Should I buy Starcraft 2?

[NLS]

It still has FUN multiplayer even if you don't play "vanilla" SC2.

 

[00slash00]

So basically, I'm okay at RTS games. I bought Battle for Middle Earth 2, but after I completed the campaigns, it became apparent that the multiplayer was dead, down to a few people only looking to play with specific people.

Starcraft is essentially a nerd sport at this point, I always hear praise of it being such a fantastic RTS, and then there are the tournaments. All in all, it looks fairly attractive, but I've had my experiences with disappointing RTS games. So I'd like a few more opinions.

i hate rts games but gave starcraft 2 a buy because i liked the story. as someone who typically doesnt enjoy real time strategy, i loved starcraft 2

 

[Fearzone]

The only reason not to buy Starcraft 2 is if you hate RTSs, or don't have $50.

 

[sinterklaas]

snip

Of course it's a slight hyperbole what I said, I'd adapt to my opponent, if they did a build countering colossi, I didn't make them. But if they didn't, I'd always make them, because they're just so damn powerful thanks to the tendency of SC2 units to get in a ball, so the splash hits a lot of units. In most games, colossi + warpgate ball was all I needed to win. Of course I experimented with other builds, but none were as succesful.
Anyway, my point is, you don't need a lot of micro in SC2 compared to SC (wich is still the only true e-sport). This game is much more about who has the best build order, wich makes the game less interesting.

Blizzard is also balancing the game around both team games, low level games and pro games all at the same time, wich is just impossible. They do this money, attracting the most amount of buyers, for wich you obviously can't blame them, but that still hurts the game. As long as the game isn't properly balanced around pro level games, it'll never become an e-sport and will not require much skill.

Yeah, give the demo a try. I can definitely recommend the campaign if you don't care for story (The campaign alone is not worth 60 bucks though).

Blizzard only balances around 1v1... Balance is also very, very good at pro level, all matchups are close to 50% at the moment. Of course, the metagame shifts all the time and that's where Blizzard comes in with patches [or players with revolutionary ideas ].

I have never played BW nor do I have any interest in watching in it, so I cannot compare the two games. However, I don't know what you are talking about with 'uninteresting games to watch', it's quite the opposite, games are incredibly fun to watch, there's so much going on in games at pro level. Maybe BW was even more fun to watch, I don't know and I don't care (I've tried watching it a few times and it looked incredibly boring), but you have to remember that SC2 is not BW, they're two different games.

As for the OP, even if you are not into multiplayer (which is easily the best e-sport out there), the campaign is also fantastic, not to mention the map editor and all the custom games.

 

[baker80]

Get Starcraft 2 if you enjoy competitive play. Otherwise, it just isn't that great of an RTS. The design and gameplay is enormously dated, it's pretty much literally just a reskin of Starcraft 1. There is absolutely no innovation whatsoever. It's as solid as Real Time Strategy gets, but it's also ridiculously bland.

 

[Ryhzuo]

If you want actual strategy go for Frozen Synapse.

Common mistake from a quick look at the game. Starcraft has plenty of Strategy, if you are willing to learn it. Why do you think Grandmaster league players devastate gold league players? It is because they have mastered the finesse of Starcraft 2 strategy, whilst the gold league players are still only learning it.
It does not have any cover based system, other than terrain height, but that isn't what gives it strategy. You need to know what units to build, and when. You need to know how to specialise those units, and once again when. You need to know whether to build economy, rush or balanced, dependent on the first minute of gameplay.
There is plenty of strategy to be had, it is just more subtle than that of other RTSs

yes, if you are insane and have nothing better to do
and mutiplayer sucks, especially in this game where people believe their rank defines their worth as a person. not a fun thing to get into.
also as far as RTS goes, it is no where near as good as the original, and i'd still put any Command and Conquer game ,generals and before, over this.
honestly, i'm not a fan boy, but a fan boys opinion is hardly subjective.
if you want this, do what i do, wait for the battle chest with all three chapters, saves money

You can get your opinion across without using insults. I play this and my worth as a person is in no way related to my league rank. Also, 'a fan boys opinion is hardly subjective' is an oxymoron. A fanboy is a fanboy as they have a very subjective view of whatever they are a fan of, and thus can't see past their bias most of the time. Fanboys are the epitome of subjective thinkers, objectivity is not to be found with a fan-boy.
The only really helpful advice I have found in this post is the 'buy it when the battle chest comes out', hower, that will take years (HoTS is not due out until next year) and thus, I would not entirely recommend it

It does sound a little like his main mutiplayer gripe is getting his ass handed to him?

