Ripe for Abuse

Let’s talk about an actual game for once: Abuse!

Has anyone heard of this? It was a game released on the PC in 1996 and came to us courtesy of a group called Crack dot Com. A bizarre name of a company to be sure – Abuse was their only game – but it did have some distinction by being founded by Dave Taylor, a programmer formerly of id software.

So what type of game was Abuse? Well you ran around and blew shit up! Seriously: You control a protagonist than around maze-like environment solving minor problems and blowing away a variety of enemies with a range of weapons.

One look at Abuse however and it’s quite clearly a product of the grimdark that proliferated throughout the early to mid-nineties: there is a cyberpunk theme running throughout; there are some varied backgrounds ranging from a desolate city to a truly alien environment; the weapons range from laser guns to rocket launchers; and the plot…actually no, let’s forget about the plot.

But the thing I find most striking about Abuse is that it is clearly taking inspiration from other games and trying to prove that the PC can do the same as well – or at least give something to satisfy the obvious gazes the PC gamers have towards their console-focused brethren. The most obvious clue is the player character resembles the monster from the Predator movies and the enemies resemble the monsters from the Alien movies. True it may be trying to ape Alien vs Predator but ti is funny to see (what could well be) the Predator use a range of weapons – what wasn’t his shoulder cannon good enough? Similarly it is mind-boggling to see the not-Aliens have in-built firearms (!) and, upon their demise, drop ammo to be collected (!!!).
 Gameplay wise the obvious inspiration is Metroid, with the platform action, the shooting and puzzles inviting comparisons. The difference however is that whereas Metroid thrives on mood and non-linearity, Abuse goes in the other direction with an action overload. Enemies attack frequently in swarms and it’s all too easy to get swamped by the critters.

Nevertheless, Abuse has something of a try-hard charm to it that I somehow find appealing. Yes they were trying so very hard to prove that PC games can be just as action packed as any game on the consoles and to that end they do succeed. Okay it’s nowhere near in the same league as the immortal Super Metroid but for an action game Abuse does its job of scratching an itch. The fact that Abuse has been made available in the public domain means it can keep doing its job.

Knackered

Is there anyone else out there, apart from me, who upon seeing this

....immediately thinks of this?:

Original video located here. Accessed 2nd February 2014

Surely not...

Its! My! Blaaaawwwwwwwwddddddd!!!

I once saw someone misread the title of the Starcraft expansion Brood War as Blood War

Some thoughts:
 - Well if it's war of course there's going to be blood spilt...
 - Its a war fought over blood? Hasn't the regular human being got enough of it?

The Great Masters

Today I would like to do something unusual: I want to defend the artwork for the Sega Master game library.
Yes, you heard right. Of course, this may sound completely absurd since the Sega Master System game library has copped years of derision by many gamers and no one has ever really done such a  thing before - not doubt for good reason.
But what the hey: I see a challenge worthy of rising up to so bring it on!

When I was a kid I recall the Sega Master System being pretty big deal - in fact at the time I knew more people who owned a Master System than I did people who owned a NES. Of course this is from the perspective of an Australian - you know, a resident of a country that doesn't matter - but for a country that doesn't matter, the Sega was a hit in both Australia and Europe. In fact I remember seeing racks of Master System games and the issue of dodgy cover art never once come to mind.
But the US didn't think so - and subsequently the Master System was a flop. And when it comes to why many point to the issue of the MS game's artwork, regarding the imagery which was both daft and minimalist. And then there was, of course, the grid. The infamous grid that is the cause of much of the hate.

So can I defend this?

Lets start with the grid: I don't mind it. It was theorized that the grid may be a lame attempt at trying to replicate the holodeck from Star Trek Next Generation but for an attempt to suggest some technological device it' at least partway successful. At the time, the 80s, I was well aware that gaming was a new thing and nothing like I had ever seen before. And in that sense, the grid suggests such an advancement.

