So I've never played a Starcraft game before, Starcraft 2 will be my first (yes, I'm a Starcraft virgin, be gentle with my hotkeys) and I've heard for many years how amazingly wonderful Starcraft is. Many folks call it the best RTS game ever, and while I've never felt the need to go out and buy the original games (felt I was way to late to the party) it as always intrigued me. I've always wondered what the actual 'magic' is to the series, what makes it as hugely popular as it is? My impressions from the outside is a solidly built, well balanced real-time strategy game. Yet watching competitive battles within the game makes it sound like a complex science, which in itself reminds me of say Street Fighter competitively. It's odd, the online action of Starcraft 2 is why most people will buy that game yet it's this action and dedication that will probably result in me not touching the online multiplayer.  
 
So, what makes Starcraft magical and so special? 

Voodoo.

A few things. 
 
The first reason starcraft 1 was so extremely popular is how balanced it was. It's really, really balanced. If you lose in that game, it's your own fault. This is naturally nice for competitive people. It's also an achievement considering how drastically different the 3 races are. 
 
It was also popular because of the custom maps. Don't like competitive melee play? There's infinite custom games. The map editor is simply incredible, and people can easily make and you can easily play 34243242342 million different games. it originated tower defense (arguably). RPG's. I could literally spend all day talking about the awesome maps. 
 
So there's the major appeal to the competitive person and major appeal to the casual person. 
 
Also, if you're daunted by the 'hardcore pro-gamer sc2 players', you don't need to be. The league system is pretty decent, and if you're an 'average' player you will easily place in gold league where you can play a bit of competitive play without having to worry about being amazing or spending 12 hours a day practicing. 
 
Also, another reason starcraft is so good is because of the control. Units do what you say. which sounds like a simple enough thing, but trust me, going to other RTS games after playing Starcraft is painful.

you wont get it until you've played around 100 hours of it and then try playing another big name rts

Jim Rayner

Go play the game and find out for yourself if that "magic" is true for YOU or not.

 One of its drawing points is that the 3 races are different in playstyle / visually but a ton of effort is used to make them as balanced against each other as possible. 
 
I'm looking forward to the online play (I still haven't got a Beta Key >.>) but what i want even more nowadays is the modding potential.

I mean check out these that have been created in the beta   
 
Metal Slug   

Thanks for your opinions, of course I will play it for myself. Hope I'll still be blown over after all these years of expectation. 

...there is no magic in Starcraft.  It's skills...unless you could Psi, but that's physic energy and not magic.  >.>

The three races are so different yet the entire game is amazingly balanced.

I have never been a big Starcraft fan (much more partial to Warcraft and Diablo) but it's easy to see why people like it. I will probably pick this game up just for the campaign, as sad as that sounds.

Yeah, as others have already said, the "magic" comes from the fact that the three races are very different and each suits a different player, and yet the game is balanced enough that none of them is more powerful than the others.
Additionally, the game universe was well realized and it was a great game in its own right.

I suggest you start with SC1 and Broodwar. It's probably too late to do that if you're so adamant on starting SC2 on release day, since you'll miss out on the story first hand. It's severely dated visually but it's mechanics have stood the test of time really well. I have never played the multiplayer, and nor should I, the game and story itself is worthy of purchase. Besides, those you are going to play the multiplayer have years, YEARS of experience, not to mention those who got the beta.

And if you really want to play SC1 and Brood Wars, you can always try to pick up the Collector's Edition of SC2 - as one of its features is a 2gig USB flash drive with both SC1 and Broodwars on it.  Though the CE is 40$ more than the standard edition, so, if you're on the fence about whether or not you'll be big into the SC universe, it'd be a bit of a riskier buy.  
 
As for why SC is so good?  Mostly what everyone else has said already for multi-player; balanced and an amazing tool set for people to create custom content with, which is just astounding.  As far as the single player goes, Blizzard is consistently good with being able to tell a compelling, interesting story I think.  If you're not used to playing Blizzard games then some of the stuff they do in their stories can be downright shocking, if you're used to Blizzard games, there are some thing you learn to expect from the way their stories are bound to progress - even then, however, Blizzard is pretty good at capturing human emotion I think. 

The magic? I have no idea. I understand why it is considered the gold standard for RTS games and can appreciate it from a distance, but it's the kind of game that is absolutely inaccessible to anyone who wasn't playing it when it came out on a multiplayer front, which is something that even die-hard fans will admit. Considering that Starcraft 2 looks to be building on many of the concepts found in the first game, I doubt it will be very different now either. 
 
As for the single player? Fuck RTS single player. Wars of attrition with the computer are the opposite of fun.

If games were sciences, Sc2 would be rocket science :P. 

i've always really enjoyed the game's story and all the lore associated with it.  plus the fact that it's so damn satisfying to win, as you feel like you've really accomplished something.
 
and the music rules!

I think there are three parts to the 'magic' of it. 

1. Balance. When you lose, you lost only because you did something wrong and your opponent did something right. There's no silly 'tiers' or advantages to blame your loss/win on.
2. Variety. This is (if I remember correctly) really put SC ahead of other RTS games of it's time. There are three completely different races, and yet they are all perfectly balanced against each other.
3. Depth. There is always something new to learn, something to improve on, something to strive for. Whether it's a new build, increasing your apm, or even just learning the hotkeys; there's never a point where you're just "maxed out" skill wise.

" I will probably pick this game up just for the campaign, as sad as that sounds. "

The story is one of the main draws for me. Blizzard always creates a really cool universe in whatever game you're playing an SC is no exception. Even their instruction manuals kick ass, there's pages of back story.

" The story is one of the main draws for me. Blizzard always creates a really cool universe in whatever game you're playing an SC is no exception. Even their instruction manuals kick ass, there's pages of back story. "

I'm more into the competitive aspect but the single player looks like one of the most incredible single player RTS campaigns ever. And blizzard never fails in this regard. I wasn't all that into the multiplayer of Warcraft 3 but I think it probably had one of the best campaigns ever. I fully expect that Starcraft 2 will match it. 
 
And considering how long and indepth it is.. I wouldn't say that buying for the single player is a bad thing at all. Seriously, it's going to be incredible. 
 
But I'd also recommend checking out custom maps, they're seriously endlessly entertaining even if you aren't into competitive play.