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I think you're all barking up the wrong tree. You can knock or dislike Blizzard's implementation of the storyline, but it's hard to attack the storyline itself. It's not original to Blizzard, and I don't see people bitching about the many many classic works that critics fall over themselves to applaud which use the same plot.
Is it the fault of Blizzard that this basic plot is so entrenched in western culture that they can sketch it out and let your own mind fill in the details?
Hell, they didn't even have the "happy ending" where Jim uses the artifact recovered from Mengsks' office to re-cure Sarah and they both live happily ever after rebuilding the Dominion, while special queen learns compassion for the swarm.
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We should also bear in mind that the person experiencing the story of HotS may be very different from the person he or she was when SC1 was released. When I was younger I absolutely devoured E.E 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series, and I always remembered them fondly. It occurred to me a few months ago to see if I could track them down on the internet and enjoy them again on my Kindle.
Holy fuck are those books terrible.
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On March 24 2013 06:53 felisconcolori wrote: I think you're all barking up the wrong tree. You can knock or dislike Blizzard's implementation of the storyline, but it's hard to attack the storyline itself. It's not original to Blizzard, and I don't see people bitching about the many many classic works that critics fall over themselves to applaud which use the same plot.
Is it the fault of Blizzard that this basic plot is so entrenched in western culture that they can sketch it out and let your own mind fill in the details?
Hell, they didn't even have the "happy ending" where Jim uses the artifact recovered from Mengsks' office to re-cure Sarah and they both live happily ever after rebuilding the Dominion, while special queen learns compassion for the swarm.
What? Of course people do but this goes beyond that and in to the actual implementation of the plot itself. This isn't about using an overused cliched storyline on its own. You can still write a storyline with those qualities without gaping plotholes, inconsistent characters, and horribly executed decision making.
I think that people generally miss the point of what a campaign is supposed to be. Too often I've seen in this thread that "I don't play the Campaign for something as laughable as a story," when that's really entirely the POINT of a Campaign. If it wasn't they'd just give you an arbitrary mission list/web to pick off of and go from there with absolutely no story telling what so ever. They don't do that though...because it would be fucking horrible and everyone knows it.
So yes it's entirely the fault of blizzard. It's on them to actually develop the story in to something that isn't a damn mess. If you want a basic love story like this then at least DEVELOP said love. It's not exactly much to ask for. Or at the very least never claim that games are a type of artform again because if this is the standard then ...damn help us all.
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Excellent post. Thank you for taking the time to share such an interesting analysis and well reasoned perspective.
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Great post. I do feel though you read far too deeply into some circumstances though. Kinda like when kids argue about which superhero would beat who: "Well obviously Goku would beat Naruto because he's a supersaiyan" etc. I found this especially prominent when you were trying to establish that the artifact SHOULDN'T kill the Zerg. You've read way too far into the canon and missing the point.
The whole Jim/Sarah love story is pretty true though, its a very weak plot to be basing one campaign off. I personally enjoyed the WoL story as many background figures had interesting stories but in HotS is was just pure vengeance and 'powering up' with little thought/care on behalf of Sarah / other prominent characters.
Nice job.
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I watched the carbot animation version of the HotS trailer and in the end when it shows Kerrigan I thought she looked rather cool there, something I don't feel with the real Kerrigan anymore. I think it that if Blizzard had given the campaign a more funny and charming tone then the story and setting would've been more appropriate.
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On March 24 2013 12:42 Grumbels wrote: I watched the carbot animation version of the HotS trailer and in the end when it shows Kerrigan I thought she looked rather cool there, something I don't feel with the real Kerrigan anymore. I think it that if Blizzard had given the campaign a more funny and charming tone then the story and setting would've been more appropriate. It wouldn't change the fact the entire HotS campaign was pointless. They only "big thing" that happened was the hinting of the hybrids. I wouldn't count the death of Mengsk as something important in the SC universe. Specially because we saw it coming since WoL.
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On March 24 2013 13:03 Hoon wrote:Show nested quote +On March 24 2013 12:42 Grumbels wrote: I watched the carbot animation version of the HotS trailer and in the end when it shows Kerrigan I thought she looked rather cool there, something I don't feel with the real Kerrigan anymore. I think it that if Blizzard had given the campaign a more funny and charming tone then the story and setting would've been more appropriate. It wouldn't change the fact the entire HotS campaign was pointless. They only "big thing" that happened was the hinting of the hybrids. I wouldn't count the death of Mengsk as something important in the SC universe. Specially because we saw it coming since WoL.
