Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1833 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: ACTIVISION
• Rating: To Be Announced
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows 95
• Original language: English

Amazon.co.uk Review
Warcraft in space, but 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 mechanised 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 re-enter 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. Real-time strategy games don't get any more epic or any more satisfying. --Jack Gardiner

Customer Reviews

StarCraft Universe
StarCraft, and the BroodWar expansion is STILL the best RTS game around - it's getting hard to get hold of so don't hesitate if you see it.

The single-player missions are good "stand-alone" gaming, and many people are happy to keep playing the computer. But perhaps the real appeal is playing this game on Battle.Net against other players. Humans attack and defend in ways computer AI can't dream of - and StarCraft has a near perfect balance of forces and units that your success depends on your strategies. This game is the ultimate in strategy. And it's fast.

It has a loyal fanbase with dozens of sites on the web with strategy tips and replays of games. A classic.

Best game of all time
7 years ago, brood war the expansion pack for Blizzard's Starcraft was released. Still today it is played all over the globe, some places for vast sums of money. South Korea it is the same as football is to us. Vast sum's of money have been made from this professional gaming, in some cases over 900,000$.

So much can be learnt from the game, nothing is ever the same online or offline. Build your base, choose from one in three races (protoss, terran, zerg) respectively 3 complteley different species with ground units, "air" and buildings. The storyline is just stunningly scripted and addictive from the start. The online arena expands it further with the ability to play with up to 8 players accross custom maps or maps made by blizzard.

If you enjoyed StarCraft then what are you waiting for?
StarCraft: BroodWar is easily the most polished of enhancements to an already fantastic game. Briefly the expansion provides: three new map types, six completely new and original units (seven if you include Protoss Dark-Templars that were not buildable in the original), an entire single player campaign spanning twenty-six missions, hundreds of multi-player skirmish maps and awe-inspiring cinematic sequences. The maps are fully detailed and look fantastic; they even have new critters. :) Each of the new units is totally unique and adds a whole new dimension to the strategy side of the game. There's nothing half-hearted about this expansion. Everything you'd expect to be present has been included, plus a lot you wouldn't have expected in an excellent value-for-money expansion.