E3 2005: StarCraft Ghost Returns

There are some games that transcend E3 and seem to appear year after year without ever becoming available. Until recently it seemed like StarCraft Ghost was going to be one of these titles. But as of now, it looks like things are going to start moving along for Blizzard's tactical-action game.

Things were set in motion when Blizzard acquired Swingin' Ape Studios on May 16th. This design group known for their work on Metal Arms: Glitch in the System was put in charge of continuing development on StarCraft Ghost. This team has redesigned the game's engine and completely reworked the single-player campaign. It also added a robust multiplayer mode.

From the information we have received concerning Ghost it seems that game has taken a turn towards action based gameplay with tactical elements. Players will still be able to use cloaking abilities to sneak past enemies. The main character, Nova, can also climb on poles and navigate wires in a Splinter Cell fashion. She is also able to move incredibly fast and call down cruiser and tank strikes. The weapons we know about so far are the Perdition Flamethrower, Gauss Rifle and Torrent Shotgun.

The game takes place four years after the end of the Brood War Conflict. Nova is a highly skilled Ghost Operative working for the Dominion. She discovers the secrets behind the battle between the Dominion and the Koprulu Liberation Front.

The game will feature a number of elements that gamers will recognize from the Star Craft series including vehicles, playable characters, and geographic settings. The game spans Mar Sara, Ash 'Arak and Vyctor 5. Enemies are comprised of the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss. They all play roles in a storyline that ties into the StarCraft mythology.

The newly announced multiplayer mode includes online play for the Xbox and Playstation 2. The playable characters include Ghost, Marine, Firebat, and Light Infantry. There is also a unique combat mode called "Capture the Base" in which two teams vie for a floating Terran base. Ghost will also contain the normal Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and King of the Hill modes, although Blizzard promises that each of these game types will include their own unique twists.

Check out the media page for screen shots of the redesigned engine. StarCraft Ghost will be available on the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2 and is scheduled to be released during the first half of 2006. Check back for our hands-on impressions with the game from the show floor of E3.

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