#4: StarCraft (1998)
#4: StarCraft
Platform: PC
Release Date: 1998
Genre: Real Time Strategy
While WarCraft might be the game that started the RTS genre, StarCraft was the game that really redefined it.
StarCraft was the first video game franchise that I totally went ballistic over. Talking to myself while playing the game, looking up cheat codes in newspapers and via friends (I never got Internet till 2000), writing my own sequels and expansions, thinking up new and more powerful units (BattleCruisers outfitted with Nukes, resultant Archon when a High and Dark Templar merged), hating Mengsk to the extreme… All while I was at the age of 9.
12 years later, the game is still awesome, albeit in a different way. When I was 9, I was awed by the campaign, the characters, and that awesome briefing sequence. Combat and gameplay was a non-issue to me, as I had the IMBA power overwhelming (which I might add, took me a month to figure out. I kept typing “power over whelming” and wondering why it didn’t work) which allowed me to solo the entire mission with Kerrigan/Zeratul/Raynor alone. I would form this one team consisting of Heroes only (how I love that white border!) and proceed to wipe out all opposition. My favorite maps were the stealth maps, like the one requiring you to steal discs or locate a certain traitor, all contained within a very dungeon-like map. I actually managed to complete some of those maps without the godmode cheat, which I thought was quite an accomplishment back then.
I only started playing StarCraft “properly” when I entered Form 1 and saw my cousin playing a match online. Thanks to him, the first strategy I learned was the Zerg Rush, which I’ve since grown attached to. I did play it occasionally (usually pwning friends in random CyberCafe sessions, Zerg Rush kekekeke) but it wasn’t until I entered University did I rediscover my passion for the game. To this I have Edo to thank and Faz to blame. A couple of weeks prior to GACC 2009, instead of designing Booklets we were busy saving Aiur. Good times indeed.
Despite this, I only discovered how awesome StarCraft really was a couple of months ago, thanks to Kai Wen, who successfully brainwashed everyone in HiVE to playing StarCraft and converting us from Hardcore Dotafags to StarCraft fans. I never knew a 10 minute Destination game could be so nerve-wrecking, or that a full Big Game Hunters game could take more than 2 hours to complete. I never knew that siege tank cliffing, Science Vessel eraser tricks, Scourge micro or Lurker hold could be so fun – and frustrating when used against you.
Favorite race? Zerg for sure. Favorite unit? The Science Vessel, though Defilers and the Queen do come close, followed by the Lurker probably. Backdoor Nydus Canals, though easily noticed and countered, can be extremely fun and rewarding when pulled off properly. There’s nothing more satisfying than sending colonies of Lurkers through a backdoor, followed by a wave of Infested Terrans for the lulz. Most hated unit? Corsairs (stop sniping my scourge goddamnit) and Dark Templars (Huh? Where did my Economy go?) definitely.
Words fail to describe how awesome StarCraft really is. In my opinion, you’ve never played a proper RTS till you play a proper game of StarCraft with 8 people, be it seriously or just for fucks. Here are but a few memorable StarCraft moments in the past few months:
- Wan’s epic Nuclear Missles
- My wide-spanning Taliban networks (Canals + Infested terrans lol)
- Edo’s H4X turtling + teching
- Faz’s CARRIER HAS ARRIVED
- Kai Wen’s Double Gateway rushes
- FUCKING SPIDERMINES ASDF
- Kai Wen stealing Vespene Gas
- eXo trying to Zealot rush me and ended up being pwned by Mutalisks XD
- Coordinated Plague + EMP Shockwave + Scourge attacks versus Edo’s Carrier Army
- Adil’s epic GEROMBOLAN GAJAH PERANG (No defense, no tech whatsoever, save these: Anabolic Synthesis, Chitinous Plating, Zerg Carapace Lvl 3, Zerg Melee Attacks Lvl 3, followed by 24 Ultralisks)
- Chai’s epic Flyer Army (Mutalisks + Devourers), which when combo-ed with Adil pretty much fucked everyone up.
- Kai Wen’s FUCKING DT DROPS, followed by REAVER DROPS
- Luwis’ wall of china (sealing off a cliff entirely with supply depots + Missile turrents, making surprise drops impossible)
- Edo’s H4X Arbiter + Siege Tank recall (WTF SINCE WHEN DID YOU MIND CONTROL AN SCV)
- MAHES GETTING DRUNK OVER STARCRAFT. LIEK SRSLY. HAMTARO IS A NICE ANIME.
- Playing StarCraft till 8 am and subsequently having responses so bad we got RAEPED by the AI
Next Up: The only Online Game in my Top 10 list