I feel hots was meant to try and wrap up the whole Mengsk affair before delving in the Amon/Xelnaga issue and the Protoss/Zerg relationship. It would be interesting if the UED was brought in a bit towards the end, with Nova being a double agent or something. Kind of like her helping set stuff up for Jim/Sarah to take down the dominion, or maybe Amon is chilling on Earth or something.
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I agree with and respect most of the points brought up in this article. There are definitely some deep flaws in the story. This does not change the fact that I really enjoyed the campaign; I was always looking forward to the next mission. The central idea of Kerrigan sacrificing her humanity for vengeance, while poorly executed, was still fun. I like to pretend that the gun in Raynor's cell came from a marine that died outside.
In short, really fun, but I do hope the storytelling improves in LoTV.
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I was extremely disappointed that Nova didn't have more of a role other than just a cutscene. You'd think she would be more involved considering the entire Terran planet/race is in danger plus she was in the trailer.
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On March 20 2013 21:58 wo1fwood wrote:... Good points, but I disagree with at least 2 things:
1. I'm pretty damn sure in the leaked video that's a clone. It would bring up new questions, but at least it doesn't have the question "how did Mengsk get the Xel'naga artifact from Valerian's (and/or Narund's) control?". That's something you didn't touch on at all, and I think is far more relevant than "how did it turn into a torture device?" which I think is a completely pointless and insignificant question.
2. Regarding the Kerrigan-Raynor relationship, sometimes people have attitude swings with regards to feelings for someone; at the start of WoL they're quite clearly saying that with the time he's had to thought of it, he really dwelled on this crush/relationship he had, which isn't too unrealistic. He did say he would kill the Queen of Blades, and he did, so there's no conflict there. It didn't necessarily kill her entirely, but the entity that was there was eradicated (or at least so it seems). Bodies don't just make people, the configuration of the brain makes people.
Other points I've said before or are obvious/agreement with many people: - Zeratul—Kerrigan fight was absolutely nonsensical as was said here - The fact Duran wasn't mentioned at all was annoying, but perhaps justifiable. One didn't consider that Narund is perhaps distinct from Duran and that there's more than 1 follower/helper of Amon (despite the 'coincidence' with the names) - New Stukov looks ridiculous to me and looks nothing like the old one; doesn't seem to do anything of importance in the game, which is strange/silly considering his supposed power and backstory.
On March 24 2013 16:57 wptlzkwjd wrote: I was extremely disappointed that Nova didn't have more of a role other than just a cutscene. You'd think she would be more involved considering the entire Terran planet/race is in danger plus she was in the trailer. It's even worse for Tosh. Blizzard cannon is that Raynor sided with Tosh, but he essentially doesn't even appear in HotS.
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While essentially I think this is a very long post touching the least important aspect of HotS, the post itself is great. It shows that bringing a Mass Effect 2 writer doesn't make a good story. I did like Abathur, probably because he reminded me this guy: + Show Spoiler +
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I have watched the cinematics, and the gameplay of SC2 campaign upload by somebody else.
I prefer the realistic way of storytelling in SC/BW way than SC2 way.
I feel hard to express myself. Let me try to express myself, and try to understand where I come from, okay?
I feel SC/BW story is realistic, everything interwined together, there are many characters around you and YOU are part of the story being the commander or the executor or some high rank officer.
The story is Real-Time with real situation, and then the story goes on bit by bit.
The SC2 story is, more like a storybook story. Zeratul can appear anytime he wants. Queen of blade trying to obtain the ultimate power for revenge. And the dark master amon is actually a very very powerful dark lord from the void.
The dictatorship of acturus is also very bland, it is so obvious he is bad guy. It feels like in SC2 they wan to tell u acturus is evil. But I feel in SC/BW they just show, but do not tell at all.
I do not like the " Hey, I tell you in your face, acturus is truely a dictator." Look at WOL 1st mission where the acturus give a very obvious progpaganda message. Or the newscastor showing too obvious cover up of the story.
Too obvious till the real-time feel is gone. Like a storybook tale.
