Decided we needed to talk more about StarCraft 2. Here are some opinions and suggestions I have gathered over time while watching the gameplay videos and interviews.

Storyline

So far, the storyline looks interesting. We know for sure now that the Xel'Naga are returning, which pretty much proves the theory all along that Duran was a Xel'Naga the entire time of Brood War. I am curious if they will play a part similar to the Burning Legion in WarCraft 3, not being playable, but a lot of random powerful units being tossed at us. I just hope the three factions don't team up at the end to defeat them, Kerrigan should have already burned that bridge in Brood War.

The new voices they are using for Raynor and Zeratul sound good enough for me, but I wish they would bring out a bit more of Raynor's personality. I know he is a drinking heavily now, on the verge of losing Raynor's Raiders, but I want some of the sarcastic charm back. I only got a bit of that feeling near the end of the demon when talking with his second in command.

Campaign Progression

One of the features I really like is the ability to purchase the units you want to utilize, rather then just have them unlocked over time. While this works well for the Terran, since the whole story is Raynor purchasing black market goods for his crew to utilize, I don't see the Protoss or Zerg walking into an armory and buying new units. My suggestion for the Protoss is to have them gain influence instead of money, gaining that influence will allow you to "assimilate" one of the renegade clans into the new society under Artanis, and they will bring with them technology they either created (Pheonix) or dug up from the past (Colossus). My suggestion for the Zerg is that as you invade worlds you steal DNA from the local creatures, or even other possible renegade zerg, and thus use the DNA to build/rebuild new Zerg evolutions. Each one would still use, in essense, a currency system, but each would be flavored better then just giving them all money and buy the stuff from a computer.

Graphics

Awesome, yet low tech, the Blizzard mantra in full force here. I don't have any issue with the graphics, but the biggest complaint I hear from some of the die hard StarCrafters, is that the game looks to much like WarCraft 3, with similar animations, aesthetics, color, and proportions. I frankly disagree, I think it looks very unique while still carrying the Blizzard teams, more specificly Samwise's, exagerated style.

Personally, when I see them all in motion, I am loving some of the new unit designs. When it comes to Terrans, the Viking feels more true to Terran design then the Goliath used to back in StarCraft1, the Banshee seems like a great new unit both aestheticly and strategicly, and I can't wait to roll over things with the new Seige Tank design. The Protoss also look great, and I don't understand why so many people complain about how they look, I feel the Zealot needs to look beefy, and the Immortal looks awesome, even the new Carrier design looks great.

Gameplay

I have not had a chance to play it, so I can't say for sure how its coming along, but right now it feels a lot like a mix of StarCraft and WarCraft 3, keeping the overall tactics and macro strategy with masses of units, while adopting the WarCraft 3 armor and attack system. I can't say much in this area till I play it.

Overall

Everytime I see anything about it, I want it more then ever. I can't believe its going to take another few years, makes me want to scream. I think Blizzard will have another winner, but knowing Blizzard and their "nearly" flawless record of great games (I am looking at you, Crappy Superman Game!) I really didn't expect anything less.