Starcraft 2 confirmed!

[Bob_Marley]

Stukov's most recent appearance was in Resurrection IV, a secret map in the Nintendo 64 version of StarCraft. In this mission, Artanis revealed that Zerg Cerebrate Kaloth had reanimated Stukov, who was now in charge of his own Zerg Brood on Braxis. However, Stukov was weak, which was reflected in the power of the Brood.

Nonetheless, the Brood apparently wiped out the Terran civilians on the planet. Stukov's Brood was allied with former Confederates.

Artanis sent James Raynor and Taldarin, a very old Protoss Dragoon, along with a small Terran force (taken from Raynor's Raiders) and a small Protoss force, down to the surface with a high-tech nanite serum which could reverse the infestation process. These nanites (or something similar) have also made appearances in StarCraft: Deceptions and StarCraft: Alternity.

Stukov's Terran forces were not completely with him, and many of them felt he had gone insane. Many of them decided to join forces with Raynor, helping him free the Protoss prisoners Stukov was keeping on Braxis. Eventually the heroes cornered Stukov, who was surrounded by Nydus Canals (a Zerg transport system) and four large Zerg Cocoons. These cocoons exploded, revealing a quartet of Torrasques. Despite such formidable opposition, the heroes prevailed and Stukov was injected. Freed from the Zerg (but somewhat bitter of this fact), Stukov helped the heroes to evacuate. In orbit over Braxis, the Protoss fired a single powerful energy beam at it, purging its surface of all life.

And came back.

 

[taviow]

Oh yea and btw 449 MB gameplay video released on starcraft.com

 

[Docm30]

Oh yea and btw 449 MB gameplay video released on starcraft.com

Just saw it, and it's looking like it could turn-out pretty good.

Although, I was sorely disapointed with the uninspired voice-acting (not the narrator) and the poorly written dialogue; hopefully it is just something they whiped up for the video.

 

[Mattigus]

This gameplay video is taking forever on my work computer's T1 connection. GO FASTER.

 

[CyberPitz]

This gameplay video is taking forever on my work computer's T1 connection. GO FASTER.

Yeah, it's taking minutes to go a meg. something is wrong...server's going to explode I bet.

 

[HunterSeeker]

80% complete.

 

[Absinthe]

I'm convinced that the man shown in the artwork is Raynor, just with longer hair. It looks too young to be Stukov. Although I am ignorant as to whether or not Blizzard considers Stukov's reanimation to be official canon.

Any way, it's now been confirmed that there will only be three races. That means no Xel'naga or hybrids to be played. So either the Zerg/Protoss hybrid plot line has been abandoned, will only come to full fruition in another sequel, or may function in a limited fashion much like creeps in WC3.

In retrospect, it just seems odd that such a potentially vital piece of information is only available in a bonus mission.

 

[HunterSeeker]

I'm convinced that the man shown in the artwork is Raynor, just with longer hair. It looks too young to be Stukov. Although I am ignorant as to whether or not Blizzard considers Stukov's reanimation to be official canon.

Any way, it's now been confirmed that there will only be three races. That means no Xel'naga or hybrids to be played. So either the Zerg/Protoss hybrid plot line has been abandoned, will only come to full fruition in another sequel, or may function in a limited fashion much like creeps in WC3.

In retrospect, it just seems odd that such a potentially vital piece of information is only available in a bonus mission.

They may still have zerg/protoss hybrids, although they may not be playable or are units for one of the three other sides.

 

[<RJMC>]

For those of you complaining about graphics or art style (god knows why - it looks kickass on both fronts to me):

Take a look at SC1's Alpha

Now obviously they're not gonna completely change EVERYTHING we've seen but there is still quite a ways to go.

holy...it really looks diferent

anyway I wasnt disapointed whit it

but after see more the gameplay videos the game really feels like the starcraft we all love

so I have hope
EDIT: and after see some artwork its looks like they still are keeping the same classic futuristic style

 

[Absinthe]

They may still have zerg/protoss hybrids, although they may not be playable or are units for one of the three other sides.

That's pretty much what I also said.

Kinda disappointing, regardless.

 

[CyberPitz]

holy...it really looks diferent

anyway I wasnt disapointed whit it

but after see more the gameplay videos the game really feels like the starcraft we all love

so I have hope
EDIT: and after see some artwork its looks like they still are keeping the same classic futuristic style

Haha, you should read the story compiled with it
http://sclegacy.com/features/evolution.php

 

[taviow]

The game is probably going to have an expansion, all Blizzard games did I think. So the hybrids may be saved to the expansion.

 

[Glirk Dient]

I just creamed my pants.

 

[Mutley]

Is there pop caps?

I just asked in the Crysis thread by mistake, lol.

 

[X-FacToR]

I think the hybrids they are taking about will be included in the regular game, I highly doubt they have anything going on with a expansion yet.

 

[Ennui]

They claim to have not done anything as far as expansions go, even concepting - I'm not sure they've even done anything past the bare storyline for SC2 yet.

Absinthe, I also think that it's Raynor. He's too young/cool to be Mengsk (Mengsk is aristocratic and looks like it regardless of his environs) and I had no idea that Stukov was reanimated (was it in one of the bonus downloadable maps I never played?).

 

[Asknoone]

I really hope we have a chance to wipe Mengsk off the face of the universe this time. I can't stand the wanker; fantastic 'villain' though.

 

[CyberPitz]

I really hope we have a chance to wipe Mengsk off the face of the universe this time. I can't stand the wanker; fantastic 'villain' though.

He does a good job at it, that's for sure.

