Starcraft: Ghost

A year is 365 days. 52 weeks. A bunch of minutes, hours and seconds that I am just too tired or lazy to sit down figure out right now. Basically a year can be either a long time or short time depending on what circumstances you are in during those days and weeks. For Blizzard's StarCraft Ghost, a year has been long enough to overhaul nearly every aspect of the game. For just about any other game, a retooling of a title that seemed so close to launch would be a very bad sign, but since we are talking about a Blizzard title, the extra time spent in development is par for the course.

This is what Fiats will look like in the future. Hope they're fuelled on the blood of their creators.

I guess I should have taken that computer course after all.

I got to sit down with Blizzard and take their 2nd generation-console-only title Ghost for a spin and see what new thing they and Swinging Ape Studio had in store for us. From first glance it did not look like much had changed but as Nova took out her first Marine, searched his body for items, hide his corpse in a side passage to prevent alerting other patrols to her presence, it was clear there had been some major changes indeed. I wanted to find out what else was new so I asked my guide from Blizzard for a quick list. Ticking items off on fingers of his hand he listed them for me:

• New single player levels
• Parts of the game engine have been upgraded
• A mix of action and stealth game play
• Drivable vehicles
• The ability to pick up and use weapons and items from foes
• Refinements for "a stronger, more Blizzard quality story which includes more of the original races, classes and items from the StarCraft universe

• Multiplayer support. Loads and loads of multiplayer support.

The game still looks good and from the little bit I got to play, all the improvements have added to the experience I faintly recall from last year. While the Ghost I played in 2004 was good, this version seems to have much more for the player to do. More ways to accomplish the goals Nova is given while still staying true to the original StarCraft universe.

Multiplayer will be supported by Xbox Live and on the PS2 through Battle.net. As of now there is no word on Co-op. Modes of play include the typical deathmatch, team deathmatch, king of the hill etc. But what really caught my attention was a mode called Mobile Conflict. Two teams choose from four distinct units, each with their own unique powers, benefits and drawbacks. They include the Ghost herself, Light Infantry, the flame throwing Firebat and the hulking Marine.

Teams then try to capture a floating Terran Factory and fly it back to their base in order to win the round. Combat promises to be fast intense as players pilot vehicles around the map dropping troops into the factory and harassing the other team. As the match progresses, the factory changes hands back and forth (if the teams are any good that is) until finally one side is able to fly it back to their side of the map and land it safely. From what I saw it looks like Blizzard may have another tournament quality multiplayer game on their hands.

Typically for Blizzard again, the game will be released 'when it's done'. Hopefully for us it won't be too many minutes, hours, days...You get the picture.

-Vince "Moesha" Massa