StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

LQ: 9.5

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Brain grade: 9.7
Fun score: 9.2

Game Type: ESRB Rating: Teen Platform/Console: LWK Recommended Age: 13+ Thinking Skills Used: , ,

Blizzard Entertainment

StarCraft II is a sci-fi strategy game where players create and maintain an army while trying to eliminate the bases and troops of an opposing force. Set in the future in a distant part of the Milky-Way Galaxy, the game employs three competing factions, each with their own unique gameplay mechanics. The game features a single-player campaign and an intensely competitive multiplayer game mode. Gameplay revolves around harvesting resources, building up troops and armaments, and commanding them strategically, testing players’ wits by forcing them to develop in-depth strategies and combat tactics. The game features sci-fi violence and some adult language, as well as small instances of blood left on the battlefield when certain units are defeated. Because of these elements, the game’s complex mechanics, and the hyper-competitive multiplayer element, StarCraft II is only recommend to ages 13 up.


This game is good for kids who need help with:

Time Management

Being efficient and aware of our use of time and effort. One of the worst things a player can do in StarCraft II is waste time. The player should always be building something or thinking about what to do next. Each unit takes a different amount of time to create, and players will need many different types of units  in order to win. The player is always managing a variety of tasks, as there are three main facets to the game: economy (mining resources), base management (building units and armaments), and combat. Finding a way to manage all three tasks simultaneously is key to success. Timing construction so units and structures will finish building around the same time can also help increase the efficiency of a player's army. For instance, when sending an army off to a battle, the player should remember to build reinforcements ahead of time to cover any losses.

Flexibility

Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations. Flexibility is essential in StarCraft II, as the player will constantly have to adjust to the changing conditions of the battlefield and the enemy's different tactics. For instance, using scouting units can help the player get a heads up on enemy positions. Once the player knows what strategy the enemy is using, it becomes much easier to effectively counter an advance. If the player discovers that an enemy is building tanks and marines, he should then create units that counter the corresponding attack. If an enemy is expanding its economy, the player must be ready to expand his own or plan a strike on the enemy's new resource site. Tactics like this will keep the player in the game and make him more competitive against advanced adversaries. The player must alsways be willing to change his plan and adapt to an enemy's tactics.

Organization

Arranging and coordinating materials in order to complete a task. Proper organizing is a huge factor for success in StarCraft II. Since the game has the player managing so many different units and systems at once, it is critical that he finds an efficient way to keep track of them all.  One of the easiest ways to organize gameplay is to take advantage of control groups. Control groups are custom clusters of units and structures that can be quickly toggled with 'hotkeys' (specific keyboard commands). By assigning control groups, the player can quickly choose to control his army or split it into separate forces. Control groups and structures of the same type can allow the player to quickly build more units or reinforce his army when his attention is away from his base.

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