I want to point out that, regardless on whether you like it or hate it, the ending was quite decisive. Blizzard has done what they have failed to do in the past, which is actually finish a story in it's entirety. To me, this means the Starcraft franchise has mostly ended.
Ultimately, I'm not saying the story/tone/lore direction was good or bad - in fact, I'm pretty ambivalent about it. What I do believe though is that the ending tied things up neatly. I'm able to take it in and have some real closure for Starcraft 2. I think this closure isn't really dependent on one's opinion on whether it was subjectively a good or bad ending. Think about this in comparison to the end of Mass Effect 3 before they added those epilogue slides... there was no closure! While I am personally not satisfied with the end of Mass Effect 3, the addition of the (admittedly low budget) epilogue slides/Extended Cut did provide me closure and I'm ok with it. Into The Void also provided this closure whether you and I liked the tone of it or not.
Anyway, I suppose I'll never understand why folks let these retcons completely ruin these games for them. I agree that the Xel'Naga changes were weird, but that doesn't suddenly make this the WORST GAME EVER. Given the complete mess that we had going into this game, I think they somehow managed to patch it together into a workable ending even if the tone changed into a Japanese anime at the end. I guess I'm just happy that there was a real ending that, frankly, wasn't that off the rails considering this whole "Chosen One" Kerrigan was set up over all three games.
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Yes, you are definitely right. Despite my criticisms, I quite enjoyed playing the campaign. I also acknowledge that they had already built themselves something of a shit sandwich, so the fact that they could wrap it up is an achievement. I hope that Blizzard's learned some painful lessons from the storyline problems and their reception, but I suspect not, alas.
I love the campaign too but the only one thing i really dont like is kerrigan's xel naga model (they could make more xel naga as that flying xel naga has) or more zergish (idk) but then blizzard fixed it when kerrigan is finally again in human form, brunette. That's again more starcraftish sarah which i love much more than old one. I can play lotv campaign all days over and over again and still get not enough.
It was the best campaign of the 3, but it left one question hanging,
Why are the xel'naga Cthulhu? And if kerrigan was supposed to transform into the xel'naga, why didn't she become a Cthulhu and instead became an angel?
Time to check out the new editor assets now though.
Why are the xel'naga Cthulhu? And if kerrigan was supposed to transform into the xel'naga, why didn't she become a Cthulhu and instead became an angel?
I would say: for the simple reason that she was a Terran become Zerg become Xel'naga. As far as we know the XN were a regular race before all the events of both StarCrafts happened (albeit a ridiculously powerful one), and I sort of doubt whether any being of a different race can ever truly turn into a XN. Consider infested Terrans: they are said to be Zerg organisms, but they don't look like Zerglings or Hydralisks. I'm assuming if a Protoss would've become a XN (in some way) they would look different too.
Having just finished the campaign, I have to say I was quite happy with it. It was just plain strong, overal. The pitfalls HotS basically dove into were mostly avoided. All characters of the main cast were strong characters, and I especially enjoyed Artanis' stance and the whole overarching theme of the campaign. This whole thing could have been about being on the run and fighting against overwhelming odds, but while this was part of the story, it didn't take the overtone in the same way it did in a game like Mass Effect. Artanis stood proud and symbolized the need for unity amongst his people, and provided a touching storyline in that regard. The whole thing could've been emo as shit (especially with the death of Zeratul being in there), but it wasn't: it was about hope, and standing up proudly in the face of a seemingly unbeatable threat. It was a story that really resonated with me on a personal level. I'm not going to claim it changed my entire outlook on life, but it was definitely something special in the sense that I will remember it, all cliché's aside. That alone is a powerful thing, made better by the fact that I was expecting another HotS.
That said: haters are most definitely going to hate. We've already seen the first bits of that with people complaining about Kerrigan's role in the outro, but I'm sure we may see worse come by on the forums and in review. Folks are going to misinterpret the focus on 'change of traditions' and the double mention of 'freedom' as the whole thing being some kind of cardboard 'FREEDOM YEAHRRR' kind of story and sob about the Protoss changing as a race. For me, however, all significant questions were answered quite clearly, and there were no real occurences that felt so far-fetched, lame, or retconned that I simply couldn't accept them.
Overall I'd give the experience of the single-player campaign of all three games as a whole a 9/10 and I'd definitely recommend it - with the asterisk of HotS being very disappointing at times.
