A sneak peek at what's coming with Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

[Rui]

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty (and probably its following expansions) will feature an «unique single player campaign», quoting the introduction at the official website.But what has been around for a while that, probably, not everyone has noticed -- not even those playing the Beta --, is a look at this campaign. Also, if you have not played the Beta and are scared to get to Battle.Net without knowing what to do, know that Blizzard has thought of you as well.The campaign that is coming with Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is not totally linear, and there are a lot of customization options. Blizzard has decided that you will spend cash that you earn during campaign missions on permanent upgrades for your army that carry on to future quests.In-between missions, you will have the option to take a look at this Zerg and Protoss «research laboratory». When you reach a certain amount of points -- which are achieved through the completion of optional quests or the finding of relics during missions --, you will have the option to choose between a few upgrades.For example, after achieving enough points in the Protoss research tree, you have the option to either boost your Marines' Gauss Rifles with 5% extra damage or, instead, increase the Marines' resistance to attacks. Later upgrades grant the ability to build Supply Depots (food production structure, necessary to train additional units) instantly or for Refineries (buildings necessary for harvesting Vespene Gas) to operate without SCVs (worker unit), a rewarding incentive to fully explore every mission you play.

Zerg research	Protoss research
5 points	Choice between attaching Turrets to Bunkers or increasing Bunker health	Choose to either grant extra damage and attack rate for your Marines or increase their health and armor
10 points	Attach a turret to your command center or acquire the ability to build Flame Turrets	Choice between instant Supply Depot building or quicker Refineries
15 points	Obtain a new Predator offensive unit, or Hercules, a new transport unit	Have Refineries work automatically without the need of SCVs or choose to be able to train two SCVs at once
20 points	Acquire a self-healing passive skill for ships or choose to have units with higher starting energy	Grant the Raven an attack or choose to be able to build a Science Vessel
25 points	Choose between a structure to permanently mind control a Zerg unit or a building to slow the Zerg	Have both Reactors and Tech Labs be able to be attached on a single Barracks, or Orbital Drop Pods that deploy units directly into the battlefield

Now, even after you've fully explored the campaign -- which has been said to take over twenty hours --, there are still these Challenge Levels you can try to learn techniques indispensable for online play. Among other things, they teach you how to defend yourself against the famous Zerg rush and how to micro your Protoss units. Even if you've played the Beta and are already familiar with SC2's mechanics, these Challenges can be fun (you may also acquire achievements through them).

Here are some of the coolest screenshots:

Screenshot time!

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And these are just a few of the nearly four hundred! Check out more of them here!

 

[Zwiebelchen]

Thanks for pointing that out for those people that were to lazy to check the blues and the official website like me. I'm now convinced that (despite the horrible mod support) buying SC2 might be a good thing, at least because of the awesome singleplayer campaign.

 

[Deolrin]

Awesome. Even though I knew about most of this.

 

[Tleno]

I told you guys that was a robo-dog! Told ya! It's that predator unit!

 

[HINDYhat]

Ahem. Much less cool than a robo-dog.

 

[Tleno]

Then what's that thing in first picture, zerg research on 15 points of resarch on a left?

 

[I-am-murloc]

Good and informative post

 

[Deolrin]

HINDYhat, the portrait inside the game, with the name "Predator", is a robo-dog.

 

[Grey Nightmare]

Wow thanks Rui, so they are already working on the protoss campaign? (screen 4). Or is that one of these challenges?

 

[Hawkwing]

This sounds awesome! Though, yeah, I too knew most of this, I didn't know what all the options were. The 25 point ones sound awesome. O.O

Then what's that thing in first picture, zerg research on 15 points of resarch on a left?

http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Cybercat

Cybercat just sounds really stupid.

Wow thanks Rui, so they are already working on the protoss campaign? (screen 4). Or is that one of these challenges?

I think Blizzard said there's a mini campaign based around Zeratul within Wings of Liberty.

 

[Tleno]

This sounds awesome! Though, yeah, I too knew most of this, I didn't know what all the options were. The 25 point ones sound awesome. O.O



http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Cybercat

Cybercat just sounds really stupid.



I think Blizzard said there's a mini campaign based around Zeratul within Wings of Liberty.

Cybercat? Man why no robo-dog? I mean dogs are so much better than cats, esspecially if they are made from nano-steel and have heavy metalic claws and fangs.

Minicampaing? why does it smell like training campaing? I mean just look, Zeratul has to go to some three beacons, doesn't it remind you of WC: Reigin of Choas?

 

[Anti_Bodies]

That last screen shot with the 400 zerg was pretty cool.

 

[Tleno]

Picture eight. Are those are.. civilians over there? To me actually they look more of some prisioneers or something, but hey, there is a civilian model!

 

[Deolrin]

We already know for quite some time now that SC2 will have civilian\colonist models.

 

[WanderingPeanut]

Picture 10 (second last), is that some weird worm thing climbing up that cliff? Looks cool anyway.

 

[Rui]

For those interested in the challenge missions, this might also interest you (if you are led to the digital purchase ad, remember to click «Continue to the Starcraft II Community» at the top).