REVIEW StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Freshly addition Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm It stresses the great genius and revolutionary ideas born in the distant 1998. Exactly Starcraft at one time the most clearly marked for the RTS genre difference between playable factions, paying her the benefit of the gameplay. At that time, while the difference between, say, orc and humans in some Warcraft were purely cosmetic, the difference between the Zerg, Protoss and Terrans gave a completely unique approach to managing virtual war for each race.

And yet, in any case can not be said that the new product Activision-Blizzard parasite on ideas of fifteen years ago. Number of new in Heart of the Swarm really impressive. Even in comparison with the recent Wings of Liberty (no joke - since its release has been almost three years), marked the beginning of a new "trilogy", the developers have managed to step far beyond the banal word "addon" in its usual sense.



While the RTS genre with varying success experienced inhuman experiments, which resulted in the series of the "old school" simply ceased to exist (Age of Empires, Rise of Nations, and others.), The other part has held on to this day in a purely rudimentary form (Command u0026 Conquer), And the remaining third fused with other genres as hybrids like Company of HeroesIn the command center Blizzard full swing to develop a secret weapon in the face Starcraft II. Will be very useful to compare the work of the studio with the process of updating the main building - no one knows what specific bonuses are waiting for us, but the characteristic scale of construction and driftinginside instrument sounds make hope - the result should please us. Furthermore, after the passage of two separate single player campaign, it can be said - the result makes us happy.

Instead of trying to snatch a piece everywhere, following the whims of the crowd, Blizzard reasonably come to the development of new-fangled trends, keeping in the heart of the classical mechanics of the game. What we have there been popular in recent years? System 2 RPG.0 with a choice that affects the subsequent events? There. Drama and excitement the characters by adding emotion? Yeah.Cinematic cut scenes, dialogues and strong plot points? Present. Stealth mission, switching between the main characters of the narrative epic, and other branches of the routine activities? That's right!

If all of the above additives game clearly retains the position occupied - in front of us the most that neither is a classic RTS. The basic mechanics remained almost untouched - it is really the same StarCraft era, when returning from school bag flew far away, and the cursor smoothly rounding icons Heroes III and Quake, Drawn to face the pixel Sarah Kerrigan. However, such a statement is unlikely to be an eye-opener for those who played in 2010, Wings of Liberty, and therefore get down to business and start in order to notice the benefits described addon.

Events sequel will start almost immediately after the video, which ended last part - along with all the key characters we are transported to a remote scientific base where scientists have to figure out:to determine whether a mysterious artifact fully liberate the Queen of Blades by demoniac possession? Soon Kerrigan and Raynor, who do not want to endure the shackles of foreign, escapes, then comes into action Emperor Mengsk - the main antagonist of the previous game.



Defying all beliefs Mengsk very treacherous way separates the fatal lady of her lover, it seems, completely forgotten about her past "merits".As you know, driven to despair a woman is capable of much, but whether it is necessary to explain what a person is capable of, once headed the most terrible threat to the galaxy?
The role of the avenging furies course lies directly on our shoulders.Over 27 scenario missions we have to revive the former glory of the Queen of the whole swarm, learn about the history of primitive Zerg again recall the dark prophecy Zeratul, and finally to solveold conflict confrontation sinister Dominion, the outcome of which you will learn just to reach the finals.

In addition to a series of new and updated a few fractions of units, the expansion pack to your attention considerably revised system upgrades available in the menu, the single player campaign.If compartments aboard Hyperion scientific laboratories and arsenal assigned unconvincing secondary role, then replaced them tab "Evolution Pit" much more tangible approach to changestrategy and planning military operations.Aside from the inherent to each unit three options passive improvements, which can change at anytime until you're aboard the Leviathan, the upgrades section offer you a series ofadditional missions are in place to further improve the depth of each type of troops.After completing a special task involving, for example, of a Hydralisk, Abatur (Specialist for evolution) will force us to choose from regarding the final branch mutation separate species:whether Hydralisk borrow skill penetration of the soil long tentacles that turn the host into an effective analog of artillery weapons, or do you prefer to equip it with thorns, with which it becomes very easy to eliminate opponents of the crowd on foot.



Evolution, by the way, is almost the key theme Heart of the Swarm. Almost any conversation with the NPC, any side quests reduced to the subject of strong absorption of weak individuals.At the time, free from these bloodthirsty meals and lessons Uncle Darwin, we will crush the enemy swarm, enveloping each new planet dense layer of pulsating biomass.Ironically, the word "crush" in this case fits perfectly - that this is the key difference between games for a fraction of the Zerg.

The specifics of the game is the ability to ksenomorfov fast creation of armies impressive proportions. Thus, if Wings of Liberty We had a long and consistently create a detachment, and then carefully carry out his hand, alternating tactics of attack with the retreat, Heart of the Swarm lets not be penny wise and rip the whole hog, looking around his hordes of screaming and pulsating creatures frame, and then send them to the goal. This does not mean that the gameplay has become more simplistic and boring.

If Wings of Liberty a fair amount of time necessary to spend on routine collection of simple detachment in Heart of the Swarm action begins almost immediately. Available in almost every mission playable Kerrigan in itself represents a threat for the surrounding fauna. Mechanics heroes actively exploited in Warcraft 3, Is reflected in the campaign Heart of the Swarm. While the larvae collected resources in the automatic mode (work unit immediately after birth is sent to the nearest deposit crystals), we are part of the minimum group headedQueen of Blades, can wander around the neighborhood, to deal with a couple of monsters and explore nearby enemy settlements.Do not have to sit for a minute - in addition to the active intelligence, we also impart desirable coverage of biomass, the movement of which is attached to all sorts of bonuses, starting with the increased recovery, and ending banal double speed.