If it's an absorbing game, I don't mind having to work my ass off to get good. I've got a ten week holiday coming up! Training for the Royal Marines can't take up all my time, so I guess a good strategy game should fill the gap between training and fucking around with friends quite nicely.

I don't think anyone here's mentioned it yet, but Starcraft II also has probably one of the most enduring gaming communities of all RTS titles. You'll find literally find thousands of new replays every month, hundreds of pro gamer streams, mountains tournament and ladder games cast by professional starcraft II casters like day[9] and Artosis (yes I know who Husky is too >.>)

I also disagree with anyone saying that the multiplayer is hard to get into. I recently made a new account and played some placement matches and IMO the skill range online is still very broad, from the beginners right to the extremely high level koreans. The learning curve for Starcraft is also very dynamic, with a very linear line from bronze to mid-diamond level and then a large spike to masters and grandmaster league, which allows for both casual and hardcore gamers to have their challenges.

Even if playing on the ladder isn't your thing, there are TONS of other stuff you could do, like CO-OP mode against AI or custom maps. The map editor from Blizzard is very reminiscent of WCIII so you can be sure that as time goes on, interesting custom maps will be popping up all over the SCII scene.

 

[Pearwood]

Starcraft is essentially a nerd sport at this point, I always hear praise of it being such a fantastic RTS, and then there are the tournaments. All in all, it looks fairly attractive, but I've had my experiences with disappointing RTS games. So I'd like a few more opinions.

If you're meaning to get into RTS for the first time Starcraft 2 is a fantastic place to start. It doesn't have any gimmicks, it's just pure RTS and it has brilliant difficulty levels. Easy mode is balanced for a beginner, brutal mode is balanced for the clinically insane.

 

[lambsheep]

The game itself is the best and most popular RTS out there. It is an amazingly well done game. Be warned though, it is one of the most competitive games being played, and if you want to get good, you'll have to do a LOT of studying.

Starcraft, probably the only game worth studying.
Anyway Starcraft is the most played, maybe even the best RTS, but do not stick to the one game. Even go with old RTS's like Age Of Empires which I grew up on in my early years.

 

[InToTheWannaB]

OMG buy SC2!! There really no reason not to buy SC2. Its single players is without a doubt the BEST ever made for a RTS. The mission variety is so good, and while the story not shakespeare its just as good if not better then most video game pulp.

As for multiplayer its always packed! This game will have a strong multiplayer 10 years from now. While ladder is EXTREMELY competitive. Blizzard has done a fantastic job with the match making system. Don't listen to people who make it sound like you'll get beat 99 times out of 100. You may lose a lot at the start but the way the match making works. It will give you easier and easier opponents until it finds a skill range where your winning about half the time. So after your first 25 games or so you'll be set up just fine.

Also there are so many custom maps that are so cool. You can really just play funky little side games people have made and never touch ladder and get your moneys worth out of SC2. I've just recently fallen in love with the custom map called star strikers. Its Mario strikers with SC2 units lol. OMG ITS SO GOOD! Get SC2!!

 

[rwege]

snip

Of course it's a slight hyperbole what I said, I'd adapt to my opponent, if they did a build countering colossi, I didn't make them. But if they didn't, I'd always make them, because they're just so damn powerful thanks to the tendency of SC2 units to get in a ball, so the splash hits a lot of units. In most games, colossi + warpgate ball was all I needed to win. Of course I experimented with other builds, but none were as succesful. And I honestly really was rank 1 diamond for as long as I played (that is excluding breaks).
Anyway, my point is, you don't need a lot of micro/macro in SC2 compared to SC (wich is still the only true e-sport). This game is much more about who has the best build order, than who has more knowledge of the game and who is quicker, wich makes the game less interesting.

Blizzard is also balancing the game around both team games, low level games and pro games all at the same time, wich is just impossible. They do this money, attracting the most amount of buyers, for wich you obviously can't blame them, but that still hurts the game. As long as the game isn't properly balanced around pro level games, it'll never become an e-sport and will not require much skill.

Yeah, give the demo a try. I can definitely recommend the campaign if you don't care for story (The campaign alone is not worth 60 bucks though).