 

[Cole]

I had no idea that Stukov was reanimated (was it in one of the bonus downloadable maps I never played?).

In the N64 version after he dies, the Zerg infest him, but then a cure was found, raynor captures him and cures him.

Although I don't think Blizzard ever commented on if it is a true part of the starcraft storyline due to it not being in the Pc version.

 

[Ennui]

A cure to infestation? I doubt that's acceptable canon... and if it is, what about uninfesting Kerrigan in SC2?

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

A cure to infestation? I doubt that's acceptable canon... and if it is, what about uninfesting Kerrigan in SC2?

Think seven of nine I can see her as becoming that type of character. Only much.. much more powerful.

 

[Ennui]

There are so many awesome directions the singleplayer campaign could take. I've never been remotely this excited about SP for an RTS, but I actually care about SC's storyline.

 

[CyberPitz]

There are so many awesome directions the singleplayer campaign could take. I've never been remotely this excited about SP for an RTS, but I actually care about SC's storyline.

It is definitely one of the best, in my opinion. This and Half-Life keep me going in the story department.

 

[Cole]

A cure to infestation? I doubt that's acceptable canon... and if it is, what about uninfesting Kerrigan in SC2?

Except there is a slight twist. He didn't want to be uninfested. In fact right after he was uninfested, he was mad at Raynor for doing it.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

A cure to infestation? I doubt that's acceptable canon... and if it is, what about uninfesting Kerrigan in SC2?

Was her link with the Hive broken? If so why would you need to uninfest her, shes stronger and more powerful than when she was a Ghost

 

[Bob_Marley]

A cure to infestation? I doubt that's acceptable canon... and if it is, what about uninfesting Kerrigan in SC2?

*points at the "Help me Jim Raynor, you're my only hope" thing that was at the bottom of the starcraft section on blizzard.com*

And anyway, Stukov was awesome and deserves to come back.

 

[Slacker]

It is definitely one of the best, in my opinion. This and Half-Life keep me going in the story department.

Blizzard just rocks at storytelling. Ok, so the Diablo games aren't much to cheer at, but StarCraft and all of the WarCraft games have really, really engrossing and amazing stories. Even WoW, an MMO, has a story to it that I actually paid attention to when I played it.

 

[Absinthe]

It's a shame what happened with BC. Good game material, but it's like lore was thrown completely out of the picture to give an excuse to fight main characters. As a result, allegiances of the new races just don't sound convincing. And complex, sympathetic (if wayward) characters like Illidan and Kael'thas are turned insane thereby giving you an excuse to fight Illidan and most unfortunately kill Kael in the name of phat lewt. What a cheap ending.

 

[Slacker]

I haven't really played BC, but I remember being pretty engrossed in WoW's story. Hell, even the smaller quests had some really well-written plot points.

I'm just ultra-bored of WoW now. It's hard to care about a game that's essentially just a loot-race now.

 

[Ennui]

*points at the "Help me Jim Raynor, you're my only hope" thing that was at the bottom of the starcraft section on blizzard.com*

And anyway, Stukov was awesome and deserves to come back.

where is this

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

where is this

http://www.battle.net/index2.shtml

view the page source and do a ctrl-f "help me"

You'll see it

 

[Cole]

*points at the "Help me Jim Raynor, you're my only hope" thing that was at the bottom of the starcraft section on blizzard.com*

And anyway, Stukov was awesome and deserves to come back.

*Points to Star Wars*

 

[Jintor]

It's a shame what happened with BC. Good game material, but it's like lore was thrown completely out of the picture to give an excuse to fight main characters. As a result, allegiances of the new races just don't sound convincing. And complex, sympathetic (if wayward) characters like Illidan and Kael'thas are turned insane thereby giving you an excuse to fight Illidan and most unfortunately kill Kael in the name of phat lewt. What a cheap ending.

BC totally screwed the lore, right up the ****.

 

[Bob_Marley]

Oh, and if that guy isnt Stukov, this one definetly could be.

 

[Docm30]

Oh, and if that guy isnt Stukov, this one definetly could be.

*pic*

That's most probably Mengsk, seeing as it looks exactly like him, and there is a statue of the same guy (in the same pose, for that matter) outside of a building with Sons of Korhal logos on it, in one of the SC2 concept images.

*EDIT*
Here's the picture. Also, there's a billboard with the same guy, and the text "Mengsk".
http://media.pc.ign.com/media/850/850126/img_4560470.html

 

[Absinthe]

Looks more like an aged Mengsk... but not really.

No idea who that could be. I'm betting Stukov is still considered dead though.

 

[Ennui]

I think that's Mengsk. He looks sort of like him, and signs point to it, what with the other concept piece and all. Which means the other guy (from the video) is probably Raynor, and Stukov is probably still dead, though it's possible he'll be resurrected if we're lucky.

 

[Absinthe]

Mengsk looks like an old bum now.

 

[Danimal]

It's a shame what happened with BC. Good game material, but it's like lore was thrown completely out of the picture to give an excuse to fight main characters. As a result, allegiances of the new races just don't sound convincing. And complex, sympathetic (if wayward) characters like Illidan and Kael'thas are turned insane thereby giving you an excuse to fight Illidan and most unfortunately kill Kael in the name of phat lewt. What a cheap ending.

Agreed.

 

[<RJMC>]

Oh, and if that guy isnt Stukov, this one definetly could be.

that looks more like mengsk to me

btw its me or some humans have a "warcraft" look? whit those clothing they look more warcraft,in the original they have clothings like that too?
for example he even have something that looks like a sword