Starcraft/Broodwar Expansion Pack (PC DVD)

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Editorial reviews

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

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-06-24 rating:
Best RTS ever
Its best RTS ever!! This game has got its own tv channel in Korea. Its 10 years old but who cares? I would compare it to chess in terms of quality and age :)..

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review by: date: 2008-05-24 rating:
The Greatest RTS of all time
I've owned this game for 10 years, I've played through the full campaign perhaps 3 or 4 times, spent years playing competitive games online and last week went onto Battlenet and spent an evening destroying my old school friends. We are all nearly 30 and still love SC!

The universe Blizzard have created is lush with detail, every unit has character and personality, every race is utterly different from the other, and yet give you an equal chance of victory.

The world editor is incredible, you can create co-op campaigns with hero units (even specify their abilities and hitpoints) script stories, customise your favourite multiplayer maps or create ultra intense micro maps cramming 8 players onto a 64x64 map for frenzied fun!

If you're new to the game and want to know how the experts play, search google for either 'pimpest replays' or 'Boxer' (one of the greatest Korean players) and watch in humble amazement.

Due to its comic-book looks, SC has stood the test of time very well and the system requirements are so low your toaster could play it! If you alive and have even the slightest interest in videogames, BUY THIS GAME NOW!!!!!

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review by: date: 2008-05-18 rating:
THIS IS WHY LIMITED INSTALLATIONS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA!
Over the last 10 years that I first installed STARCRAFT I have replayed it countless of times. Every time a new overhyped game disappoints me, this is one of the games I pull out of my library to be reminded what a GREAT PC GAME LOOKS & PLAYS LIKE! (others include UNREAL, BALDUR's GATE, GRIM FANTANGO and SHOGUN:TOTAL WAR)

Everyone has his/her favorite RTS and no one can claim that STARCRAFT introduced the futuristic RTS genre (that would be DUNE). Nevertheless, the great, crisp and clear graphics, the balanced units and the strategic terrain all contributed to turning STARCRAFT into a true classic. This is a game that passed the test of time, not only because its aging graphics are still acceptable but also because it is one of those games that stays with you. Forever.

So, the next time some gaming industry MBA (who probably could not tell an RTS from an cRPG) tables the idea of LIMITED INSTALLATIONS, what he will have primarily accomplished is to have his game forgotten within a year.

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review by: review addict date: 2008-03-27 rating:
To Advis2k (6th March 2005)
you say:
"The thing that really ruins StarCraft is that there no strategy behind it : all you have to do is keep throwing expendable units at the enemy until they are overrun; unlike games like Command & Conquer where you could choose either to crack the enemy with brute force, wage covert war or use aerial support to soften the enemy. Unit control is very annoying as well, you can only control a maximum of 9 units which is far too low considering units in combat life can be counted in seconds, hence the need of constantly creating teams which is undesirable. "


Your statement is contradictory: You cannot moan about this game being all about brute force AND THEN complain about using only 9 units at a time! This is what makes a good player stand out, being able to use the right forces for the right reason at the right time. This IS strategy!!!

I'm sorry to further your contradiction by confirming that C&C, a game which you state is "not about brute force" actually allows you to carry out an attack with an unlimited number of units. This involves a LOT less strategy than an attack based on moving 9 units at a time!!!

You are right on the Starcraft not having the "wage convert" option, but do NOT say you cannot carry out air attacks! Apart from the array of attacking air units, have you ever tried a "drop"? This consists on using transport ships to carry your units to the heart of your enemy's base... Quite a lethal attack if carried out properly! In fact, this only works if done with the right units and very stealthily... again, it's all about strategy!

I just thought I'd put the perception of Starcraft back where it belongs: amongst the best strategy games out there! I still play this game online (it was released 10 years ago) and every now and then play the scenarios because they are AMAZING!! =)

Lets hope Starcraft 2 won't disappoint!


review by: date: 2007-06-16 rating:
Classic RTS
Not much to tell that hasn't already been told.

Beautiful graphics (for its time), great music and sound effects, big storyline (if you're interested read the manual, there is A LOT OF background information there), and of course great gameplay. Each race has its unique characteristics, something that I haven't seen anywhere else.

The truth is I haven't played a lot of RTS games (less than 10), but I guess this one is one of the greatest, if not THE greatest. I also like Dune 2000 very much, contrary to most people's believes.

I haven't played multiplayer yet but the single player missions suit me just fine. I have always been fond of single player games, anyway. The broodwar expansion is not perfect as the original game but when an expansion surprasses the original anyway?

If you're a strategy gamer you probably have played Starcraft already. If you're not, buy this game and it's most probable that you'll become one! Although it may not be the most appropriate RTS for the beginner because it's a little complicated, give it a shot anyway. Or begin your RTS experience with something more simplistic like Warcraft 2 or Dune 2000.

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Accessories

Inno3D GeForce 7300LE 256MB DDR2 PCIE Graphics Card - I-7300LE-G4E3
Inno3D GeForce 7300GT 256MB DDR2 AGP Graphics Card - I-A7300GT-G4F3

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