The inclined Starcraft Nerd has the end of Wings of Liberty before eyes: Using the Xel'Naga artifact, the Queen of Blades was brought to its knees, and again transformed into Sarah Kerrigan. Jim Raynor she wears gently from a cave on Char. Only the tentacle-like growths on the head of Kerrigan testify to what they had ... and to some extent still is.
At the beginning of Heart of the Swarm you find yourself in a research laboratory (the Moebius Foundation) somewhere in Umoja protectorate. One quickly realizes that here gapes a substantive gap. The can easily be closed by reading the book "Flashpoint" by Christie Golden. The novel closes the gap between the two parts of SC2. Generally you should be times all SC-Books by Christie Golden (and some other authors) to heart, they reveal several interesting background information ...
Back to the Game. Valerian Mengsk Kerrigan wants to test and their secret abilities, this test you play. He is something of a tutorial and it quickly becomes clear that Kerrigan still has power and control over the Zerg. When the test it is then going right, Papa Mengsk has the son of man, Raynor and Kerrigan tracked and now wants to make short work (using Nova, yet so ne hot Ghost Bride).
Raynor and Kerrigan escape (This is like riding a bike!), Are separated and only Kerrigan makes it to the Hyperion. There are indications of a substantive error. Raynor is provided by Nova and they "arrested" him. She tells him that he had helped her in the matter with Tosh, they could turn a blind eye ... Quick flashback: In WoL there was a Mission (New Folsom) where you could choose whether to help Nova (what to Tosh Death leads) or just Tosh support (and thus upset Nova). HOTS is not interpreted by the game principle to decisions and alternative strands (would not fit the Zerg), so that Blizzard just had to opt for a continuation. Which refers to the strand in which Tosh still alive. Overall, this "error" more than forgivable when the progress of the story looks at.
Content to respond to every single mission, would take too long and reduce the stress for those who have not yet or not finished playing the campaign. So a ruched representation. Kerrigan decides to unite the flock again and travels from planet to planet. Drive is a desire for revenge against Mengsk. The driving this desire for revenge by several decisions still to (z. B. Raynor's "execution"). However, this is not the only motive. In Hots Zeratul has a short interlude that advances the plot around the Fallen (prophecy about the return of the Xel'Naga). You come across some old acquaintances from Broodwar: Alexei Stukov and Narud. Narud tells you nothing? Then even read the name backwards and to get on Duran (na, klingelts?).
Overall, the story is very mature, one might say almost epic. And in the end is ... ah, playing himself. But the fact is that Hots is much more emotional than any predecessor. And even as Kerrigan turned back into the Queen of Blades, she had to come a long way humanity more preserved than the first. Nevertheless it is still a tough nut to crack.
Below then still a few words about gameplay and technical Tralala.
I can understand the anger of those who do not get the game to run. The fact that in spite of buying the DVD has to download the whole add-on, brings tears to the eyes.
As for the price of add-ons, which is now not really bad. Man buys yes Also various Sch *** for more money and I think the game is worth every penny.
Well, the 20 (or 27) missions are quite fast around a vermouth tropics. But not because you get too little game for too much money, but simply because the story is already too late. This is similar to a good multi-part film ... you eagerly awaiting the sequel and it breaks your heart, that you can not continue to accompany his hero at the moment.
I must honestly confess that I am not a strategy gamers in the strict sense, no league players or something. I love Starcraft for the story behind it. The implication would be that I start first time on the lowest difficulty level and just wants to play only once. Certainly, Kerrigan is extremely strong, both in the human figure as well, or just after metamorphosis. Seems to me but contrary, because I can also "difficult" missions (because limited or so) by playing fairly easily. In the second and third and the umpteenth time playing I can then concentrate on strategy and tactics, and higher levels of difficulty.
Hots focuses (it was clear from the outset) to the Zerg or on Kerrigan. To complain now that you can play any or only small Protoss or Terran missions, is nagging sake of nagging. Absolutely no argument for criticism. That there was Protoss missions in WoL I think 2 things is owed: the friendship between Raynor and Zeratul and of course the explanation for why Kerrigan just can not die. Raynor had sworn to Fenix's death to kill the Queen of Blades. We must now explain why he spared (and it even Tychus kills) indeed. So, as the add-on comes along, I find it around and succeeded.
The Features (Evolution pit and Kerrigan's development) are very good and interesting game concepts. In WoL had a brief explanation and a small presentation for units upgrades, now you can give the antesten briefly and then decide. I find terrific, especially since I'm more of a Terran or Protoss player, less the Zerg player. Amusingly, it is if you have then opted for a mutation and two missions further notes: Crap, I need but the other: D
And you've got again a reason to play the whole campaign again.
Short something to criticize the action. The substantive errors in relation to Nova / Tosh was already addressed. I find forgivable. Here was somewhere still criticized that one does not know what happened to the brood mother on the ice planet. But, you know: Just play the mission in silence and you will find the carcass of Broodmother. In conversation between Kerrigan and Isha after the mission is clear that these Broodmother the Protoss fell victim during their retreat. During the mission itself, there is a short note from Kerrigan, that something was wrong, because it only applies to feral Zerg. Also an indication that the brood mother is dead. So just eyes and ears and immerse yourself in the story.
Who SC player the first hour is - so one of those old nerds who started with Starcraft 1999 - and just the history and their complexity like that is hots love despite slight defects. And besides, there is simply always a treat for the eye. The video sequences are terrific, from the first to the last (well, the last one is something very pathetic ... swarm over it). My new favorite: "Believe in me". Yes, Blizzard might actually do some good sci-fi films, but it is even better when you leave this may be taken into deep emotional and epic games is.
