First! Now let's talk spoilers (SC2)!

[Legion]

I enjoyed the campaign a lot.

One thing that bugged me a LOT was the voice of the hybrid in the map with zeratul and the preservers. So much bass, so much effect. It was like 'wtf are you saying man?' It sounded a bit like some kinda fanboy trying to do a protoss.

I liked the hybrid's voice... I hated most of the Protoss in general because I couldn't understand THEM. I could understand the hybrid fine even with all the effects on it.

Got a bit further today. I am so disappointed with the voices in general. Blizzard used to be all ABOUT great voice effects, I mean, have you HEARD the Overmind? I hate to be boasting, but even *I* did a better Overmind! I keep hearing Cairne Bloodhoof when using Zeratul, and that Archon... Jeez.

I agree with Maglok, the hybrid sounded like they were just testing everything available in Audition.

Remember, guys, how we used to be so meticulous when creating protoss voices for our custom campaigns? Seems like Blizzard's flipping us the finger with these abominably voice acted and processed protoss.

[/rant]

Terrans sound fine, though. Loving Tychus' voice.

[RazorclawX]

Got a bit further today. I am so disappointed with the voices in general. Blizzard used to be all ABOUT great voice effects, I mean, have you HEARD the Overmind? I hate to be boasting, but even *I* did a better Overmind! I keep hearing Cairne Bloodhoof when using Zeratul, and that Archon... Jeez.

Hate to break it to you, but the Overmind is the same voice.

[Legion]

Got a bit further today. I am so disappointed with the voices in general. Blizzard used to be all ABOUT great voice effects, I mean, have you HEARD the Overmind? I hate to be boasting, but even *I* did a better Overmind! I keep hearing Cairne Bloodhoof when using Zeratul, and that Archon... Jeez.

Hate to break it to you, but the Overmind is the same voice.

Hate to break it to you, but it's not. I'm talking about the effects on the one heard in the vision of the Overmind. I compared. Not the same. Sorry. It sounds like the one from that cheap non-Blizzard licensed expansion.

[wibod]

I find it hilarious that Metzen said this was his best work story wise. Kerrigan still has zerg bits by the looks of her hair btw.

Really the campaign just feels like a "hey look what the map editor can do!" as opposed to an actual great singleplayer experience. It was fun, but a lot of it felt hollow.

[Thalraxal]

Gameplay-wise, the campaign was solid.  Fun missions, and there was a wide variety.  Never got stale.  Good on Blizzard.

Character-wise, good cast.  Great voice acting except for the Protoss characters.  I found the Protoss characters themselves to all be a bit on the stale side.  Selendis seeming to be not much more than a walking, talking Protoss stereotype.

Story-wise...  I was disappointed.  While an interesting idea, I think the non-linear missions really hurt the flow of the story.  I ended up with some serious mood whiplash between all the cheer and good times of finishing the Rebellion storyline and tense mood and general unease at the end of the Artifacts Storyline.

As for Kerrigan's fate... it feels like too much of an easy way out.  It would have been far more interesting, I think, if Kerrigan remained as the Queen of Blades, and was still the best chance they had to defeat the Hybrids.  Oh, well, atleast those stupid heels of hers are gone.

As for the Overmind twist... I like the idea of it, but they've got a lot of questions to answer about it, because right now they feels like a collection of giant plot holes.  You'd think he would have made his Agent of Change a bit more prepared to fight the Hybrids, or at least more proactive.  She seemed pretty much resigned to the whole "we're all gunna die" thing.  I'm guessing that while fully infested, Kerrigan also fell under the Fallen One's influence, and thanks to her partial deinfestation, she's now free of that?  Oh, well, I guess that's what Heart of the Swarm is for.

Overall: I don't think Wings of Liberty stands well on its own, and I don't feel particularly interested in the direction the plot appears to be going in.  We just redeemed the most interesting villain in the setting with magic sufficiently advanced technology and her replacement (Fallen One) doesn't feel that interesting yet.  Oh, well.  The Hybrids are still cool.

EDIT: I did just realized something.  Dr. Narud, that guy in charge of the Mobius Foundation.  Narud, Duran.  Sigh.  I guess that could prove to be interesting.

[mAc Chaos]

lool, good catch Thalraxal.

[AA7Dragoon]

Yeah, Thalraxal.  I have spent some time looking deeply into the character of Kerrigan.  In this campaign, she wanted to obstruct saving the galaxy.  Her behavior was antagonistic in favor of the Fallen One, although in looking back at Brood War, it doesn't surprise me now.  The game always ended with her wanting to come back to "finish the job" as Raynor put it.  In the end, she planned to kill and assimilate them all.