The LOTV story certainly created an alternate reality for the game. Tho I prefer the one where Zeratul lives and the nerve cords dont need to be Severed. Just think about this for a moment Terran with their Technological abilities can make a Hive mind emulator to control the Zerg but Protoss is just helpless to resists the powers of Amon. Also the Keystone/Artifact is obviously like the Monolith from that movie called 2001 space odyssey but in it own unique way. So this leaves me with this after thought, In the game the Protoss are know as the Firstborn but in the Movie 2001 its known that the Firstborn created the Monolith along with the technology that can transfer their consciousness onto computers so thus they became thinking machines. For the Protoss they share many similarities with this theme but not entirely for here their not the creator of the keystone device. So with that bit of reason this Keystone can do what ever Logic it wants to because it Ultra Advance Tech and that means it can protect the Protoss from Amon's thoughts invading/controlling their minds.
Just think about this for a moment Terran with their Technological abilities can make a Hive mind emulator to control the Zerg but Protoss is just helpless to resists the powers of Amon.
Don't really see the issue with this. The Khala, at this point, is a pretty much natural part of the Protoss, like an extra arm or such would feel. It, in itself, is more of a force rather than a piece of technology that can be controlled. The comparison to the Hive Mind Emulator is off more because singular Zerg are extremely simple beings that can be ordered around through simple brainwave controls; it's how the Swarm operates and what the emulator plays into.
To make a comparison: the Khala, to the Protoss, is a bit like 'sense of smell' is to you and me. We can only control what we smell up to a certain point and chopping off our noses would remove our sense of smell completely - at the same time, some smells (raw sewage) are so strong that we can't ignore them and they can actually affect our physical well-being. The Zerg are more like remote controlled cars, where Overlords basically operate a number of them, and where cerebrates operate Overlords. If someone manages to tune in on the specific frequency one of your cars is using and their signal is strong enough, their signal will override yours, meaning you'll lose control and that person will gain it.
That is interesting response. I see the comparisons your making here with Zerg. However, for the Protoss I believe your forgetting to include how the pylon function. That Pylon uses the Psionic matrix and then there is mission 17 where your destroying the crystals to ultimately destroy the Psionic matrix. What I think the Protoss should have been doing is the opposite here and should have been overhauling the Psionic Matrix by infusing it with Technological powers from the Keystone so that the Protoss can be more restive if not entirely immune to the powers of Amon when on Auir. That is why I see Zeratul's early death as something that made absolutely no sense to me. It was at this point I was thinking the Blizz writers just wanted to have that heroic sacrifice in the story line just because is was fashionable and look good for the story and that why I say the LOTV story certainly created an alternate reality for the game. If anything those WOL Zeratul mission was just there to tell Jim and us (the players) that Kerrigan is the solution to stop Amon and nothing more. That was all Zeratul was there for in the story just to guide others so that they make the proper decisions while he gives his life without any confirmation that he was right. If Zeratul was so into the future why didn't he just save Auir and the rest of the Protoss himself with out dying needlessly to Artanis because he obviously knew what he was doing more then Artanis ever did. The fact he says go get the keystone from Jim to Artanis as his last words had me dumbfounded. Why didn't Zeratul just get the Keystone in the first place himself if it was so important to the cause and then when he is on the ship he doesn't come empty handed and has proof to tell Artanis and the rest of the protoss hey look what I got its called the keystone and this is the key to get Auir back. Would have made a much better campaign in the sense that you are seeing the revelation Zertaul has envisioned come to fruition with Zeratul in the picture.
I'm on my phone, so forgive the badly formatted response, but two things:
1. In regards to pylons: do we actually know that what they do in regards to powering structures and providing warp capabilities has anything to do with the Khala? AFAIK they are two separate systems. Even if they aren't, a pylon is 90% crystal. I've always an them more as I objects to redirect power, nothing else. If you look at it this way, it feels feasible to me that the protoss couldn't just 'modify the technology to get rid of Amon'.
2. Artanis leads the entire protoss society as it exists at the start of lotv. This is why zeratul needs to convert him; he can't do everything required to beat Amon by himself. In fact, he spends practically all missions regarding the prophecy running from forces stronger than him.
Delta: I'm gonna respond to your review when I get home. Thanks for giving me something to read in the train =D
I want to point out that, regardless on whether you like it or hate it, the ending was quite decisive. Blizzard has done what they have failed to do in the past, which is actually finish a story in it's entirety. To me, this means the Starcraft franchise has mostly ended.