More importantly though, what I see is an old design trick being put to use: The use of the white space. As any designer will tell you, placing something within a white background will automatically draw attention - the eye is drawn to a massive space of white. So pretty much anything can be placed within a white background and it will still draw attention. Indeed, it's a design trick that has been utilized many times through gaming history, most notably through the Final Fantasy series:

And then there is the clipart-esque imagery. I don't find it a problem - if anything I originally found it something of a curiosity. It is the same principle as the white grid: It's a minimalist approach where a simple image is presented. An image that provides a suggestion as to the game contents - this in turn makes me, the potential buyer, curious as to it's contents.

Some examples:

Well if you're going to call to call your game Ghost House you'd want appropriate imagery to go with it.How can you not see bats and think Haunted House?

A foot kicking something? Well, what else are you going to match to a game called Black Belt?

This game is a clone of Spy Hunter. And this image says it all: A road being viewed from within, what looks like, a magnifying glass. Driving and doing spy things? I'm sold!

If anything, I find the Sega Master System box art relying on generating curiosity. If you present the basic idea then the imagination of the gamer can fill in the gaps. Indeed, it is nice to see game developers actually treating their audience like they have an imagination. Come on, it's not like we gamers are completely brain dead.

Ultimately though, the first round of games on the Sega Master System weren't really that good. Sure there were some diamonds in the rough but even I will admit there was indeed some shlock and, sadly, mirrored by a minimalist art direction. It is therefore fitting that as Master System games improved, more attention was paid to the box art and began occupying more and more
Nevertheless, the Sega Master System was a big hit in Europe and Australia but not in the US. Was the box art the deciding factor? That is hard to say: It can't be refuted that a decent enough box art can be enough to persuade a potential buyer over. But even now, different games get different box art in different regions.
Does that notion alone say something about the audience?
Well all I can say is that I'm glad I got this...



...as opposed to this:

Not for you

The other day I went into my local EB where they were having a sale., And it was there I saw Duke Nukem Forever available for $4.

Oh the thoughts such a find can inspire:
 - An Xbox 360 game being sold for single digit figures? Never thought I['d see the day...
 - Wasn't this going for much more when it was finally released?
 - Look what a decade + development period can do for you!
 - I can find better games for slightly more on GoG! (and they had much shorter development spans!)
 - Hail the the King indeed.....

Flash of Lightning

And so the latest iteration of the Final Fantasy XIII has touched down.
Not that I care seeing as my interest in Final Fantasy has waned in recent years but still...

I will refrain from making any 'Lightning Strikes Twice' gags but I find it interesting to note that SqueeEnix are interested in giving Lightning cameo appearances in future Final Fantasy games.

One can't help but think that SqueeEnix are convinced that if they keep bringing this character back enough times, mass appeal may occur.
I'm afraid it doesn't work like that....

Best Gaming Romances

Well it's that time of the year: Valentine's Day! And what better way to acknowledge this event than to talk about some of my favorite gaming couples.
Some simple rules for this one: The only restriction is that I must write about the couples that somehow made an impression on me. Doesn't matter how big - If I remember a certain couple over any other than they shall be included in this list.

So here we go. In no particular order:

Hiro and Lucia (Lunar 2)

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014

It seems unfair including these two in this list seeing I haven’t actually played all the way through this game but based on what I've played I actually found myself somehow invested in these two. On paper, this could be another couple that populate rom-com anime with Hiro being a cocky, devil-may-care type and Lucia could be another paperweight love interest  (Belldandy anyone?) but somehow I don't get that impression. I think it's largely due to Lucia being of considerable magical prowess. And hey, anyone who can decimate the baddies within seconds is fine by me!
But in all seriousness, I feel the pinnacle of this relationship is the fact that Hiro traveled all the way to the moon to be with Lucia. You can't beat going to such lengths like that.