I believe in the space of the four years, she slowly became more and more overtaken by the Fallen One's influence.  Like the Overmind, she was loosing her autonomy as part human.  She became resigned, and accepting of her fate that everyone and everything was going to die.  It's as if she didn't care anymore, in essence, becoming the mindless Zerg themselves in her inner-despair.  To be reviled and hated by all can take a toll on even the Queen of Blades.  She was the loneliest person in the galaxy.

Maybe the Zerg hair on Kerrigan after the blast indicates she is still part Zerg and partly in control of the Swarm.  However, I believe she has lost most of her power, and the Zerg campaign will focus on control of the swarm.  Will the Hybrids take control of the Zerg or will new cerebrates and a fledgling Overmind fight for control?  Regardless, I believe Kerrigan will continue to lose her hold on the Swarm, and become a normal Terran again.  She can't go back to what she was, and the Zerg needs to maintain itself as an antagonistic force since the major characters of StarCraft on the Terran and Protoss side are buddy/buddy.

Now I am not so sure how Mengsk is going to die with Kerrigan changed.  They've definitely propped up Valerian to be his successor though.  Mengsk will not live through the final campaigns.


By the way, why did Kerrigan want the artifacts and what was she planning to use them for?

[JimmyJames]

Mm... definitely like the Stay Awhile and Listen interface. Creates for a very very nice breather inbetween missions and the cutscenes are just really nice to have. Now I hope I'll be able to appreciate them 10x's better in the future when I get a better setup not sponsored by a college budget.

The story was really spotty so I couldn't attach myself to it. When it came to the ending cinematic I thought it was straight out of no where that we suddenly jumped into de-infesting Kerrigan. I couldn't believe. They may have dropped a few hints but it seemed like patchwork.

However, I'm very amazed at all the customization in the single-player campaign. I can't wait to see what fans will create.

Nova, Starcraft: Ghost. I thought it was an amusing inside joke Blizzard. Very resourceful.

[Thalraxal]

Yeah, Thalraxal.  I have spent some time looking deeply into the character of Kerrigan.  In this campaign, she wanted to obstruct saving the galaxy.  Her behavior was antagonistic in favor of the Fallen One, although in looking back at Brood War, it doesn't surprise me now.  The game always ended with her wanting to come back to "finish the job" as Raynor put it.  In the end, she planned to kill and assimilate them all.

I believe in the space of the four years, she slowly became more and more overtaken by the Fallen One's influence.  Like the Overmind, she was loosing her autonomy as part human.  She became resigned, and accepting of her fate that everyone and everything was going to die.  It's as if she didn't care anymore, in essence, becoming the mindless Zerg themselves in her inner-despair.  To be reviled and hated by all can take a toll on even the Queen of Blades.  She was the loneliest person in the galaxy.

Maybe the Zerg hair on Kerrigan after the blast indicates she is still part Zerg and partly in control of the Swarm.  However, I believe she has lost most of her power, and the Zerg campaign will focus on control of the swarm.  Will the Hybrids take control of the Zerg or will new cerebrates and a fledgling Overmind fight for control?  Regardless, I believe Kerrigan will continue to lose her hold on the Swarm, and become a normal Terran again.  She can't go back to what she was, and the Zerg needs to maintain itself as an antagonistic force since the major characters of StarCraft on the Terran and Protoss side are buddy/buddy.

Now I am not so sure how Mengsk is going to die with Kerrigan changed.  They've definitely propped up Valerian to be his successor though.  Mengsk will not live through the final campaigns.


By the way, why did Kerrigan want the artifacts and what was she planning to use them for?

Kerrigan needed to get powered down/lose control if she was going to be the main character for the Zerg campaign.  I was expecting Hybrids usurping chunks of Swarm away from her, but this way works too.  I think that the Hybrids are going to be the new ruling class of the Swarm, since we pretty much see them running the show at the end of the Universe.  I'm going to bet that we'll spend a chunk of the campaign cruising around on the Hyperion gathering up wayward Zerg to help fight them.  Since The Overmind is now a goodguy, don't think we'll see another new one, but I think there's a chance of the old one getting resurrected somehow.  I'm still hoping for some rogue Cerebrates though.

The reasons for Kerrigan's past behaviour, and the full explanation of The Overmind's Cunning Plan will probably be dealt with in Heart of the Swarm.  You've pretty much nailed it on why I think that it's going to be a "Kerrigan was under the sway of the Fallen One", AA7.

As for Kerrigan's final fate...  I don't see Jim and Kerrigan getting the happy ending with her fully human (then again, I didn't see Kerrigan getting uninfested by sufficiently advanced technology either).  I think she's going to end up fully infested again, but retain her full free will and be "not evil".

If The Overmind's end goal was the grant the Zerg free-will, then we'll likely see a Swarm just as divided as the Terrans are and Protoss were, which leaves plenty of room for antagonists.

