Starcraft was in many ways groundbreaking as a real-time strategy game. It featured three different races that were wildly different in terms of play style but surprisingly well-balanced. The core game-play, however, was not the game’s only strength. Starcraft boasted a robust and involved campaign mode with stellar characterization and narrative pacing.

In addition to revealing new units, Blizzard has also taken the opportunity to recap the story of the original Starcraft and Starcraft Brood Wars. In a two-part section entitled “The Story So Far,” detailing the events leading up to the situation Starcraft II will open with.

It seems an uneasy peace has fallen over the Koprulu sector. As fans of the first game and the Brood Wars expansion know, Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades won a significant victory against the Terran Dominion and their Protoss allies, utterly destroying the United Earth Directorate fleet and crushing the other forces. However, she and her zerg forces have remained silent for four years, instead of pressing the attack and eradicating the Terran and Protoss from the sector entirely.

Among the Terran and Protoss, there is still uneasiness but they have begun to rebuild. Arcturus Mengsk, despite opposition from Jim Raynor, has managed to rebuild the Terran Dominion, and Raynor has fallen into disfavor at the hands of Mengsk’s propaganda. On the Protoss world of Shakuras, the once divided race is once again reuniting, although tension still runs strongly among them.

Starcraft Brood Wars left many questions in the minds of players, and the four years of uneasy peace the Koprulu sector has endured have done little to answer them. The Dark Templar Zeratul found evidence of a Protoss/Zerg hybrid, an abomination orchestrated by the alleged infested Terran Samir Duran. Evidence and theory suggests that the Xel’Naga were not completely destroyed by their Zerg creation, and continue to have a hand in the evolution of both the Protoss and the Zerg.

Before Starcraft II was announced, there was speculation that an additional race, either the hybrid referenced in the hidden mission or the Xel’Naga themselves might be added to the roster. When Starcraft II was announced, it was further announced that the races would remain the same – Terran, Protoss, and Zerg. However, with the groundwork already in place, it seems likely that some other units will make themselves known over the course of Starcraft II’s campaign. Blizzard has left many plot-hooks unresolved; it seems they intend to make use of all of them.