Zidane and Garnet (Final Fantasy 9)

 

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014 

There's no shortage of romances within the Final Fantasy series and the one between Zidane and Garnet could well be, to me, one of the best.
I think what makes this work the best for me is the idea that this is indeed a storybook romance. Now that could be a bad thing but it is told with enough heart and sincerity that any skepticism is tossed out the window. Yes it may take the same plot as Disney’s Aladdin with a thief hitting up with a princess who wants to see the world beyond her home palace, but you know what? I don’t really care.
What I do care however is seeing Zidane and Garnet’s romance play out. Aside from the familiar strengths as they both go on a massive world-spanning adventure and help each other out in combat, what really works for me is that they help each other in times of crisis. They become quite prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to help the other. And, as mentioned previously, I love in the ending cinematic Garnet throws her crown away before leaping into Zidane arms – sometimes little moments can count for so much.
But ultimately I think this relationship succeeds because it is completely devoid of any pretension.  It is not trying to be a grandiose, universe-shattering, in-your-face-Gone-With-The Wind, romance and, as a result, it is all the better for it. After all, if I remember Zidane and Garnet over some of the other Final fantasy romances then they must’ve done something right.

(warden) and Liliana (Dragon Age Origins)
 Of all the options for a romantic partner in Dragon Age Origins, Leliana strikes me as the strongest. Alistair’s awkwardness may endear him the female gamers but I’m not one of them. Zevran doesn’t appeal to me either as he comes across as wanting to bang anything with legs. And Morrigan is…well… yet another one of those snarky types that Claudia Black always seems to play.
This leaves us to the bard.
And for some reason the romance between Leliana and the warden was the one that stuck with me the most. Leliana’s confusing accent aside, what appealed to me was that actually seemed genuine. Compared to the other three romances, this romance actually seemed like two people who would see each other on a daily basis, fight back to back, and engage in activities in their down time. The two people may be a bunch of graphics accompanied by some voice acting but to me they seemed real enough and comparable to romances I have seen in real life. I like the acts of affection Leliana did and the words she said for my warden.
And at the end, both the warden and Leliana left together to see the world and somehow, it made me wonder what kind of adventures they would have – and special mention must go to this because rare is it that I complete game and find myself wondering what will happen next to the characters once the narrative in the game is wrapped up. After all, once the game ends so does the narrative it was trying to convey. But somehow what my Warden and Leliana had together somehow made enough impression to wonder what happened next – And something must’ve happened because Leliana showed up in Dragon Age 2! Needless to say, I am curious to see what happens next in the upcoming Inquisition…..

Link and Zelda (Legend of Zelda)


This is a couple that's already been covered in a previous post in this blog so there’s not much I can say that already hasn’t been said before.
This is indeed a challenging couple as there a few things working against them. Yes Nintendo won’t admit to this coupling. Yes it is a different Link and Zelda with each game. Yes the game time Link and Zelda share varies. But in the end, this couple is one that somehow doesn’t need questioning. Link is out to rescue Zelda. Is she worth it? Well she seems to be considering the amount of effort Link invests in his quest. And that is enough to make it engaging to me, the player.

Femshep and Thane (Mass Effect 2)
I’ve always felt that, in the terms of Mass Effect 2 romances, Femshep seems to get the best picks. That may sound strange coming from a heterosexual male but I felt that the romances Femshep has come across as more interesting and more engaging than those enjoyed by male Shepard. And Thane could well be the best of the lot.
So what makes the relationship between Thane and Femshep special? Most likely it is the tragic element: Thane after all has very limited time left which would make one think that pursing a romantic relationship would be the last of his concerns. Yet somehow, against the odds (and/or common sense) one can indeed blossom between him and Femshep.
The tragic nature of this relationship is thus perfectly illustrated at the subquest’s conclusion: Whereas Thane was facing death with an unbowed acceptance; he is now frightened by the prospect of losing Femshep. And like any relationship one needs to treasure every moment they spend together with the other person and such a notion is indeed at play here – with the added emphasis that the one of the people involved has a terminal condition.
And this is indeed the first time we actually see Thane not being his usual stoic self and it;s quite revealing. And of course it is only Femshep who sees it.  Guess she must've made quite the impression.
I haven’t gotten far enough in Mass Effect 3 to see how this relationship plays out afterward but I will always treasure that final moment Femshep and Thane share before the Omega Run.  No matter how many times I see it, it still kicks me right in the feels

John and Abigail (Red Dead Redemption)

