Saturday 9 February, 2008

GAMEPLAY:

Well, after playing it for a second time, it became clear to me how to finish levels. Get as much minerals and gas as you can QUICKLY and build lots and lots of soldiers before the enemy gets you first. This usually isn't quite a shock to me when I play an RTS game, but it just surprised me at how fast the enemy was at getting ready and then deploying their attacks while I'm struggling to get things built and talents researched.

Though the game can be difficult at times, there were still some challenges that had you feel great after completing them. Though I've only been able to play as the Terrans so far, I'm looking forward to completing the storyline of them so that I can play as the Zerg or the Protoss.

DESIGN:

There were lots of things Blizzard Entertainment did well with Starcraft. They put in a sort of rock-paper-scissors engine with each soldier or vehicle and had them really well for some things, but then just terrible at others, for example, the space marines. They're pretty much the only thing you really need to use, but you have to use them while they're in a large group, because if they're by themselves, they have no chance against anyone.

The maps aren't as big as the current RTS games, but they're big enough to do what you need. There were only a few complaints I had, such as not ever having more than 1 person either help construct a building or harvest gas. I don't know if they're going to change that for the second Starcraft, but it definitely got really annoying when you wanted to construct something fast, like in Age of Empires.

Another complaint I had was only being able to have around 8-10 people in your group that you could move around as one unit. If I want to select a large group to attack a space colony, I want it to be as one large unit, not 3 or 4 waves of troops moving to a location that is either: a) already destroyed and beaten. or b) already killed your first two waves before they could make it to the desired point.

Starcraft was a fantastic game, in my opinion. A little easter egg they had was having the troops say random and hilarious things if you keep clicking on them if they're already selected. Starcraft was one of those games, I'm sure, that inspired future RTS games with how they handled and enjoyable they needed them to be.

This is fine, and perfectly acceptable as a Gamelog. You bring up some interesting points in the design section, but don't really follow through in an in-depth manner, so doing that in your next Gamelog would likely improve it. But still, this is fine.

Amy Leek (grader)