by:	July 16, 2004

In 1998, proven PC developer Blizzard Entertainment captivated gamers everywhere with the intense strategy, fast-paced action and deep storyline of Starcraft and the Brood War expansion. Featuring three unique species and an original universe filled with tons of distinct environments, the game combined an engaging single-player experience with some of the best multiplayer replay value in the history of online play. It’s been six years since we last did battle with the Terrans, Zerg and Protoss, and gamers have been dreaming of a sequel the whole time. Blizzard is taking us back into their universe, but the vehicle we’ll be traveling in isn’t exactly what you’d expect. In 2005, we’ll revisit the creatures and locales of the Starcraft universe and get up-close and personal in a way you never imagined. Prepare to infiltrate one of the most popular RTS series’ ever in Starcraft: Ghost.

In Starcraft: Ghost, players will take on the role of a highly trained covert operative by the name of Nova, who bears the responsibility of changing the tide of epic battles by infiltrating enemy installations to retrieve valuable information or getting close enough to call in a nuclear strike with a target laser. Fans of the franchise will surely remember the Ghost unit and the abilities they used. Players will be able to use the same abilities in Starcraft: Ghost, and they’ll be able to admire them in full 3D. You’ll be able to disable machines with your lockdown projectile, move at incredible speeds to defeat enemies, call down impressive air support in the form of Battleship Yamato Cannons and nuclear warheads, and most importantly, cloak yourself to pass undetected through enemy territory. While the game is primarily based on stealth gameplay, you’ll have an energy meter that will prevent you from using your cloak and speed abilities relentlessly.

Probably the toughest thing for new developer Swingin’ Ape Studios to do with Starcraft: Ghost is to make the player feel as though they’re playing a key role in the success or failure of a war encompassing entire planets while they’re sneaking through enemy bases undetected. With the huge spectrum of moves at your fingertips, that idea becomes a little easier to swallow. Nova not only has access to the best weapons and technology, but she’s also extremely mobile, and you’ll need every ability she has to get through alive. Starcraft: Ghost will also emphasize platforming elements in order to showcase every one of Nova’s talents, although they still need to be polished if they’re going to feel as strong as the stealth elements of the game. Many of the game’s situations will feature multiple solutions, allowing the player to decide just how they’d like to proceed. Of course, stealth kills in the style of Tenchu often provide the safest route, but make no mistake that you’ll be armed with the right tools in case things get rough. You’ll even be able to pilot the occasional Terran vehicle to break up the monotonous gameplay. Goliath mechs, siege tanks and vulture bikes will all be controllable at some point. This helps to show off the game’s most valuable asset: the Starcraft universe.

We’ve certainly seen plenty of 3rd person stealth-action games in recent years, and in all honesty, Starcraft: Ghost’s gameplay doesn’t really look much different. What sets it apart from the rest of the genre is the setting. Millions of PC gamers around the world spent countless hours becoming familiar with the environments, creatures and technology in the Starcraft RTS games. With the same idea behind their upcoming MMORPG World of Warcraft, Blizzard aims to draw in their past audience and new players alike by allowing them to experience the same universe in 3D with the latest technology and gameplay trends. Many favorite units from the original game will make an impressive appearance in Starcraft: Ghost, including the Terran Marines and Firebats, as well as Zerg Hydrolisks, Zerglings and Ultralisks. The protoss will also return, although there have been less details about them. Detail have been taken to ensure that all models look as menacing as you’d imagined in 3D, and they’ll animate in a realistic manner.

The graphics are coming along nicely, taking advantage of the Xbox’s graphical capabilities so that it is the best looking version of them all. Special effects and excellent lighting will help the various call-down abilities and explosions look satisfyingly huge, and weather effects have been added to create a more immersive setting. If one thing can be said about Blizzard as a developer, it’s that they won’t release a game until they’re sure it’s ready. Looking at the rocky development cycle of Starcraft: Ghost, that is easy to see. Originally planned for a 2003 release, the game has endured several delays so that Blizzard could make sure everything they’d planned could be included. Recently, developer Nihilistic was removed from the project and replaced by Swingin’ Ape Studios, the company behind last year’s moderately successful Metal Arms: A Glitch in the System. Though there’s still plenty of time left until the game is finished, it’s coming along pretty nicely. The excellent graphics and cool abilities should compliment the Starcraft universe well and help set Starcraft: Ghost apart from other games in the newly-crowded stealth-action genre. If Blizzard and Swingin’ Ape can offer solid stealth and shooting mechanics and polish up the platforming elements of the game, Starcraft: Ghost just might turn out to be a compelling game worth checking out if and when it ships in early 2005.

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