Original image located here. Accessed 14th February 2014 

Funny thing about gaming couples: Traditionally, the romantic interest is usually the endpoint/reward for beating the game. It is therefore rare to see a couple whose relationship is already in progress and rarer still to see a couple actually married (Mr and Mrs Pacman anyone?). Thankfully, John and Abigail Marston is such an occurrence.
On paper this couple should not work: Abigail only appears in the last leg of the game – and whereas we, the players, had an entire game to get to know, and build a connection with, John, we have a very limited time to get to know Abigail. Indeed, much of the game, information on Abigail is based on both what other characters say about here and John’s determination to get his job done so he can return to her.
But however limited Abigail’s time is in the game, there is no doubt that she has a genuine bond with John. These are two people who have spent a long time together and get on like any other married couple – and I say that without any hint of sarcasm whatsoever (well as much as the typed text permits anyway). These are two people who have a working relationship and know each other better than anyone else. It is the kind of relationship that has been little seen in a game and one hopes to see more often - perhaps moreso now that gamers who grew up in the eighties are now most likely married?

Tidus and Yuna (Final Fantasy X)


This is another couple that has already been covered in another post in this blog.
Again, I certainly don’t want to repeat myself so there isn’t much else can say that hasn’t been said already. But I will say that in the years since playing FFX, this couple still resonates within my cold, jaded heart. It was a relationship compelling enough to follow through the entire game.
Also pleasing is that Tidus, the Player Character, isn’t the one going on a quest. It’s Yuna's quest instead. It’s a welcome change as, after other gaming romances, we now know what it’s like to walk in a partner’s shoes as they follow their beloved into hell and beyond. The things one does for love eh?

PC and Jahiera (Baldurs Gate 2)
And we save the best for last.
Yes I said this was in no particular order but honestly? I think the relationship between Jahiera and the PC in Baldurs Gate 2 could well be the best relationship ever conceived for gaming.
Firstly, the length. This romantic subquest is indeed the longest of those available in BG2 and so it should be. Like any relationship, it takes time and effort to make it work. I don't think any other game has actually dared to take such a serious look at in-game relationships ever since. It seems that any romantic relationship would consist of a handful of conversations and boom! Romance. But not BG2 and such gall to tell any romance like it really is indeed a ballsy one.
Secondly, it is fascinating to see Jahiera slowly open up to the player. We see her get over the death of her first husband and reveal a more empathetic and trusting companion hiding behind the mask of a grumpy tough-chick. It's a 'project' in other words and one that is indeed worth the effort.
Finally, this relationship is more interesting on a realistic level. Viconia's may be beset with tragedy, Aerie's may be idealistic, but the relationship with Jahiera strikes me more as a weathered tree. It may endure hardships, periods of separation and so many obstacles but it still endures. And if nothing on earth can end such a union then it surely must be as strong as steel.
Indee,d with such an approach to a relationship, one can only wonder why no one has tried to replicate it. But then again, perhaps they don't need to.

And that is my take on Gaming's Greatest Romances. Of course, my idea of what is the greatest gaming romances may be completely different from someone else's but this is my opinion and my blog so you just read it whether you like it or not XD

Anywho, I hope you've enjoyed this post and you all have a fun Valentine's day spent in the company of loved ones.

Scrolling Down

Well it happened: I paid up for a copy of Elder Scrolls Online. This is a move that didn't come easily and only after much persuasion from a close friend.
 
Purchasing Elder Scrolls Online has been a strange experience. For you see, ever since I've discovered GoG and Steam, I've discovered the benefits in having superb games readily available for download at decent prices. It has thus become a long time since I'd last walked down to the store and obtained a physical copy of a game. After all, why purchase something rubbish when there are so many better games readily availlable?
In addition, because of the afore-mentioned online providers, I've become suspicious of games costing more than $60.Why? Well, again, there are much better games readily available and at a better price.
And, thanks to the let down that was Dragon Age 2, I've treated pre-order offers with a similar amount of disdain. Because no amount of money you throw at it will make a lousy game better.

Thus the purchase of Elder Scrolls Online has been a move that breaks all three of the rules stated above. I've compromised some important values that are indeed worthwhile and gone against the grain of common sense.
Needless to say, Elder Scrolls Online had better turn out to be all that it's cracked up to be.

