StarCraft

My review of Starcraft for the PC.   Blizzard Entertainment makes Starcraft.   Here is my review:

Before I give my review, I want to let you all know a good friend named Ryan Trusz (whom I known for 13 years before he died of Brain Cancer 2 days before my wedding to my current wife Kelly) for getting me into this game when I went to his house.   He had this game for his computer and when I finally got my own computer the first game I bought is Starcraft Battle Chest.   Thank you Ryan for that.   I also want to give credit for the help of this review to Giant Bomb for using some of their report on Starcraft for my review.   Thank you Giant Bomb.

Synopsis:

Starcraft is an RTS (Real Time Strategy) game that you manage your forces by gathering resources like Minerals and Vespene Gas for building structures like Supply Depots, Science Facilities, Barracks, Starports, Factories, and other structures.   Also you can make military vehicles like for ground forces like the Siege Tanks, Vultures, and Goliath Mech units for air forces like Science Vessels, Transports, Wraith Fighters, and Yamato Battle-Cruisers.   Also you can upgrade your weapons and armor.   Also you can research better technologies as well.   One more thing you can also train Marines and Firebats as well.   This goes for the Zerg and Protoss as well.  

A little back-story for each races (according to Game Bomb):

Terrans

The Terrans are a colony of humans and use fairly standard units and tactics in terms of RTS games. Terrans are generally considered to be the most defensive race in the game, as they possess many assets, which can make their bases especially difficult to penetrate. Bunkers can be filled with up to four basic ground units and may be quickly repaired by their worker units offer excellent base defense, particularly when backed up by siege tanks. Siege tanks, while unable to attack air units, have the longest attack range in the game and deal massive damage to ground forces.  Many Terran structures also have the ability to fly and relocate, although they move rather slowly.  Terrans also have many methods of cloak detection and also tend to be the most micromanagement intensive race when it comes to combat.  Even their most basic units, Marines, have a researchable activated ability that makes them considerably more effective in combat if used at the right time. Other notable units include the Goliath (a superb ground-to-air specialist that also attacks ground units), the Battle cruiser (the unit with the most hit points in the game), and the Ghost (another specialty unit with the ability to call in tactical nuclear strikes).

Terrans explore the far reaches of the galaxy in order to expand their empire. Jim Raynor, a terran Marshal on the planet Mar Sara, is one of the main protagonists in the single player campaign. Due to several misunderstandings about the intentions of the Protoss and Zerg, Raynor is forced to join a group of soldiers that rebel against the Confederacy, the main governing body of the Terrans. This group, known as the Sons of Korhal, is how Raynor comes to know Sarah Kerrigan, the game's other main protagonist. Kerrigan is a powerful psionic human, who plays a major role in the later part of the single player campaign.

Arcturus Mengsk, a high-ranking member of the Sons of Korhal, clashes with Raynor during the campaign and the conflict between these two characters is central to the story.

Protoss

The Protoss are a technological race that have shields for all of their units.  Their units follow a "quality over quantity" philosophy.  Protoss buildings must be constructed within range of pylons, which are also needed to raise their unit supply level.   The Protoss defensive structure is the photon cannon, which attacks both air and ground units, and serves as one of their two methods of cloak detection.  Protoss units and buildings have both regular hit points, which they have no way of regaining, and shields, which recharge slowly over time and may be recharged instantly using shield batteries.  The Protoss are likely the first race to be used by new players, since their units are slightly more powerful and setting up a defensive network requires less work than either of the other two races. Notable units for the Protoss include the Zealot (a powerful early game ground unit), the Dragoon (a mobile photon cannon that can attack air and ground units), and the Carrier (an incredibly powerful unit that can send out up to 8 automated Interceptors at a time).

The Protoss seem to be based off of the ancient Greeks, with their traditions of honor and deeply philosophical musings. The hero Zeratul fulfills his duty early in the Protoss campaign, but a critical mistake causes the Zerg to learn the location of the Protoss home world of Aiur. Executor Tassadar and Executor Artanis are two other heroes in the Protoss campaign who serve their people with great honor and distinction.

Zerg

The Zerg are insect-like races that have developed their combat abilities through forced evolution of various conquered species.  They spawn new units and buildings from larvae rather than building or training them. One of the biggest advantages of the Zerg is that all of their units come from their central building, the Hatchery. Therefore, the Zerg can quickly make an army of any particular unit.  This can also be a liability, however, as hatcheries are expensive and slow to build.  Instead of a building, Zerg supply comes from Overlord units that also serve, with the proper upgrades, as cloak detection and unit transports. The Zerg follow a basic hive mind structure and are similar in many ways to the Borg from Star Trek. They are ruled by the Overmind. The Overmind then presides over Overlords, which govern Zerg units on the battlefield. Notable Zerg units include the Hydralisk (excellent ground unit with ground-ground and ground-air attacks), the Mutalisk (basic air unit that is very effective in groups), and Zergling (are produced two at once and can be devastating to buildings or larger, slower units).

The Zerg seem to be the antagonists of the game, offering essentially no reason for brutally attacking both the Terrans and the Protoss. They invade the Protoss home world of Aiur, destroy several human colonies, and eventually infest Sarah Kerrigan. Kerrigan becomes an immensely powerful Zerg hero unit, becoming known as The Queen of Blades.

In my opinion the Zerg are somewhat like the Borg in Star Trek.   The Borg assimilates both biological and technological matter, but the Zerg just assimilates biological matter.

Main characters are Jim Raynor, Sarah Kerrigan, The Overmind, Zeratul, Tassadar, Artanis, Arcturus Mengsk, and others.  

Sarah Kerrigan was a Ghost.   Ghosts are units that are used for recon and also target a specific area for nuclear strikes, and can lock ground units so they can’t attack or move.   She was sent on a mission by Arcturus Mengsk but was captured by The Overmind and turned into the Queen Of Blades.   She then became the new Overmind and is in total control of all Zerg.  

Game Play:

The game play is in depth.   As an RTS game you have complete control of all activities your forces do.   You gather recourses, train your troops, build structures, research and upgrade technology, and build ground and air vehicles.   Then you build a sizable army then send that army to destroy the enemy.   All you do, but its challenging as hell.   In the beginning of each campaign you are taught to use each units, please utilize this and don’t skip this.

Graphics:

The graphics are excellent.   You can see whatever you kill and destroy explode and see whatever Zerg, Protoss, and Terran Marines explode and see their bodies explode and the entrails to follow.   This is another game that you look from the top down as well.

Sound:

The sound is incredible.   When you fire your weapons you can hear everything from the echoes of the ammo and hear the screams of whatever you destroy.   When you click on a unit in rapid succession you hear them say different things and most of them are funny and some are based on certain Japanese Animation shows.  

Ratings (1 is bad and 10 is good):

Game Play:   9.0

Graphics:      8.5

Sound:          8.0

Plot:              7.5

Average:      8.25