Starcraft Expansion Set: Brood Wars
           (STRATEGY)


   Blizzard's own official expansion to its hit real-time strategy game
   has a great deal to offer: two new units per side, three all-new
   interconnected campaigns, three new terrain sets, new hero characters,
   and 100 new multiplayer maps. The expansion picks up where the
   original Starcraft campaign left off, with the Zerg having been dealt
   a serious blow by means of a last-ditch Protoss and Terran alliance.
   Now the Zerg prepare a massive counterstrike against their enemies,
   even as a powerful new leader takes command of the Swarm. Meanwhile,
   the Terrans will encounter their long-lost kin from Earth, while the
   Protoss continue the struggle to just get along.

   The new terrain types include the reddish Terran desert world of
   Korhal, that looks like a Martian landscape; the sinister, alien Dark
   Templar homeworld; and a frozen, barren wasteland. The exact details
   on the new units to be found in the expansion are as yet unconfirmed,
   but most have been sighted. The Terrans can train a Medic, capable of
   healing Terran infantry in the field of battle, or curing any friendly
   units of their ailments (such as Zerg Parasites). The Terrans also
   have a bomber that can build its own ammunition (like the Protoss
   Reaver), and is also equipped with an afterburner ability to grant it
   a temporary burst of speed. The Protoss can train Dark Templar,
   cloaked warriors that made a brief appearance in the original
   Starcraft campaign. The Protoss can also produce Dark Archons and a
   new flying vessel called a Corsair, a powerful air superiority fighter
   that may cast a disruption field, which nullifies all enemy ranged
   attacks. And the Zerg can now metamorph Lurkers, spider-like creatures
   that attack while burrowed out of sight. Lurkers are generated through
   Hydralisks, like Guardians through Mutalisks. The other new Zerg unit
   is unconfirmed.

   Best of all, the new campaign should wrap up (or further complicate) the
   engrossing story from the original, complete with all new cinematics.
   Brood Wars will be available late this year.