While the single player campaign is all well and good, you all want some more details on the multiplayer, don’t you? Heart of the Swarm features many enhancements to the tried and true gameplay that we have all come to know and love.
One of these is the Arcade. From what I can gather, the Arcade will be a tool in which you can quickly surf through community mods and maps as well as rate them. This will also server as a basis for the “Starcraft Marketplace” in which modders will be able to charge fees for their work. By doing this Blizzard hopes to increase the creativity of the modding community and reward those who create truly unique experiences like the Starcraft RPG and fan created MMO.
Blizzard has also stated they wish to create and sell their own premium maps on the Marketplace. While this may cause concern, they have said only the best of the best maps will be sold on here. Still worried? Don’t be as they have said that they don’t even consider DotA a map they would sell on their own. Heart of the Swarm will come packed with a multitude of new multiplayer maps as well.
Speaking of mods, you modders should be quite happy with this next announcement. Heart of the Swarm will come equipped with tools that allow players to create their own cutscenes as well a 3D model importing tool that will allow artists to create their own custom unit models. They plan to announce many more additions to the modding arsenal at a later date.
Along with the new units from earlier, Blizzard has plans to update some of the older units as well. The Zerg Ultralisk will have the Burrow Assault ability. This allows them to “dive underground quickly, advance underneath units, and pop for a flank attack.” I don’t know about you, but the idea of a group of Ultralisks flanking me is a terrifying thought. There is still no news on that third unit from the cardboard cutout.
The Protoss Nexus will feature the “Arc Shield” ability. This will add extra shield and armor to any friendly structure. In addition to the upgraded defense bonus, Arc Shield will also provided the target building with its own photon cannon for the duration of the buff. This should allow Protoss to have an easier time with base defense.
The Terran Battlecruiser will be receiving a speed boosting upgrade called the “Redline Reactor.” This will give the Battlecruiser a cooldown ability which grants it a short burst of speed.
Along with all of these upgraded abilities, Blizzard will also introduce destructible environments to most maps. Players will be able to destroy certain pillars to create choke points, block off expansion bases, or protect a scout near a Xel’Naga watch tower.
lol pretty sure that ‘third zerg unit’ is the just the zerg symbol.
Looking at it again, that probably is the case. It just looked liked something was cut off when I was writing the article.