Blizzplanet's review explores some of the topics and key characters of the StarCraft universe found throughout the novel tie-in StarCraft: Ghost--Spectres by author Nate Kenyon.
The book is not truly a novelization of the postponed StarCraft: Ghost video game as originally expected, but it still contains a couple of elements straight from the video game's intended storyline such as the Terrazine gas and a support character from the game known as Colonel Jackson Hauler, commander of the Nova Squadron.
The Terrazine gas plot was touched upon in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty during the mission "Welcome to the Jungle", and the Project: Shadowblade mentioned in one of the in-game cinematic cutscenes is fully explored in the novel.
Nate Kenyon is an award-winning author of science fiction, horror and suspense novels. He definitely adds these three elements into the StarCraft universe setting with plenty of action, blood and gore.
This book serves as a continuity hub connecting all the previous Ghost novel, the manga, the comic book and the StarCraft II video game's plots together. Tokyopop shutdown its California offices before StarCraft: Ghost Academy Volume 4 could be published. However, the outcome of the never-published finale of the StarCraft: Ghost Academy series is poured in into StarCraft: Ghost--Spectres as a generous bonus.
This book could get a 9/10 merely because it didn't actually novelize the StarCraft: Ghost video game's storyline the way Warcraft: Lord of the Clans novelized Warcraft Adventures the video game, or how StarCraft: Queen of Blades novelized step-by-step the events in the original StarCraft (1998) game.
Despite this, the author is not responsible for taking this decision, thus it would be unfair. Nate Kenyon was a finalist of the Horror Writers Association’s Bram Stroker Awards in 2006, 2008 and 2009 for his previous works: Keeping Watch, The Reach, and Bloodstone.
His contribution to the StarCraft universe definitely deserves a 10/10. Keep them coming.
Jason Hall, currently an indie developer and former Blizzard employee, has been sharing some really interesting stories from his long career in the industry for a while now. Some of them are truly insightful, while others may seem depressing.
I’m a little shocked that StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty sold only around 6 million copies. The original StarCraft did over 11 million. Maybe Blizzard was too leisurely in releasing StarCraft 2? Starcraft 2 came out 12 years after it’s predecessor.
Im surprised too. Starcraft was still a huge name in 2010. It was kinda the only new RTS around and other genres like MOBAs hadn't really kicked off yet. I do remember at the time sentiment around the game was
pretty angry the game was being split into 3 but I doubt that would have impacted sales to that degree
For a long time I believed StarCraft II sold on par or better than its predecessor. There was so much hype for the game. Plus it had a pretty strong E-Sports scene for a few years.
Myself and half a dozen friends all bought StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and played it religiously for a full year. While I bought the expansions, most of my friends did not. RPGs seem to be a generally low selling genre.
I'm not shocked at all. This was an early example of Blizzard being greedy. Instead of releasing a complete experience, splitting Starcraft 2 in 3 parts so it could make us purchase it 3 times if we wanted to know the whole story and play story mode with the other races.
I originally had that stance. However, Wings of Liberty, was just as long, if not longer than StarCraft 1. The expansions were of decent length too and added a good amount of additional content.
and people wonder why we are having mtx in everything. i blame the people who actual buy them.
It's interesting he used Brazil as an example of the importance of regional pricing. Nowadays many companies on Steam are setting their prices in Brazil as high as, if not more than, their price in USA. I simply refused to buy a few games when I noticed that's the case.
The best sci-fi games ever made range from diving into the depths of humanity to finding hope among the stars.
Don't really agree on Dead Space being number one. But usually come down to preference. Alot of good games on the list. I was hoping to see Aliens vs Predator by Sierra on the list, as it was a great game. Anyways for me the number one is still Halo but Mass Effect was really good up to the infamous ending of the third game.
I would put Flashback on my list. Its got such a great tone and background design. The cutscenes were pretty good too.
DEAD SPACE 2 as number 1? Really? I've only ever played DEAD SPACE 1 (without finishing it) and, sure enough I liked it a lot, and have been yearning for getting to grips with an hd remastered trilogy for the PS4/XBox One/PS5/XBox Series X/S, but what about Deus Ex Human Revolution & Mankind Divided? Alienation (to quench our thirst for twitching fingers' top-down dual-stick shooters)? Or even Cyberpunk 2077 (once the game has been re-released and all the kinks have been ironed out)?
If not at the #1 spot, it seems to me these games deserved to be on the list somewhere.
But what really strikes me as unfair is, if you're going back to the PS3/XBox 360 era with DS2, how could you forget to mention Killzone 2 & 3? The Resistance games? When it comes to Sci-Fi FPS, it's inadequate not to pay your respects to those stellar franchises! Heck, even the Crysis trilogy should've been there IMHO.
A team of modders is working on a Starcraft Remake in Starcraft 2, and has released a brand new version of it.
Very action-packed read. Hopefully more Starcraft novels keep coming now with Heart of the Swarm in the horizon.
The next StarCraft novel is scheduled to hit bookstores on April 12, 2012 by Christie Golden (StarCraft: Secret Missions).
During our recent interview with Nate Kenyon, however, he revealed he is currently writing a new Diablo III novel tie-in. It won't be long before fans get to see what he has to bring into the Blizzard Entertainment properties.
I have a hard time believing any of the Starcraft books are at all worth reading when the writing for Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty read like the dregs of fanfiction.