StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm - Easy Way to Play Campaign [ Guide ]

The Heart of the Swarm singleplayer campaign is pretty fun to play. There's about 12 hours of gameplay in it, with different features that give players the experience of being Kerrigan and the Swarm. For those who are a bit intimidated by StarCraft II's gameplay, yet still want to fully experience the HotS campaign, then here's an easy way to play it. While it's not entirely a shortcut for winning, it is less micro-intensive for those who aren't used to StarCraft II or RTS games in general. This method will enable you to just attack-move towards your objective without too much [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm [ Review ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm When StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty first came out after about 12 whole years since the release of StarCraft: Brood War, the franchise had become a legend in the real time strategy genre. So new game gained a lot of praise and acclaim at first. The campaign had a lot of new features and refreshing elements, and the story was alright. However, with those 12 years, the tastes of gamers had changed as well, so it was a challenge for Blizzard to satisfy the hardcore fans. With Heart of the Swarm, plenty of features [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Updates and Release Date [ News ]

For those who have not heard yet, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm now has a definite release date, as well as big updates that will make the game worth getting indeed. StarCraft II stands against some stiff competition in the modern video game market, with tons of new titles vying for attention, as well as free-to-play titles that have proven to be incredibly popular. It's only a matter of time before Blizzard's current business model starts to take it right to the gut, but only time will tell. March 12, 2013 After much speculation and while still in the middle of [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm BETA - Balance Update #2 [ News ]

Blizzard has now come out with a new major patch for the Heart of the Swarm Beta, which can affect how the game will be once it's finally released sometime next year. The expansion has gone through several major changes throughout its development cycle, which is a result of Blizzard closely following feedback from the community due to the game's focus on its competitive multiplayer aspect. Terran After all the community feedback, Blizzard has decided to completely remove the Warhound from the beta for now. It was to be the semi-return of the Goliath from Brood War and it would make mech [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Beta [ Review ]

After a bit of a wait and a lot of teasers, Blizzard has finally put up Heart of the Swarm to closed beta. While only a handful of players get beta access, a lot of them have posted videos on YouTube, as well as their impressions on sites like TeamLiquid and the r/starcraft section of Reddit. From what they have come up with so far, there are a lot of good and bad things about the current state of this new expansion to StarCraft II. Terran Perhaps the most talked about unit in HotS is the Warhound, which has proven to be [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm - New Multiplayer Units Update [ News ]

In the recent 2012 MLG Spring Championship in Anaheim, Blizzard had previewed the updated build of Heart of the Swarm, which shows the various changes and additions made since the first preview back in BlizzCon 2011. The changes for each race are the following. Protoss The Replicant has been removed due its purpose being unfulfilled. Instead of diversifying the Protoss arsenal and giving players more incentive for variety, it made them not make certain units since they can just copy whatever their opponents have, like Siege Tanks or Infestors. The Tempest is still what will most likely replace the Carrier, but its purpose has [...More ]

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm - Updated Features and Beta [ News ]

Perhaps a lot of you have already read about the updates on the upcoming Heart of the Swarm expansion for StarCraft II. But since they were made in separate announcements, then it's a good time to compile all that information into one article to help those who may not completely understand what has been going on. While the game's release date has been pushed back to 2013, it does mean that more changes and additions may be put into the upcoming expansion. With Blizzard declaring their commitment to delivering as promised, they've announced the following changes to what they had already [...More ]

StarCraft II - Zerg Strategy: ZvP Fast Hive Ling-Ultra [ Guide ]

The Zerg vs Protoss matchup in StarCraft II has always been quite contentious since the start of Wings of Liberty. Protoss has a lot of ways to exploit the squishiness of their bug counterparts, while the Zerg does well in spreading the Protoss thin and picking at the weakest points of defense. Here's a strategy for Zerg that brings about a new way of thinking, albeit a risky one. Overview During Wings of Liberty, Zerg had come up with a mostly Roach-based strategy to deal with Protoss, including the ridiculous 12-minute Roach max build that hit them with the force of a [...More ]

