scene.
Blizzard still sponsors large-scale international tournaments where the top players from around the world go head to head, and in addition to StarCraft II, there's still a healthy amount of veterans competing for titles in the original StarCraft for those looking for something a little bit more established.
There's Still A Healthy Player Base
Reports of the game's death have been greatly exaggerated. Although the shift to a free-to-play model has helped things along, the game has always maintained a dedicated group of core players and regular healthy doses of new players. It's never difficult to find games, and the matchmaking system is usually capable of finding good matches in certain skill ranges.
Although it might not be quite as large as some other PC heavy-hitters like League of Legends or Counter Strike, there are enough players to allow for a smooth and accessible multiplayer experience, and newcomers should not be deterred by the somewhat smaller community.
It's Free
StarCraft II has actually been free to play since all the way back in November of 2017. Players get quite a bit of game for the price of zero dollars, too, which includes full access to multiplayer, the first campaign, and a handful of co-op characters. The only things players really need to fork over money for are skins, extra levels in co-op, and the additional campaign content.
With that much available for free, there really isn't much of a reason not to check it out for those that haven't already done so. Going free-to-play also did a lot of good for activity in the game, and introduced a lot of new players when the announcement was made.
The Game Is Fun
Fundamentally, the primary reason why players should check out StarCraft II is that it's a worthy successor to the legacy of the original StarCraft and its expansions, and an excellent strategy game in its own right too. The game features fast-paced action, a wide range of available builds and strategies, and expressive playstyles to suit every player.
Taking decisive action with a special unit, winning an all-out slugfest against an opponent, or simply outproducing someone through superior economic management, are all extremely satisfying outcomes to a game of StarCraft II. In a game as complex as this one, there's a lot for players to sink their teeth into, making it a worthy choice for those looking to dip their toes into strategy games.