Starcraft 2

[Professor S]

This quote from Penny-Arcade sums up my thoughts on StarCraft 2:

They say you can't go home again, but you can, actually, if your home is an imaginary world infested with xenomorphs. I was under the impression that the genre had moved past this and into squads, cover, and co-op. Maybe it has. But what they've done here - that is, to realize a worthy nostalgia that doesn't merely trade on sentimentality - bears itself with a regal charm.

I am happily disappointed in this game, if that is possible. The game play is old, but the design around it is magnificent. I still have a hard time suspending disbelief when my marines just stand there taking fire when there is plenty of cover to be had, but this cover is just atmospheric. To me, this removes a layer of strategy and thoughtful game play that is inherent to my enjoyment of an RTS, but somehow SC2 makes me forget that for a while, and just continues to dazzle me with its balance, production value and incredible mission design.

That said, I doubt I'll play through again. I've experienced the game, and without the added layers of environmental interactivity, I'm not seeing a lot of replayability in the single player.

This is a last, glorious finale to classic RTSs we all grew up with, but to me it is still a finale. Relic and Creative Assembly have picked up the torch, and I hope they continue to run with it.

[Vampyr]

I don't get that Penny Arcade comment. Squads and cover (Dawn of War) and "traditional rts" themes of building a faceless army and various control structures seem like two entirely different game types to me. I would go as far as to say you can enjoy one and not the other.

[Dylflon]

Bought this game a couple days ago.

It's pretty good!