StarCraft II - Zerg Strategy: 2-Base Muta [ Guide ]

Learning how to play Zerg well is not exactly a cakewalk. Out of all the three races in StarCraft II, Zerg has the most tedious fundamentals of all. You have to make drones and queens, make units, make overlords, inject larvae, spread creep, scout, and so on while the other two races don't have as extensive of a checklist. With that in mind, beginners don't have much room for a build order. There's this one though, which is pretty easy to follow and use. Overview The increase in speed of the Mutalisks in Heart of the Swarm makes it a deadly unit [...More ]

StarCraft II - Protoss Strategy: Countering Muta-Ling in PvZ

With Heart of the Swarm, one of the things that Zerg has gained is more powerful Mutalisks that are now better to micro around, making them more worth the time and resources to spawn compared to how they were in Wings of Liberty. Overview Perhaps one of the most annoying things that a Zerg opponent can do to a Protoss player in Heart of the Swarm is to sic mass Mutalisks on them as early as possible. The Protoss wouldn't have enough anti-air to deal with them. Even if he does though, it's not that simple as the Mutalisks can fly from [...More ]

Starcraft II - Terran Strategy: TvZ 8-8-8 Proxy Reaper [ Guide ]

With the release of Heart of the Swarm, Terrans have gained new weapons in their arsenal to even the odds against the other two races. At the end of Wings of Liberty, Zerg had dominated most of the metagame, especially in the late game. While Zerg is still good, Terrans can now take the fight to them very early in the game with an opening that takes advantage of the new and improved Reaper. Overview This build order, which works best against Zerg, is the fastest reaper opening you can do in Heart of the Swarm. The name "8-8-8" comes from the [...More ]

Starcraft II - Protoss Strategy: PvT Double Forge [ Guide ]

The Protoss versus Terran matchup is perhaps not as clean cut as the Zerg matchup as there are much more variables involved, leading to the Protoss player being frustrated whenever a Terran comes up in ladder. In these cases, you either go with Colossi, High Templar with storms, or maybe Dark Templars. Other than that, perhaps an early all-in to take him out before he gets to macro. But there have been other solutions that have become rather successful, like this strategy. Overview This strategy was created and popularized by a 14-year-old Korean prodigy by the name of Jang Hyun-woo, better known [...More ]

StarCraft II - Protoss Strategy: 10-Minute Mothership [ Guide ]

It is rare for a build that is supposedly "cheesy" strategy in StarCraft II that is actually endorsed by pro players. This one comes from a Korean Protoss player from Team ItsGosu named HwangSin, and it's both fun and pretty effective against an oblivious Zerg. If you feel like stomping on Zerg is getting too easy and boring, then try out this build that gets you a Mothership at around 10 minutes, but only if you play it right. It's a good challenge for Protoss players who want to keep having fun in Wings of Liberty before Heart of the Swarm [...More ]

StarCraft II - PvZ 2-Base Immortal-Sentry All-in [ Guide ]

As patch 1.5 rolled in, Zerg players started to discover the power that they held in the late game. Soon, they started to get third bases earlier and going for Brood Lords and Infestors, and that unit composition became their trump card. The Zerg in the competitive scene started to see more success during the latter parts of 2012, just like how the Terrans dominated the end of 2011. The Protoss needed an answer, and they found it in the form of a 2-base all-in strategy. The goal of this 2-base all-in is to take out the Zerg's third base before [...More ]

Starcraft II - Protoss Strategy: 7 Gate +2 Timing PvZ [ Guide ]

PvZ has hit certain snags at certain times when Zerg players come up with strategies to counter the Protoss' mostly mechanical forces. The matchup does tend to lean towards more macro-oriented play, with both sides fast-expanding. The Protoss does have answers that involve aggression and constant pressure, courtesy of this build and its variations. The 7 Gate +2 Blink Stalker all-in is a mid-game all-in that can be executed in a variety of different ways. This article will focus on a passive variation of the build that aims to hit the Blink Stalker timing faster than more harassment-heavy variations such as [...More ]

StarCraft II - Changes in 2012 Season 4 [ News ]