Seventh Heaven

And so the seventh generation of console gaming has well and truly rode off into the sunset. So where does this leave us? Well for me this may as a good a time as any to do a retrospective on this generation outgoing.

At first I had no interest in the seventh generation. At the time the seventh generation was dawning, I got off my arse and got a PS2. A bit late to the party true but I didn't care: I merely wanted to find out what the PS2 had to offer - as well as what I'd missed out on with the PS1. And the shaky start of the Xbox 360 confirmed the wiseness of this decision.
True I did eventually obtain a Wii but that was more for the Virtual Console than the actual games the Wii had to offer.

But it didn't take long before something came along that really piqued my interest. The game was Dragon Age Origins - and somehow it being marketed as a successor to the mighty Baldur's Gate  was enough to warrant more investigation. And then, seeing a friend play Mass Effect 2 furthered my decision to fork out for a 360. It seemed a dumb decision to get yet another console when I had a PC, PS2 and a Wii but I don't regret it one bit.

Now. Do I have any favorite games from this last generation. Funny you should say that: I've got a top ten list prepared!
So here's my favorite games of the last generation all arranged in order of preference. All of these games I may have, at one stage or another, already talked about at length on this blog so I'll try and keep this brief.

10. Cave Story
It was made by one guy but damn what a labor of love this was. True the last boss may have prevented me for beating the game (otherwise this will be ranked much higher) but Cave Story has plenty of charm that puts a lot of triple A games to shame.

9. Braid 
I found Braid bogged down by the pretensions towards artiness this game had. But then I remembered this game had fun puzzles, clever mechanics and a lovely art direction. Enough to save it? Damn right.

8. Dragon Age Origins
Say what you like about Bioware but somehow Dragon Age Origins feels like one of their last watermarks. True it is more enjoyable on the PC, with mods, than the Xbox, but there is still a lot going for this game with it's art direction, gripping plot and solid writing.

7. Bioshock
Before I played Bioshock I was feeling somewhat unhappy with gaming - but by playing Bioshock I got the kick up the arse I was needing. Compelling in it's narrative, inventive in it's ideas and a great game all round, Bioshock was all this and more. Now about System Shock 2....

6. Bastion
A lot of games seem to rely on spectacle and explosions - so any game that attempts the 'Less is More' approach is worth nothing less than my interest. Four characters, a glorious narration, and an art direction to die for, Bastion is nothing short of brilliant.

5. Spec Ops the Line
The slap in the face that military shooters needed. It's not a game I'd play for enjoyment but it's a game that is indeed worthy of my respect. It takes balls for a game to critique it's audiences and Spec Ops The Line has the biggest balls of them all.

4. Thomas Was Alone
If the seventh generation proved anything it's the time that indie games truly flexed their muscles. And Thomas Was Alone could well have been the best of the lot. It may have won me over on sheer personality alone but being a great game certainly didn't hurt either.

3. Rock Band 2
I hate to think how many hours i may have sunk into Rock Band 2 but I honestly loved every minute of it. The implementation of the music library was a masterstroke and I've gained a new appreciation for music I wouldn't have otherwise been aware of.

2. Mass Effect 2
Dragon Age Origins may have proven that the seventh generation my be worth my time but Mass Effect 2 truly sealed the deal. It seems to me that Bioware were taking the concept of the Dirty Dozen and putting into game form for the first time. And I personally wouldn't have it any other way, 

1. Red Dead Redemption
Game of the generation? Hell yes. Beyond that I can't really think of much else to say about Red Dead Redemption. It's the game I got the most out of in the entire generation and it looks set to be a favorite in the years to come. Can something top it? Now there's a challenge to rise up to.....

So where am I at the beginning of the eighth generation? Anything but confident.
I'm serious: Nothing has come along that has really grabbed my attention. Indeed I have found, like most people, the seventh generation being truly defined by the presence of indie games on XBLA & Steam. And in particular I've found, much to my surprise, that many of them are more substantial than the games available on the shelves of EB Games. It is indeed telling that the only game I've truly gotten excited over in the past twelve months is The Stanley Parable.

But then again I have no patience for the eighth generation - not while my Hall of Shame continues to exist anyway.

