StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

StarCraft II is the sequel to the critically acclaimed RTS StarCraft. Several technological upgrades have been incorporated into StarCraft II, enhancing both the gameplay features and graphics. For instance, units are now able to interact with terrain height differences and a physics engine has been used to allow debris to react realistically to the terrain. All of the units from the first StarCraft have been altered and new units have come to represent the passing of time from the first game to the second.

Although demo footage exists for the game, Blizzard has stated that nothing shown is final. To contradict that, Blizzard has released specific information on their website about many of the Protoss units.

Story
StarCraft II will take place four years after StarCraft: Brood War, and will feature the return of notable heroes from the original game, such as Zeratul, Sarah Kerrigan and Jim Raynor. Players will revisit worlds from the original game, such as Char and Braxis, along with new worlds, such as the jungle planet Bel'Shir. The Xel'Naga and Terran Dominion factions will also feature in the game.

The game takes place four years after StarCraft: Brood War, approximately the same time as the storyline of StarCraft: Ghost. The storyline is being written by Chris Metzen and Andy Chambers, concurrently with The Dark Templar Saga which is written by Christie Golden.

StarCraft II will take place both in new worlds and in worlds that had appeared in the original game. Char is back as is Mar Sara. One of the new worlds is Bel'shir, a jungle-covered Protoss-colonized moon that was a religious retreat until it was attacked by the Zerg; it now houses many ruined temples. The world shown in the cinematic is Braxis Alpha. Other new worlds include Red Stone and Jotun.

Jim Raynor is set to continue his adventures. Chris Metzen has stated that "everyone who survived will have their stories told".


 * 1) The United Earth Directorate forces were destroyed by Infested Kerrigan's Zerg armies (though a few surviving companies may still be around).
 * 2) The biggest Terran faction in StarCraft II will be the "evil empire" of the Terran Dominion. The Kel-Morian Combine and Umojan Protectorate are currently independent from the Dominion, which is trying to consolidate its power. However, Raynor's Raiders are the main playable faction, and Jim Raynor is referenced as the central character of the Terran campaign.
 * 3) The Zerg, under the command of Infested Kerrigan, have pulled back to Char and been quiet for four years. No one knows what Kerrigan is planning.