I agree that Mengsk isn't going to live, but I'm with you on the "I have no clue how he's actually going to die".  I don't think Kerrigan will be the one to kill him, and I don't think Jim will either.  Valarian is still a contender in my books, but I think I'll go for "Korhal is overrun by the Hybrids and Mengsk goes down defending it".  The Terrans were all dead before the Fallen One finished off the Protoss at the end of the Universe after all.

As for why Kerrigan wanted the Artifacts... if she knew what they could do her than she either wanted to: A) Claim them so that she could ensure that they were never used against her or B) Claim them so that she could let them do their thing.  If they did free her from the Fallen One's control, then that could have been her goal all along.

[Magic]

Finished an hour ago, posted my thoughts and wondering questions here.

Feel free to reply here though.

Re: Voice acting
Overmind was fine, sounded exactly the same as before to me. Plus I heard Paul Eiding as a civilian in Liberation Day so I knew it was him doing the voice.

Zeratul was generally fine, but I still don't care much for the Protoss voices, too many of them sound like humans with just a few echoes applied. They're definitely not as wonderfully 'alien'  as in SC1. I can imagine Blizz's voice editors thinking or being told that the old voices were hard to hear clearly or something, so they lowered the effects ... and then saved them for the hybrid. To be fair, most of the hybrids lines were ok, but some were incomprehensible to me. I think there was his last line in the "In Utter Darkness" level, the climax of his plan to now remove the zerg, and I couldn't make it out at all.

EDIT: I did just realized something.  Dr. Narud, that guy in charge of the Mobius Foundation.  Narud, Duran.  Sigh.  I guess that could prove to be interesting.

OH SNAP
Can't believe I missed that. I guess he wasn't in it for very long, and when he was I kept staring at his remarkable facial hair and fruity accent.

Thalraxal: All of the cerebrates are dead according to canon - as in Metzen replied to a question at BlizzCon or somewhere and said that they're all gone, completely. Still, no one stays dead for long in Blizzard games (Tassadar coming back was a bit much, but I caved in and thought it was interesting). There's a lot to speculate on, but you and AA7 are doing well, I don't have much to add.

As for Mengsk, I reckon he  is going to lose it and do something nuts like align with the hybrids as long as they guarantee he remains leader of the Dominion (even if it will ultimately fail at the end of time), forcing Valarien to choose to go against father.

Remember, he wanted Kerrigan killed. It was either to save his own ass and for revenge ... or because he was, just maybe, following an order from a higher power.

So could we see a Dominion civil war? We always get rising drama followed by a huge battle involving all of the races, with the villains being only just defeated, before things settle back to normal - presumably Val will lead the Dominion but with liberty in mind, with Raynor going into retirement with Kerrigan (If she survives - she might have to sacrifice herself in a tearful goodbye) and the Protoss, once more, rebuilding their fragile civilization.

PS - I'll bite. Which part of the campaign suggests that the Fallen One is an evil Xel'Naga? I thought it was a reference to Kerrigan until now.

[Legion]

Re: Voice acting
Overmind was fine, sounded exactly the same as before to me. him doing the voice. Plus I heard Paul Eiding as a civilian in Liberation Day so I knew it was him doing the voice.

*sigh* So quickly they forget. If I wasn't so technically challenged, I'd extract samples from both Overminds to illustrate. The new Overmind is SO unlike the first, it's disgusting. Paul Eiding may have done this one (though your logic for it escapes me), but his voice is completely drowned out by the tinkerings of the "sound designer". His Protoss advisor is fine and so are his Terran civilian voices.

I almost love SC2. Almost, because I hate the sound. Which was a big thing for me in SC1. It's the same voice editors that did Warcraft 3 voices, that's obvious, but not that did SC1. They can't be the same ones! Ah! AuspexTurmalis, get your lazy tush over here stat!

Oh, and, hi magic.

[tipereth]

The overmind's voice in the first game was a result of psychic barriers placed on it by the Xel'Naga so it's voice was all diff-you know what? It doesn't matter.

[Master Jademus Sreg]

PS - I'll bite. Which part of the campaign suggests that the Fallen One is an evil Xel'Naga? I thought it was a reference to Kerrigan until now.

The missions you play from Zeratul's memory crystal thing in the lab.

[Xelxiuz]

I shudder to think of how people will hold custom campaigns to that standard with the cutscenes. The sorry fact is the assets used for the Hyperion are really only any good for the Wings of Liberty campaign.

You'll just have to write a better story to cover for it

That can't be hard. The game's story isn't all that great. The gameplay is excellent, which is what really carries the campaign.

That was my point but yeah. Blizzard has never crafted good stories so I don't see a problem. SC1 if you take away all the nostalgia is just a very well executed performance but if you took away all the voice acting, music, etc etc and read it purely by script it's pretty bad.

[Maglok]

@Magic: Mengsk anwsering to the hybrids, interesting though, but... In the secret mission we see the dominion testing on hybdrids (or even making them). What would you say about that then, it doesn't seem to add up.