Feels like we only go backwards

A rumor is circulating that Sony may enable the PS4 to be backward compatible. This means it will play PS3 games, PS2 games and PS1 games.

Now such a proposition is interesting: Whilst the Xbox has shied away from backwards compatibility, Sony are, once again, capitalizing on  their loss. I've said before that something truly magnificent will have to happen if the fourth console generation wants my attention and the prospect of being able to continue playing all my PS1 and PS2 games has some appeal. The only thing is, there's not really anything that has my attention on the PS3 and PS4. If there is a game worth picking up on the PS3 then chances I most likely already have it on the Xbox 360. And my 360 has already been customized quite heavily with my XBLA profile so giving up on that seems like a really stupid idea

But all of this, of course based on a rumor: It remains, as always, seen as to whether or not anything will come of it. However, for the romantics among us it would be nice to think that someone in Sony is actually paying attention to the needs of it's consumer fanbase.

But I sincerely doubt it

Wow! Look at those numbers!

I bashed this out for Muse Culture last week but it wasn't used. So I may as well give it a home here:

World of Warcraft: It has been nearly a decade and still the king of MMORPGS rumbles on, unhindered. Sure it may have faced a recent drop of numbers, sure it may have been challenged by some potential contenders and sure the approach of Elder Scrolls Online casts an ominous shadow on the horizon but World of Warcraft’s popularity shows no sign of waning.

So much so, Blizzard have released an infograph depicting some fascinating facts and figures related to World of Warcraft. Among the surprises are:
o    There have been more than 100 million accounts created since World of Warcraft touched down onto an unsuspecting world. This is a figure larger than the population of several world nations.
o    There are 500 million player characters inhabiting Azeroth. This makes for an average of five player characters per account.
o    The total of players hail from 244 countries and territories of the world. This includes Antarctica.
o    Of all the player characters, the Alliance represents 52% whilst the Horde is made up of 47%
o    And the remaining 1% you may ask? Well they represent the Pandarens. Meaning there are that many players who haven’t chosen which faction to join
o    Speaking of the Pandarens, they represent 11 million of the Azeroth population
o    There have been a total of 9 million guilds created
o    There are 2.8 million trades being conducted at the Auction House daily

Some impressive numbers to be sure but such numbers are to be taken lightly: World of Warcraft is approaching its tenth anniversary and still boasts seven million active players.

For a complete look at the infograph please go here

Speaking as a Wow Player, I find these figures incredible. Whilst I may be annoyed at the numbers of the Alliance outnumbering those of the Horde (“Gol’Kosh!”), I do find a sense of pride contributing to something that has been going for nearly a decade. Indeed, there are few games that can boast years of continuous operation let alone ten – and from a sixth generation game no less! Even if World of Warcraft’s peak of subscriber numbers may never again be matched and I myself may have had times where I’ve been disillusioned by it, it is indeed reassuring to know that I played a role in building up these numbers.

So here’s to ten years.

Lok’tar Ogar!

Dead Heart

Recently I sat down and watched a compilation of the cutscenes to StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swam. Yes I know it’s not sitting down and actually playing the game but I’m a busy man and I’ve things to do. Besides previously I wrote about being unimpressed with the plot to StarCraft so what do I think of this new iteration?

Let me start off by telling you all some thoughts I have about Game of Thrones. Like every man and his dog, I’ve seen the TV series and I’ve been hooked. I have not read the books but, much like the actors in the TV show, I’m not about to start due out of fear as to what is going to happen to certain characters (although a lot of character death would be a likely outcome).  However, as it pays to keep an ear to the ground, I am aware that many people are unhappy with the more recent books, Feast of Crows and Dance of Dragons, only citing little to no plot developments and the flow slowing down to glacial pace. It is as of George RR Martin has written himself in a corner with no clear direction of where he’s going with the text.  True he managed to top the  beheading of Eddard Stark  with the now notorious Red Wedding but what can George RR Martin do now?

The reason I am bringing this up is that I kind of feel the same about StarCraft: The first game may have inspired a lot of rage in me but it was an emotional reaction – and certainly not the kind that will deter me from playing StarCraft in future. This in turn raises a question: What is there left to do in the StarCraft universe?