Ultimately, I'm not saying the story/tone/lore direction was good or bad - in fact, I'm pretty ambivalent about it. What I do believe though is that the ending tied things up neatly. I'm able to take it in and have some real closure for Starcraft 2. I think this closure isn't really dependent on one's opinion on whether it was subjectively a good or bad ending. Think about this in comparison to the end of Mass Effect 3 before they added those epilogue slides... there was no closure! While I am personally not satisfied with the end of Mass Effect 3, the addition of the (admittedly low budget) epilogue slides/Extended Cut did provide me closure and I'm ok with it. Into The Void also provided this closure whether you and I liked the tone of it or not.
Anyway, I suppose I'll never understand why folks let these retcons completely ruin these games for them. I agree that the Xel'Naga changes were weird, but that doesn't suddenly make this the WORST GAME EVER. Given the complete mess that we had going into this game, I think they somehow managed to patch it together into a workable ending even if the tone changed into a Japanese anime at the end. I guess I'm just happy that there was a real ending that, frankly, wasn't that off the rails considering this whole "Chosen One" Kerrigan was set up over all three games.
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@JayborinoPlays: Go
Yes, you are definitely right. Despite my criticisms, I quite enjoyed playing the campaign. I also acknowledge that they had already built themselves something of a shit sandwich, so the fact that they could wrap it up is an achievement. I hope that Blizzard's learned some painful lessons from the storyline problems and their reception, but I suspect not, alas.
@LucidIguana: Go
I love the campaign too but the only one thing i really dont like is kerrigan's xel naga model (they could make more xel naga as that flying xel naga has) or more zergish (idk) but then blizzard fixed it when kerrigan is finally again in human form, brunette. That's again more starcraftish sarah which i love much more than old one. I can play lotv campaign all days over and over again and still get not enough.
@Narudek: Go
Agreed that Super Saiyan Kerrigan's model was shockingly dull.
It was the best campaign of the 3, but it left one question hanging,
Why are the xel'naga Cthulhu? And if kerrigan was supposed to transform into the xel'naga, why didn't she become a Cthulhu and instead became an angel?
Time to check out the new editor assets now though.
Still alive and kicking, just busy.
My guide to the trigger editor (still a work in progress)
I would say: for the simple reason that she was a Terran become Zerg become Xel'naga. As far as we know the XN were a regular race before all the events of both StarCrafts happened (albeit a ridiculously powerful one), and I sort of doubt whether any being of a different race can ever truly turn into a XN. Consider infested Terrans: they are said to be Zerg organisms, but they don't look like Zerglings or Hydralisks. I'm assuming if a Protoss would've become a XN (in some way) they would look different too.
Having just finished the campaign, I have to say I was quite happy with it. It was just plain strong, overal. The pitfalls HotS basically dove into were mostly avoided. All characters of the main cast were strong characters, and I especially enjoyed Artanis' stance and the whole overarching theme of the campaign. This whole thing could have been about being on the run and fighting against overwhelming odds, but while this was part of the story, it didn't take the overtone in the same way it did in a game like Mass Effect. Artanis stood proud and symbolized the need for unity amongst his people, and provided a touching storyline in that regard. The whole thing could've been emo as shit (especially with the death of Zeratul being in there), but it wasn't: it was about hope, and standing up proudly in the face of a seemingly unbeatable threat. It was a story that really resonated with me on a personal level. I'm not going to claim it changed my entire outlook on life, but it was definitely something special in the sense that I will remember it, all cliché's aside. That alone is a powerful thing, made better by the fact that I was expecting another HotS.
That said: haters are most definitely going to hate. We've already seen the first bits of that with people complaining about Kerrigan's role in the outro, but I'm sure we may see worse come by on the forums and in review. Folks are going to misinterpret the focus on 'change of traditions' and the double mention of 'freedom' as the whole thing being some kind of cardboard 'FREEDOM YEAHRRR' kind of story and sob about the Protoss changing as a race. For me, however, all significant questions were answered quite clearly, and there were no real occurences that felt so far-fetched, lame, or retconned that I simply couldn't accept them.
Overall I'd give the experience of the single-player campaign of all three games as a whole a 9/10 and I'd definitely recommend it - with the asterisk of HotS being very disappointing at times.