Lol you have no need to defend yourself against someone who sites using "60 voidrays to kill anything"

He clearly doens't play 1s, and as such has no right to comment on your rank or your builds.

 

[cubikill]

yes, the story is really fun, its probability one/if not the best single player campaign. Also the mulitplayer is really good, its balanced and fun. You'll get your ass kicked, but if its your cup of tea, and you stick with it its one of the most rewarding multiplayers out there.

 

[DrOswald]

The single campaign is really good. Probably worth the price of entry.

As far as the multiplayer goes, the game is fairly balanced even though Protoss is dominating right now due to one balance issue (you will never reach that level of play so don't worry about it.) The best part about the multiplayer is that if you suck it sticks you with other people who suck so you aren't getting curb stomped every game. I find it very fun, and would recommend it.

 

[Denamic]

Get Starcraft 2 if you enjoy competitive play. Otherwise, it just isn't that great of an RTS. The design and gameplay is enormously dated, it's pretty much literally just a reskin of Starcraft 1. There is absolutely no innovation whatsoever. It's as solid as Real Time Strategy gets, but it's also ridiculously bland.

Yeah, the gameplay doesn't have any innovative changes.
Everything is taken from SC1 and tweaked and made better.
However, it doesn't need to innovate; the formula was already close to perfection.
It doesn't need to add new mechanics, because what's there already makes for an incredibly complex metagame.
If you just keep adding shit that doesn't need to be there, it'll get too much for people to keep track of.

Also, bland?
You don't play SC2.
You're one of those onlooking naysayers, I can tell.

 

[S_SienZ]

You won't have to worry about multiplayer being dead. Will only happen when SC3 comes out.

 

[kouriichi]

I would say buy it. Even if you arnt into competitive play, you can still play all the User created content.

To be honest, ive only played about 10 SC2 matches against people. But ive played hundreds of custom gametype games.

 

[k-ossuburb]

I've been meaning to get into it myself. I've never actually played an RTS in my life (honestly, I don't know how that happened, I just never seemed to get around to picking one up somehow) but I watch a lot of LAGTV casts on their live stream channel and I'm pretty much in love with the game.

I think I'll probably suck at it, far too many people going for Protoss and I want to be a Zerg player because I like huge swarms of things and I've found that once a colossus or two is out on the field it's pretty much game over for Zerg players if you're not too great with your micro. Which I probably won't be without a hell of a lot of practice.

 

[teebeeohh]

at this point it may be smarter to wait for version 2.1(meaning heart of the swarm) because starcraft is only really worth it for the competitive MP and getting into that is a lot easier if you start with the wave of noobs and casuals(not meaning to offend anyone just stating facts) that comes with a new game. If you are mostly in it for the story wait for all three parts to come out in a bundle in 10 or so years,

 

[Mute52]

If you don't have constant internet connection, you won't be able to play much of the game, so don't pick it up if your not always connected.

Also don't expect to hook up with your friends with some LAN action, because the game offers no LAN option.

 

[Araksardet]

I bought SC2 and played through the campaign and dabbled a bit in multiplayer, but the whole game feels designed for competitive e-sports. A few of the campaign missions are thinly disguised tutorials on how to execute X strategy that might be useful online; most are very well-designed, but the story was a let-down. Gameplay is traditional RTS fare and is, again, very well designed. If you're into competitive RTS gaming, there's no better game out there, no doubt about it - balanced and pure and challenging.

If you're looking for fun, though, there are better RTS games - I don't mean "serious fun", of course, but rather playful fun. SupCom has insane scale, RA3 has wackiness and lulz, Dawn of War has action and tension. Starcraft II is a "checkmate, suckers!" kind of fun (if you're good, at least), but it gives you neither the time nor a reason to sit back and simply be entertained by what's going on.

EDIT: Note that I never really got into custom maps in SC2, so I can't comment on those - I only know that they're apparently better than what Warcraft 3 had to offer, and Warcraft 3 was awesome enough in its day, so that sounds encouraging.

 

[Waddles]

You should definitely buy it. It's an incredible package.

Awesome campaign. Can always find games in multiplayer and they are very dynamic. Huge variety among the race options.

However, the best thing of all is the galaxy editor and custom games. You can play literally any game you can imagine in the custom games section. Metal Slug and Mafia are my faves.