Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is the second game in a series of RTS games set in a futuristic space environment with strong elements of the “space cowboy” genre.
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Story & Themes
Starcraft and Starcraft II are about a galactic war taking place between several factions, both human and alien. The Terran are the humans. The Zerg are a hive-mind species of insect-like creatures that are attempting to take over the galaxy, while the Protoss are an advanced people with a strong spiritual core.
The themes in the Starcraft games include loyalty, free will, betrayal, patriotism, and freedom. There is also an element of romance, as Jim Raynor, a rebel fighter, and Sarah Kerrigan, a Terran-turned-Zerg queen, are star-crossed lovers. The Terran protagonists are fighting for their freedom on the galactic frontier, and they make some morally ambiguous decisions in order to retain their freedom and individuality.
Save Points
This game will save automatically at certain points.
Difficulty
On easy mode, this game is fairly straightforward. Players can also choose to try for special achievements and objectives during each mission, thus increasing the difficulty, but this isn't necessary to complete the game.
Heads Up!
Violence There is a decent amount of violence and gore in Starcraft: The Wings of Liberty. Though the game is primarily played from a bird's eye view, body parts and blood spatter can still be seen (both alien and human).
Scary Imagery There are some scary parts, especially involving body horror. An alien race called the Zerg operate by "infesting" individuals and buildings in a process that can be, at best, pretty gross.
Sex & Nudity Female character Sarah Kerrigan wears a skin-tight bodysuit after being infested. She also appears nude in at least one scene, but the nudity is not explicit.
Some mildly suggestive language. Characters flirt with each other.
Strong Language Strong language is used.
Substance Use Characters frequent a bar and are shown drinking.
Discrimination There are notably few female characters in the game.
Online Community
There is a large amount of player interaction in the multiplayer mode. Players are pitted against each other in battle, each managing their own armies and bases. Players can talk to each other via an in-game chat, but many players will find themselves too busy managing the game to talk.
Conversation Starters
- What would you be willing to sacrifice in order to maintain your freedom?
- What level of control over your own life would you be willing to give up if it meant making the morally correct decision?
- Would you, like Jim Raynor, choose to spare Sarah Kerrigan after she becomes the Zerg queen, or would you destroy her despite your feelings for her?
- Do you think the Terran are partly at fault for the galactic war because of their expansion and materialism?
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