The eighth ladder season, third of this year, has now been locked and will end on September 11. Along with the new season comes big changes for Season 9 (2012 Season 4). With the Heart of the Swarm Beta becoming a big focus in the SC2 scene, Blizzard is bringing in new stuff to keep Wings of Liberty interesting. As always, the matchmaking rating (MMR) still changes with games played during the lock, so you can then get promoted if you have enough after the placement match at the beginning of the next season. This particular season was supposed to end [...More ]

Starcraft II - Zerg Strategy: Ice Fisher [ Guide ]

SC2 is full of strategies and build orders that show just how many ways you can play this game with each of the three races. A lot of them are straightforward and are solid foundations for variations to suit different situations. There are some builds that cut corners to achieve certain goals, like getting units out early to attack or merely having enough to defend while you expand or tech up. As Zerg, there is such a build that had become popular when it first came out and is now one of the most common ways to play this race. Overview This [...More ]

Starcraft II - Zerg Strategy: Double Spire [ Guide ]

The mutalisk is perhaps one of the most versatile flyers in the game, doing equally well in harassment and in frontal assault. They're a bit fragile though, which is why they need upgrades. But once they're fully upgraded, they are scary even with sufficient anti-air due to their glaive wurms. This build and strategy can help Zerg players go absolutely nuts with Mutalisks. Overview The aim of this build is to produce as many mutalisks with the highest upgrades possible in the shortest time to attack the opponent from the air with devastating effect. Building two spires means that you get both [...More ]

Starcraft II - Terran Strategy: Reactor Hellion Expand [ Guide ]

The speed and ferociousness of the Zerg can render any beginner Terran player shaking in his seat. For instance, once zergling speed is researched, early game aggression from the Zerg may seem unstoppable. However, there is one weapon in the Terran arsenal that can fight against this menace. That is the Hellion, and here is a good way to make use of it early in the game. Overview The Reactor Hellion Expand build is quite an opener that can become very potent when practiced hard. The point here is to construct a Factory with Reactor to churn out around 2-6 Hellions to [...More ]

Starcraft II - Terran Strategy: MMM Timing Push [ Guide ]

As a beginner, Terran can be daunting for some people as it requires both solid fundamentals and good micro to make the most of the race. Terran build orders and strategies aren't as clean cut as those of Protoss or Zerg due to the variations and transitions possible with this race. For those who want to learn Terran, perhaps one of the best builds to start with is the MMM timing push. Overview This is the standard build for Terran for most match ups due to its versatility and ease of transition to other builds. The aim is to get a bio [...More ]

StarCraft II - Protoss Strategy: The German 6-Gate [ Guide ]

With how strong Zerg had gotten after the 1.4.3 patch, as well as recent additions to the Zerg's strategic repertoire, it became apparent that Protoss needed new strategies to counter this. Here's one created by Socke, a strong German pro player who has addressed the Zerg threat brilliantly with this build. Overview This is basically a variation of the Gateway Fast Expand that relies on getting a lot of units out to counter the Zerg numbers during the early to mid game. This is all about aggression at the right time, with attack upgrades and numbers on your side. The differences between this [...More ]

StarCraft II - Protoss Strategy: Blink Stalker Push [ Guide ]

One of the good things about Protoss is that there are various abilities that help gain an advantage over the other races. For example, Blink lets you teleport your Stalkers, which is very good to have in combat. There's a build that makes use of this ability at the earliest possible chance. While you won't have as many units out early on, having Blink makes the sacrifice on unit macro worth it. Overview The objective is to research Blink as soon as possible, gather as many Stalkers as you can, and have an Observer ready to spot the high ground for a [...More ]

StarCraft II - Zerg Strategy: 12 Minute Max Roach [ Guide ]

Zerg gameplay has evolved in StarCraft II, creating a more diverse repertoire for competitive players. At first, Zerg was seen as a reactionary style that scouts a lot and builds units to take out whatever the opponent is coming out with. Then there's a new school of thought wherein brute force is emphasized, which may seem counterintuitive since Zerg is supposed to be the "physically weak" race, depending more on strength in numbers. However, the latter has been utilized to great effect in professional competition. Overview This particular strategy was popularized by French Zerg player Ilyes "Stephano" Satouri, a non-Korean who has [...More ]

