Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm (Video Game Review)

In addition to the worlds of Diablo and World of Warcraft, developer and publisher Blizzard Entertainment has remained the most popular company for PC gamers with the highly popular world of Starcraft. The real time strategy series that focuses on the ongoing futuristic space wars of the three clans Zerg, Protoss and Terran expanded with the release of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty in 2010, and now, Blizzard Entertainment has finally announced the release of the next chapter of the Starcraft II world with the Zerg-based Heart of the Swarm. The newest expansion for the game was well worth the wait, and longtime fans of the series will likely pick up the new add-on without needing to read anything about the new content of the game. Needless to say, Blizzard Entertainment has delivered on all fronts to ensure there has never been a better time to jump into a match of Starcraft II whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer.

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm comes packed with an all new campaign featuring 20 missions and a great new storyline that focuses on the rise of the Queen of Blades, Sarah Kerrigan. The game's protagonist will find herself facing an incoming attack from the evil Arcturus Mengsk, and she will have to attempt to rally together forces to face the invasion before losing the Zerg forces once and for all. The campaign also focuses on Kerrigan's inner struggle as her last bits of humanity struggle against the infection of the Zerg, and the drama it causes for her and her closest allies is incredibly entertaining to watch unfold. Many players will be drawn to the storyline of the game more so than the online multiplayer even with the average voice acting the series has been known for, but plenty of new features have been added to the game to ensure players can have fun whether battling with the AI in scripted missions or heading online to play with friends or random matchmaking players.

New groups and clans systems will allow players to more easily connect with friends and experienced Starcraft II players to enjoy some friendly competition. The new expansion also includes unranked matchmaking game modes that are perfect for joining up with a friend to try out a new faction in the game and training to get your skills up to par with other online players. There are also new training and versus AI modes that will aid players in becoming online ready after making the jump from the game's main campaign missions. You can also learn from past mistakes with the all new replay system that allows to you watch previous matches with other players to examine where you went wrong and how your opponents were able to overtake your own army. Of course, plenty of new forces are in the game for the Protoss, Terran and Zerg forces that adds different game mechanics to the game all while making the factions more balanced than ever before.

You can pick up your copy of Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm today for only $39.99, but for $20 more, you can gain access to even more content including an exclusive pet for use in World of Warcraft and some really cool Blade Wings and sigil for use in Diablo III in addition to some additional great content for Starcraft II. Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm is a must own for anyone that already owns a copy of Starcraft II. The tremendous storyline of Starcraft II picks up right where Wings of Liberty left off, and we can't wait to get our hands on the third storyline in this exciting series. The best real time strategy game of all-time just keeps getting better with Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm!

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm is now available from all major retailers and can be purchased for $39.99 on PC and Mac. Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm is rated T by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Starcraft II website.

Game Features:

Deluxe Edition with Content for Other Blizzard Titles

20 Campaign Missions

New Weapons and Units

Enhanced Clan and Group Options

Watch Replays with Others

Game Information:
Developer & Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: PC (reviewed) & Mac
Release Date: March 12, 2013

Score: 9 out of 10