StarCraft

 PC
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Adrenaline Vault
    80
    While the game isn't necessarily revolutionary, it is refreshing in the gameplay it provides and the ability it gives players to create new challenges and prolong their gaming experience.
  2. All Game Guide
    90
    It truly revolutionizes and sets a new standard for real-time strategy games on the PC.
  3. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    It won't win any awards for originality, but it's good enough to shrink your nightly sleep to just a couple of hours.
  5. Computer Games Magazine
    90
    Its well-developed plot, unique races, intuitive interface, and excellent campaign editor make it worth the price of admission, especially for those that liked "Warcraft II."
  6. Electric Playground
    95
    Another glowing aspect of StarCraft is its absolutely brilliant Campaign Editor. This is the very best make-your-own game interface ever made.
  7. Game Revolution
    75
    All in all, if you buy StarCraft, you're buying it for the multi-player. The single-player is just too short and disappointing...The game just doesn't live up to the lofty goals of its predecessors, and for that, it suffers.
  8. GamePro
    90
    By virtue of simple, solid gameplay, Starcraft has managed to rise above a predictable approach and been-there-done-that mechanics, and the final product (much like "Warcraft II" in 1995) seems fresh and new.
  9. Gamers' Temple
    96
    One of those rare games that is not overly complex, but provides a challenging and fun gaming experience. It never seems to get old or boring.
  10. GameSpot
    91
    The game has so much life in it - whether in the great, narrative-driven single-player campaign or the multitude of multiplayer options - you won't grow tired of it anytime soon.
  11. Gamezilla!
    93
    The cinematic animations are outstanding, dramatic and funny. Even the voice-over acting is really good.
  12. Happy Puppy
    80
    If you're looking for something new, if you're looking for groundbreaking gameplay, you won't find it here. What you will find is a very solid game engine, with fantastic multiplayer support, and nice units and technologies to choose from.
  13. IGN
    95
    The distinctive races, units, spell abilities, and bases are all unique and clever, so it's amazing that the game is as well balanced as it is. This is what gameplay is all about.
  14. PC Gamer
    92
    Strong strategy, great graphics, and variety make this one of the year's best. [July 1998, p.114]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. TotalGames.net
    93
    If real aliens turn up while you are playing this, they don’t stand a chance of getting your attention.
  16. Yahoo!
    90
    You get a fun, instantly appealing, easy to play-hard to master real-time strategy, with character and an endless amount of playability.

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best PC Game of 1998
2
#2 Most Discussed PC Game of 1998
6
#6 Most Shared PC Game of 1998

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1307 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,190 out of 1307
  2. Mixed: 74 out of 1307
  3. Negative: 43 out of 1307
  1. grandpajoe6191
    Sep 19, 2011
    9
    AMAZING!!! even better than WOW!!!
  2. tsabszy
    Aug 16, 2010
    10
    This game is never getting old :) Now that SC2 is finally out I put my Starcraft cd-s onto my shelves.. One week before Starcraft 2 Beta I wasThis game is never getting old :) Now that SC2 is finally out I put my Starcraft cd-s onto my shelves.. One week before Starcraft 2 Beta I was still playing with the 1st sequel and i have been creating and scripting custom maps for that game for years!! Love the feeling, epic ending, characters, stories, races, music, cutscenes and everything about this game!… Full Review »
  3. stinky
    Aug 19, 2011
    2
    a very overrated game. even at the time it was made, it had poor graphics, horrible UI, just plain annoying resource collection. ridiculouslya very overrated game. even at the time it was made, it had poor graphics, horrible UI, just plain annoying resource collection. ridiculously low unit cap (there are 20 people on the ENTIRE PLANET) terrible unit AI requiring silly amounts micromanagement. has a horrible case of scissors paper rock, made worse by the small selection of units. it has two saving graces- firstly its story is fairly ok, but this is fairly extraneous on a multiplayer oriented game. secondly, it has the best support for any game ever. but while lack of polish can break a game, lots of polish does not make a game… Full Review »
See all user reviews »