You may be wondering why the sequel to the aforementioned Starcraft which revolutionised and changed the face of the RTS genre forever should appear higher on this list than its pioneering predecessor to be named as the greatest sci-fi game ever. Its true that as a game, the impact of the 1998 original was greater than that of Starcraft II. However, 12 years in the making, Blizzards second entry into the sci-fi series had a ridiculously demanding set of expectations to satisfy and it delivered with so much sci-fi-goodness to spare, making this the greatest futuristic game of all time. When it was announced, most believed that it was impossible for Starcraft II to surpass the lofty bar set by the original. With its perfectly balanced gameplay, depth of strategy and incredible races, fans believed that Blizzard would either butcher the legacy of the original game or make a game with so many tacked-on additions that it felt too different to even be considered a Starcraft game. When it was released in July 2010, Starcraft II stunned the gaming worlds of RTS and sci-fi. Though the game retained many of the elements fans originally fell in love with over a decade before, it made some huge improvements. In particular the single player campaign felt like it had been overhauled by Blizzard to be considered as a legitimate alternative to the ultra-competative multiplayer. Prior to the release of Starcraft II the naysayers had complained that the addition of new units (or worse still, a new faction) to the originals incredible roster of units which would make any fan of sci-fi giddy would ruin the balance. However, Blizzard added a selection of new units and buildings to the game which not only maintained the balance of the three factions but also added numerous further strategic considerations. In particular the Thor a gigantic Terran Mecha with incredible offensive capabilities and a scary amount of health was well received. With its combination of addictive, balanced and rewarding gaemplay with a richly created futuristic world, Starcraft II is the finest sci-fi game ever made.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