StarCraft II - Zerg Strategy: Muta/Ling/Bane [ Guide ]

Zerg is mostly seen as a reactionary race that requires fast mechanics and an above-average ability to adapt quickly during a game. Perhaps one of the strategies that can be depended on most of the time is the Muta/Ling/Bane unit composition, which has been proven time and again to be effective against most matchups and situations. This composition is typically used against ZvT, but it does work well against Protoss as well. It offers great mobility against a slower enemy army. The units cover for each other's weaknesses and has been known even in the professional scene to be potent in [...More ]

Starcraft II - Protoss Build: The 3-Gate Robo [ Guide ]

In the past, Protoss players used to say that when in doubt, you should just use 4-gate. However, due to the all-in nature of the 4-gate opening, Protoss players have then opted for a safer 3-gate opening which balances economy with early unit count. This allowed for various transitions, including one to Robotics Facility for Immortals, which are solid in almost any matchup. Due to its reliability, the 3-gate robo has then become a standard opening for Protoss players everywhere. Overview This is a standard Protoss build order that has proven quite useful in all three matchups, letting the player defend against [...More ]

StarCraft II - Map Focus: Metalopolis [ Guide ]

Among the multiplayer maps in StarCraft II, few have had as much success as Metalopolis. The map is so well balanced that players demanded it to be returned when it was axed in Ladder Season 3. It was subsequently brought back in the map pool for Season 4 and Blizzard started to emphasize more on tournament maps in Season 5. Metalopolis is proof that power in StarCraft II definitely belonged to the people. Overview Official Map Description: "Your base is easily defended but nearby resources are harder to protect. Watch Towers observe the main paths across the map. Additional resources are challenging [...More ]

StarCraft II - Map Focus: Shakuras Plateau [ Guide ]

Among the multiplayer maps in StarCraft II, few can compare to Shakuras Plateau. It's great for both macro and aggressive play, seeing games both long and short. Perhaps one of the few maps to stand the test of time, pro players like its balance and size. To learn how to play well in this map is to master half the ladder already, as some would say. Overview Official Map Description: "Your first expansion is easy to defend, but additional expansions push you farther into the battlefield. One central path to your enemy. Destroy rocks to open surprise attack routes." Shakuras Plateau is usually [...More ]

StarCraft II - Terran Strategy: Bio and Mech [ Guide ]

When it comes to playing Terran, there is no avoiding the topic of bio and mech. The distinctions have been there since the days of Brood War, when various builds for various matchups with Terran have been showcased in big tournaments. Whether it's a contain with Siege Tanks and Bunkers or Marines dropping down from the sky, knowing how to do it all is kind of the Swiss knife principle in Terran gameplay. Terran players should understand the difference between bio and mech beyond what is already obvious. The basic difference is that bio is more mobile and with more DPS, [...More ]

Starcraft II - Zerg Build: The 7-Roach Rush [ Guide ]

There are many offensive Zerg build orders that can catch opponents off-guard and make him turtle up while you go about your business and build up your forces for an even bigger attack later. Of course, it can also win you the game if the opponent's entirely unprepared for the rush altogether. Overview The 7-Roach Rush is used for early pressure against your opponent while you establish your expansion and tech. This is quite effective in a lot of scenarios as it can be transitioned into a different unit composition due to the Zerg's ability to do well with reactionary play. [...More ]

Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart (iOS) [ Review ]

Perhaps some people don't entirely understand why hidden object games can be so engaging and fun, even if they themselves are playing one quite enthusiastically. It doesn't take much to learn how to play one, the themes and stories of such games can be pretty interesting, and there's always a sense of the game not taking itself too seriously. If you're looking for yet another one for your iOS device, then here is Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart, developed by Artifex Mundi and published by G5 Entertainment. In the game, you play as Ms. Black, an owner of a [...More ]