Let’s remind ourselves of the ending of StarCraft Brood War: Through Kerrigan’s machinations, the Zerg have triumphed over all their adversaries. The Protoss civilization is on it’s knees, Arcturus’ empire is similarly ruined and the UED is obliterated. In addition, Kerrigan’s actions indicated that she made an irreversible decision to discard her humanity completely. And it is well and truly clear that she was doing what she did for…well…… the pure pleasure of it.

I’ve never understood why people rally around Kerrigan with such passion: She is a sadist, a narcissist, a cold-blooded murderess and beyond any sort of redemption. Therefore, to try and provoke any sympathy for a genocidal monster is indeed strange and baffling.  And to go back to the Game of Thrones analogy, Joffrey is widely despised and has absolutely no moments of sympathy – which in turn makes it much easier to hate the little prick.

Therefore, coming into Heart of the Swarm, I can’t escape the thought that Blizzard have this character but no idea what to do with her.

I’m not sure if Kerrigan has a purpose in Heart of the Swarm beyond ‘Hey it’s me! Kerrigan! Yeah you know me, the psychotic bitch from the first game…’. Yes having her kick arse may please her fans but at the same time, she’s is presented in a sympathetic manner. Which comes across as undoing the ruthlessness that made her character so unforgettable in the previous game. Indeed it is strange to see Kerrigan, the self-proclaimed Queen Bitch of the Universe, worry for Raynor and lay all the blame for the atrocities she committed on Arcturus. This is the same character right?
Whilst the idea of revenge against Arcturus is an understandable motivation, Kerrigan however adapts a tunnel-vision approach to it. She’s so determined, I found myself questioning the sincerity of such an undertaking. This is, after all, the same character who, in Brood War, did what she did out of her own choice – I think we’re well past the point where justification for Kerrigan’s actions is no longer required.
It is also puzzling for Kerrigan to be placed in a underdog position when, again at the end of Brood War, she was lording over a massive army of Zerg. Thus Kerrigan being worried of Arcturus’ forces is baffling and absurd – she shouldn’t be afraid of what Arcturus can muster. And she pretty much proved it by destroying his forces completely.
If anything, Kerrigan’s mission seems awfully one-sided and thus difficult, for me at least, to invest any connection. But the one-sided nature is bizarre seeing as the original StarCraft presented a conflict from the perspective of all sides involved. Thus to go against the grain like this seems a regressive step for Blizzard. What, were they worried that making Arcturus anything but deplorable may lose player investment? Funny, I recall Arcturus being both charismatic and slimy, not being an evil sod just for the sake of ‘hey we need a villain here’. 

Honestly, did everyone in the Blizzard writing staff forget everything established in Brood War?

Now I can imagine Brood War Kerrigan killing Arcturus for the lols but I don’t get that impression with Heart of the Swarm Kerrigan. In fact, I really wanted either Raynor or Arcturus to call Kerrigan out on her revenge quest by asking what she would do after she succeeds but alas that never came about.

A missed opportunity if ever there was one.

In fact I think I’m seeing parallels to Kerrigan with Kratos from God of War. In the first game, Kratos had the motivation of revenge over something that was entirely his fault. Since then however he’s discarded whatever depth he had for killing anything that moves. And no one is really questioning this. Why? Well as long he keeps tearing shit up no one will complain. HOWEVER! When one has defeated anyone and everyone who opposes you, there isn’t much else left to do.

Which is exactly what the ending of Brood War proved.

From the looks of it, the storyline insofar of Starcraft 2 seems to solely be about Raynor and Kerrigan. Right off the bat this is a bad decision as the original StarCraft had many characters who each went through a character arc. So where is everyone else? The Protoss don’t seem to have done a lot during Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm and it will be their time in the spotlight in the upcoming third game.  And where the hell is Duran?
So does this fill me with hope for the third installment of StarCraft 2? No. If anything, I can imagine the plot of the third game will be resolve everything established thus far in a manner akin to a sprint to the finish line.

And chances are, that’s most likely what will happen.