Kerrigan, in turn, may also be subjected to all sorts of upgrades, although they are more closely related to the individual pumping hero that proportional to the number of their deadown hands.In the same menu, you can select the Leviathan section gives the player improved on three branches, including a set of active and passive abilities.The most spectacular and effective skills are not difficult to guess, it will be opened only at the end of the game when we are faced with the enemy in the final phase of the war.



In terms of the type of project, the game is trying to diversify the process of passing a fair amount of diversity - that we block the evacuation Protoss with one of the planets, not letting them get to the shuttlesteleports, then infect the crew of a giant space cruiser, entering on board in the face of a single worm, it has consistently consume food hubs huge protective dome.In terms of diversity of the script is giving odds previous campaign, in which a significant part of the job was to protect from alien foes and guerrilla activities in the areas of controlDominion.While the game is still a lot of jobs, the passage of which does not depend on the player - to us, as before, will have to fend off waves of enemies, waiting for the timertime runs out. To say that these levels are fun pastime, it would be a blatant lie.In addition, the Challenge in similar missions Terran present a much greater extent - is the risk of "sink or swim" add tactical depth Terran sharpness.Any collapse of the game for the Zerg felt to a much lesser extent, because the new bands can be created in a matter of minutes.

Interesting ideas in this background look task with any changes in the global environment.The beginnings of such an idea, we could observe in the campaign for Jim Raynor - in one of the missions Wings of Liberty we were offered to gather resources, fear of rising level of lava in the other playersIt had to take into account the threat looming on one side of the card barrage in the third virtual director of increased influx of waves of monsters, calling for the skillful use of a cleaning of the presence of the alien artifact. The Heart of the Swarm use changeable environment looks more thoughtful.In one of the earliest maps rising blizzard allow more effectively to organize raids on the frozen enemy base, the other will have to act on the speed - turn off the power will be required before the dome force field will have time to burn out all organic.

It is also clear other improvements story component - to replace the bar counter dialogue with members of the crew and the in-game cut-scenes on the engine, came complete with the production of cinematic videosangles, scenes and dramatic moments. In the third part, we probably do not notice the difference between simple thrashing after another job, and praise CG-render, which are famous for Blizzard.

As always special respect worthy of artistic performance of the new creation studio. Visual design and selection of the votes of each character can not be called other word except "perfectionism."Hripyasche-roar of whistles coming from the depths of the chitin shell with protruding horns, claws, blisters and ulcers ideally combined with images of the queen swarm of reptilescreatures (by the way, was evaluated in Review version of the game with English voice acting).However, to explain the undeniable advantages of the work of the art department of the largest of the surviving veterans of the industry, there is no need - just look at the delicious thick artbook, which completed collectible editions of their products, as well as the associated hype.



However, it is no revelation will be that the series Starcraft always more attracted multiplayer audience than lovers singles. As in his time did The Frozen Throne, and Heart of the Swarm I did not make major changes to the game, limiting the set of new maps and several units for the three available factions, more detailed description of which you can read on the official website.

Much more attention was paid to the creators of the integration of yet another modern trends - social elements.Statistics, achievements, combining groups of players and clubs in the community of individual preferences - all created with the intention that you never turn on the computer with a different task, but to play Starcraft II. It's all the same there is a small fly in the ointment. Even in 2013, developers have not yet learned how to debug the operation of its services - often when entering the game an error connecting to Battle.net, which, however, decided to re-entry profile.

Certain issues cause and optimization of the game. When the computer configuration Core i7 3.4GHz, 16Gb RAM and a 2Gb of video cards GeForce 680 several levels allowed themselves to convert what is happening on the screen bursting pieces slide show, though, is to recognize on the battlefield at the momentreally it happened most that neither is the Egyptian locust invasion.The graphics in this case looks quite nice - very difficult to find fault it would be to the overall performance of the image: the effects of, the living environment and a large number of units are forced to close their eyes to the obvious technological backwardness, typical of the whole genre (when compared with the top powerful engines).



Summarizing all the above, we note some difficulties in the final evaluation. One side Heart of the Swarm It is the best to date representative of the genre of classic RTS.Addon able to partially get rid of the previous shortcomings of the product, and in certain aspects, and did step beyond the expected benefits. But if we consider the subject under discussion from the perspective of the industry as a whole, the next studio project does not present any innovative ideas. Starcraft IIPerhaps much more skilful the atmosphere of a grand space opera, in which the natural unfolding struggle for the survival of the species (in interplanetary scale, of course) than the same Mass Effect 3. But too limited scope of their beliefs game is optional and unquestioning MUST HAVE for every gamer Earth.There is no elevated emotional experiences derived to a new level, the gameplay does not quite give players a unique gaming experience, and the plot does not shine by sudden turns anddeep intrigue. And again - the reluctance of developers to disappoint the fans powerful changes can only be seen positively.

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At that time, as a series of like Total War and Company of Heroes struggling to delve into the strategic component, urging players to permanent stay on the battlefield in hot spots, Starcraft II still it is paying too much attention to become a routine production stage.For those who would sit for hours on end in clubs, inventing a variety of strategies, ranging from targeted attacks and ending with the very, became a separate term "Zerg rush", the new expansion pack, as well as allthe second part of the series will be a real outlet. If the phased construction of the base, the collection of Vespa and the subsequent open conflict - this is what you are looking for from the time of release Warcraft 3Then Starcraft II clearly that is a game that is made for you.Multiplayer, better information on the balance of which can be obtained only by playing on their own, complemented by a very well-developed campaign shagnuvshey to yet another notch higher.Everyone is familiar with the creation of the rest of the evil corporation, enslaved population of the planet better multi-user projects, it is recommended only in the order of occurrence of individual desires.



Tags: 2013. Game Reviews
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