The only disappointing thing for me was the appearance of the xel'naga.
They could have worked it better.
The LOTV story certainly created an alternate reality for the game. Tho I prefer the one where Zeratul lives and the nerve cords dont need to be Severed. Just think about this for a moment Terran with their Technological abilities can make a Hive mind emulator to control the Zerg but Protoss is just helpless to resists the powers of Amon. Also the Keystone/Artifact is obviously like the Monolith from that movie called 2001 space odyssey but in it own unique way. So this leaves me with this after thought, In the game the Protoss are know as the Firstborn but in the Movie 2001 its known that the Firstborn created the Monolith along with the technology that can transfer their consciousness onto computers so thus they became thinking machines. For the Protoss they share many similarities with this theme but not entirely for here their not the creator of the keystone device. So with that bit of reason this Keystone can do what ever Logic it wants to because it Ultra Advance Tech and that means it can protect the Protoss from Amon's thoughts invading/controlling their minds.
Don't really see the issue with this. The Khala, at this point, is a pretty much natural part of the Protoss, like an extra arm or such would feel. It, in itself, is more of a force rather than a piece of technology that can be controlled. The comparison to the Hive Mind Emulator is off more because singular Zerg are extremely simple beings that can be ordered around through simple brainwave controls; it's how the Swarm operates and what the emulator plays into.
To make a comparison: the Khala, to the Protoss, is a bit like 'sense of smell' is to you and me. We can only control what we smell up to a certain point and chopping off our noses would remove our sense of smell completely - at the same time, some smells (raw sewage) are so strong that we can't ignore them and they can actually affect our physical well-being. The Zerg are more like remote controlled cars, where Overlords basically operate a number of them, and where cerebrates operate Overlords. If someone manages to tune in on the specific frequency one of your cars is using and their signal is strong enough, their signal will override yours, meaning you'll lose control and that person will gain it.
@Mozared: Go
That is interesting response. I see the comparisons your making here with Zerg. However, for the Protoss I believe your forgetting to include how the pylon function. That Pylon uses the Psionic matrix and then there is mission 17 where your destroying the crystals to ultimately destroy the Psionic matrix. What I think the Protoss should have been doing is the opposite here and should have been overhauling the Psionic Matrix by infusing it with Technological powers from the Keystone so that the Protoss can be more restive if not entirely immune to the powers of Amon when on Auir. That is why I see Zeratul's early death as something that made absolutely no sense to me. It was at this point I was thinking the Blizz writers just wanted to have that heroic sacrifice in the story line just because is was fashionable and look good for the story and that why I say the LOTV story certainly created an alternate reality for the game. If anything those WOL Zeratul mission was just there to tell Jim and us (the players) that Kerrigan is the solution to stop Amon and nothing more. That was all Zeratul was there for in the story just to guide others so that they make the proper decisions while he gives his life without any confirmation that he was right. If Zeratul was so into the future why didn't he just save Auir and the rest of the Protoss himself with out dying needlessly to Artanis because he obviously knew what he was doing more then Artanis ever did. The fact he says go get the keystone from Jim to Artanis as his last words had me dumbfounded. Why didn't Zeratul just get the Keystone in the first place himself if it was so important to the cause and then when he is on the ship he doesn't come empty handed and has proof to tell Artanis and the rest of the protoss hey look what I got its called the keystone and this is the key to get Auir back. Would have made a much better campaign in the sense that you are seeing the revelation Zertaul has envisioned come to fruition with Zeratul in the picture.
Just so you know, I've finally done the review, though it's spoiler-free, mostly. Enjoy.
@SolidSC: Go
I'm on my phone, so forgive the badly formatted response, but two things:
1. In regards to pylons: do we actually know that what they do in regards to powering structures and providing warp capabilities has anything to do with the Khala? AFAIK they are two separate systems. Even if they aren't, a pylon is 90% crystal. I've always an them more as I objects to redirect power, nothing else. If you look at it this way, it feels feasible to me that the protoss couldn't just 'modify the technology to get rid of Amon'.
2. Artanis leads the entire protoss society as it exists at the start of lotv. This is why zeratul needs to convert him; he can't do everything required to beat Amon by himself. In fact, he spends practically all missions regarding the prophecy running from forces stronger than him.
Delta: I'm gonna respond to your review when I get home. Thanks for giving me something to read in the train =D
@Mozared: Go
U welcome. :)