The real time feel is LOST. It is imediately a storybook. And the characters around the main character is, u can feel, like a puppet to support the main character. They are at Hyperion/Leviathan supporting Raynor/ Kerriggan.
In SC/BW u noe where each character comes from.
Example ------- Aldaris is a traditional rigid old protoss. Loyalty to protoss and the conclave and believe conclave way is right. Still his heart is for the best interest of protoss, just like any other proud protoss. Though he rebel, but not because he is evil, but for protoss interest, he found out Kerrigan secret and the Matriach.
Zeratul did not say something like "Aldaris did not betray the protoss, he did it because he knew of Matriach corruption"
I found out because Aldaris last word before he died. His reason to rebel -------
2nd example
General Duke, a war veteran whom battle knowledge is valued by acturus himself. A top dog in confederate decided to betray COnfederate maybe because he knew confederate is falling apart. And maybe to save his own ass because only the Rebel could save him at that point of time. Acturus made a very good offer to Duke. Give him good position in his team, and save his ass. DUke decided to say Okay, although reluctantly. Then slowly becoming more and more loyal to Acturus.
I dont really see any character stand out, it is all interwined, given situation given character personality, then story develops.
In SC2,
You will see, someone standout more than others. (Raynor, Zeratul, Kerrigan) And evil guy are bland like tal darim. Queen of blade trying to steal artifact and always fail. took all of the real-time feel away...
I am sorry, if I cannot describe it any better. It is difficult my feelings in just few words. I will stop here. Or esle it might become too long winded.
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I really like your expalantion, Xiao. I agree it feels like you're looking at an emotionless storyboard before the actors have given it life when you compare SC2's story to BW's.
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Wow can't believe I read the whole text. That was an entertaining and thoughtful analysis. The bit about Raynor's gun cracked me up - don't know how I missed that.
On to the more serious mistakes in the story, I agree on a lot of them. I liked the WC3 story when I was younger (I'm 22), but the SC2 one just isn't doing it for me. I don't know if it's worse or not, or if I'm just older now and expect a bit more. Still, I do enjoy the gameplay itself, which makes it even worse that the story is terrible. With a good story these campaigns would be the go-to example of how to make a perfect campaign.
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I like the comparison with Game of Thrones. In GoT there is no true "good side" and no true "bad side", which i really like because thats usually how it goes in real life. But Blizzard is really trying to make Mensk the "bad guy" even though he never appeared that evil to me in Starcraft 1, in fact i actually liked the character quite a bit. What i also like about GoT is that the author has the balls to kill some of his maincharacters ;-) I really wish Blizzard would have killed Raynor for real, that would have been a REAL turning point... But as it seems Blizzard doesn't want to invent new characters and rather abuses the old ones.
The whole artefact stuff is also pissing me off... Why the hell didn't Mensk use that damn thing earlier to defend the city?
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Blizzard has managed to destroy it's own lore, both in the Warcraft and the Starcraft universe. The story of BW was one of the main reasons why I was looking forward to SC2. It's a real shame how poorly they developed this.
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*Whoops browser lag = double-post*
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On March 24 2013 20:21 Tink0r wrote: I like the comparison with Game of Thrones. In GoT there is no true "good side" and no true "bad side", which i really like because thats usually how it goes in real life. But Blizzard is really trying to make Mensk the "bad guy" even though he never appeared that evil to me in Starcraft 1, in fact i actually liked the character quite a bit. What i also like about GoT is that the author has the balls to kill some of his maincharacters ;-) I really wish Blizzard would have killed Raynor for real, that would have been a REAL turning point... But as it seems Blizzard doesn't want to invent new characters and rather abuses the old ones.
The whole artefact stuff is also pissing me off... Why the hell didn't Mensk use that damn thing earlier to defend the city?
Because apparently the whole purpose of an ancient artifact of immeasurable power created eons ago by a long-since extinct race of vastly superior (yet still were wiped out inexplicably) beings was so that some hybrid Zerg used-to-be queen could turn back to human and have sex with a depressing sad pussy-excuse-for-a-man of a Raynor character.
totally makes sense.
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As a Zerg, I loved the campaign .... A little easy with the flying swarm host hydra Kerrigan combo though.
I wish blizzard would release a few side quests every 3-4 months , nothing major in storyline , but something somewhere !
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