Since the day Starcraft was released, it has been argued to death whether or not it’s the best real time strategy game available today. It was competing, at that time, with some great games, such as Total Annihilation, that all seemed to be released at the same time. Starcraft eventually came out on top because it was outstanding for both single and multiplayer gaming. It lived up to the standards that Blizzard has been known to produce over the years. Now, long after many gamers have spent hundreds of hours on battle.net and have passed all three campaigns, Blizzard releases an expansion pack entitled Brood War. Basically it adds more maps, a few new tricks for each race, and fixes all the minor and major bugs that have been reported to date.

For those who have been living in a cave the last few years, Starcraft is similar in play to the Warcraft series. In fact, there was an expansion pack released for Warcraft II and this one is similar to that one except instead of two campaigns, there are three all-new campaigns that continue the epic Starcraft story line, one for each race. This isn’t just a couple of units and a couple of maps either, there are many new weapons of war. The Terran’s new units include the Valkyrie ship, good for air to air attack, and the Marine Medic, which heals marines and makes marines a force to be reckoned with. The Protoss’ new units include the Corsair, which is an air vehicle with the ability to freeze opposing units, the Dark Templar and the Dark Archon, a unit with the ability to takeover opposing units using mind control. The Zerg’s new units include the Devourer and the Lurker, which makes an excellent defensive force. There are also new worlds to explore such as the Dark Templar twilight-world and the blasted lands of Korhal. With original cinematic scenes and new music tracks, the story line and gameplay are revitalized. As if that wasn’t enough new features, there is also an improved campaign editor. For $39.95, this baby is packed to capacity.

Even though there looks to be a plentiful amount of new items in the expansion pack, not all of them are all they’re cracked up to be. Unfortunately, there are only four cinematic scenes, including the introduction. I wish there were more because the originals and Brood War cinematics were outstanding. I can’t find any faults in the new music tracks, amazing cannot begin to describe them. Not only do they add to the tempo for battles, they are different for each race. You really feel valiant and righteous listening to the Terran music, while feeling creepy hearing the Zerg tracks.

Not only does Brood War live up to the original, it out performs it. I personally own both, and after having played Brood War I was compelled to go back and pass the original again. The expansion adds more than music and levels, it adds a new chapter in the epic battle for survival between the three races. No other real time strategy title can live up to either Brood War, or the original Starcraft in my opinion. The expansion pack keeps both the quality and aspects which made the original so popular.

With the inclusion of new levels and units, multiplier is even more exciting then it was before. There are places even Starcraft veterans haven’t explored, and techniques not even conceived which gives even someone, who has never played the original, a chance against the hordes of experienced players on battle.net. The single player is more intricate and complex with the addition of new speech and music. The entire game is reborn and should be fun for those people who haven’t experienced Starcraft and those who haven’t experienced life outside of battle.net.

I loved Starcraft and I love the expansion pack. Brood War does just that, expands on the original with many new advances in almost every possible aspect. Brood War is something you don’t want to miss. The original CD is required to play the new levels and multiplayer which can make it pretty heavy on the old pocketbook if you don’t have the full version of Starcraft already. Seeing as it’s just after the holidays though, I recommend you run down to your neighborhood Electronics Boutique and purchase this title with your spare cash, you’ll thank me later.

The Good – Bug fixes, new levels, units, sound, and terrain
The Bad – Only four new cinematics