Need More Minerals? All StarCraft II Reviews Available Post-Release

Blizzard have announced all reviews for StarCraft II will be launching after the game’s worldwide release. Rather than being due to some heavy-handed embargo or PR shenanigans, Blizzard (see also: ActiBlizz) explained they wanted to ensure reviewers were able to experience the game in an identical environment to the general public. Games that require massive online communities often are reviewed on closed servers weeks before a game’s release.

I, for one, think this is going to make the reviews for the game much more interesting to follow. Everyone is getting access to the game at the same time, so the suspicious “exclusive” review won’t exist. Instead you’ll be left with such wonderful questions like, “Did Website X really complete the campaign and give the multiplayer a fair shake before stamping a 10 out of 10?” If we were a massive site with an unlimited budget (ahem!) would we assign the review to our most dedicated staffer; a person who would be willing to sacrifice 48+ sleepless hours just to get our review out first?

Thankfully, writing for Nukezilla is a labour of love. In our case the StarCraft II review will be placed in the most steady and capable hands of our very own Mark “Junglistgamer” Steward. Mark and I have been playing SCII during the beta and as NZ‘s new Reviews Editor I can promise you our review won’t be rushed out the door. Mark and staff have been waiting 11 years for this. If Blizzard’s latest is a masterpiece, a massive disappointment or something in between, we’ll be sure to give it a thorough spin around the block.

Please continue to follow our coverage of SCII. We’ll post our Battle.net IDs on the forums so the NZ community can jump into the fray with us online and squash what’s left of our meager pride. My life for Auir!