Naemi
05-16-2003, 08:25 AM
Gamespy.com writes:
StarCraft: Ghost
See the StarCraft universe from a whole new angle in Blizzard's new action stealth game.
By Benjamin Turner | 5/15/2003
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: April 2003
Genre: Action
Many people may forget, but famed PC developer Blizzard actually started out as a console game developer, making off-beat but fun games like The Lost Vikings, Rock & Roll Racing and Blackthorne. Then it went on to make a little game called Warcraft, and the rest, as you know, is history. Extremely lucrative history. Now, though, Blizzard is reentering the console fold with a brand new adventure in the StarCraft universe. We've covered it extensively in the past, but this time it was my turn to get some hands-on.
I came away very impressed.
Ghost puts players into the well-insulated boots of a Ghost, that tricky master of battlefield intrigue that first appeared as a Terran unit in StarCraft. The Ghost you play will have to negotiate her way through twenty-five diverse and challenging missions to progress through a storyline that will undoubtedly be really interesting to individuals better versed in Starcraft lore than myself. I wasn't really there to hear about the story, though; This demo was all about the gameplay.
From what I've played, Ghost seems to be an almost even mix of stealth and combat... and sometimes stealthy combat. The Ghost relies on both high-tech weaponry and psionic abilities to ply her deadly trade. She retains the same rifle throughout the game but can customize it through a series of upgrades. She also has grenades -- Fragmentation, concussion, and the like -- for when a little more firepower is called for. On the psionic side, the most useful move seemed to be the psi stun, which let her knock a victim unconcious for short lengths of time. The prone target can then be dealt a psi-sapping death blow, but must then be hidden from other sentries.
The graphics engine is nice, too.The Ghost has a wide variety of possible actions, as well. She can duck, roll, jump, hang, sidle, sneak, hang upside down and snipe, and even more besides. This high degree of interactivity extends into her interactions with the environments and enemies, too. For example, she can achieve single-shot instant kills by shooting enemies' faces before they snap their protective visors down. Or if she sees a grenade hanging from an enemy's belt, shooting that will cause more grievous damage to her foe and its surroundings than any single bullet could have. The game is packed full of these tiny but important details, giving the gameplay a rich and satisfying feeling of depth.
After playing the demo level I came away with a fresh appreciation for Blizzard's new foray into consoles. I'm the kind of guy who feels suspicious of word-of-mouth, and needs to see things for himself. Now that I have seen Ghost for myself, the only question I have is "So when can I play more?"
http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/screens/multiplatform/starcraftghost/Ghost_Screen09.jpg
Anyone else interested in this game ?
StarCraft: Ghost
See the StarCraft universe from a whole new angle in Blizzard's new action stealth game.
By Benjamin Turner | 5/15/2003
Developer: Nihilistic Software
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release Date: April 2003
Genre: Action
Many people may forget, but famed PC developer Blizzard actually started out as a console game developer, making off-beat but fun games like The Lost Vikings, Rock & Roll Racing and Blackthorne. Then it went on to make a little game called Warcraft, and the rest, as you know, is history. Extremely lucrative history. Now, though, Blizzard is reentering the console fold with a brand new adventure in the StarCraft universe. We've covered it extensively in the past, but this time it was my turn to get some hands-on.
I came away very impressed.
Ghost puts players into the well-insulated boots of a Ghost, that tricky master of battlefield intrigue that first appeared as a Terran unit in StarCraft. The Ghost you play will have to negotiate her way through twenty-five diverse and challenging missions to progress through a storyline that will undoubtedly be really interesting to individuals better versed in Starcraft lore than myself. I wasn't really there to hear about the story, though; This demo was all about the gameplay.
From what I've played, Ghost seems to be an almost even mix of stealth and combat... and sometimes stealthy combat. The Ghost relies on both high-tech weaponry and psionic abilities to ply her deadly trade. She retains the same rifle throughout the game but can customize it through a series of upgrades. She also has grenades -- Fragmentation, concussion, and the like -- for when a little more firepower is called for. On the psionic side, the most useful move seemed to be the psi stun, which let her knock a victim unconcious for short lengths of time. The prone target can then be dealt a psi-sapping death blow, but must then be hidden from other sentries.
The graphics engine is nice, too.The Ghost has a wide variety of possible actions, as well. She can duck, roll, jump, hang, sidle, sneak, hang upside down and snipe, and even more besides. This high degree of interactivity extends into her interactions with the environments and enemies, too. For example, she can achieve single-shot instant kills by shooting enemies' faces before they snap their protective visors down. Or if she sees a grenade hanging from an enemy's belt, shooting that will cause more grievous damage to her foe and its surroundings than any single bullet could have. The game is packed full of these tiny but important details, giving the gameplay a rich and satisfying feeling of depth.
After playing the demo level I came away with a fresh appreciation for Blizzard's new foray into consoles. I'm the kind of guy who feels suspicious of word-of-mouth, and needs to see things for himself. Now that I have seen Ghost for myself, the only question I have is "So when can I play more?"
http://www.gamespy.com/e32003/screens/multiplatform/starcraftghost/Ghost_Screen09.jpg
Anyone else interested in this game ?