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In this StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty walkthrough, we’ll be your guide through the beginning to ending moments of gameplay for the long-awaited second RTS game in the StarCraft series from Blizzard. This walkthrough covers the PC and Mac game’s campaign mode.

StarCraft 2 continues the epic saga of the Protoss, Terran, and Zerg. These three distinct and powerful races will clash once again in the fast-paced real-time strategy sequel to the legendary original, StarCraft. Legions of veteran, upgraded, and brand-new unit types will do battle across the galaxy, as each faction struggles for survival.

Featuring a unique single-player campaign that picks up where StarCraft: Brood War left off, StarCraft 2 will present a cast of new heroes and familiar faces in an edgy sci-fi story filled with adventure and intrigue. In addition, Blizzard will again offer unparalleled online play through Battle.net, the company’s world-renowned gaming service, with several enhancements and new features to make StarCraft 2 the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game. Not to mention there’s now Cooperative games you and friends can play against A.I. opponents.

INDEX OF STARCRAFT 2 GUIDES:

How to easily find your Starcraft 2 walkthrough mission: The format for this walkthrough is going through the game mission by mission. Each of the 26/30 missions is named, so it’s easy to find the level map you might need help with by pressing “CTRL” and the “F” keys at the same time on your keyboard to search for the mission you’re stuck on. We’ll start you off with a few introduction videos to freshen up your StarCraft storyline knowledge.
Let’s begin!

StarCraft 2 History Guide: Ghosts of the Past

The history of the original StarCraft in a nutshell, or rather, recapped in two videos.

In the distant future, the colonies founded by Earth’s exiles in the Koprulu sector are struggling to rebuild following a devastating war with two hostile alien species. The previously unknown and deadly species known only as the Zerg had entered Terran space, destroying everything in its path, while the technologically advanced Protoss were hell-bent on exterminating the Zerg at all costs, willing to incinerate entire planets if necessary.

StarCraft 2 History Guide Part 2: Uncertain Future.

StarCraft 2 Introduction Guide: Campaign Overview

Years have passed, but the wounds of the Brood War are far from healed. The Zerg and their cunning Queen of Blades have been quiet, but some fear this may be the calm before the storm. With both the Protoss and the Terrans licking their wounds and looking worriedly towards the darkness beyond the stars, an unknown threat emerges, unseen, that may once again plunge the galaxy into war.

Get ready for fast-paced, hard-hitting, tightly balanced competitive real-time strategy gameplay that recaptures and improves on the magic of the original game.

Throughout the campaign, you will have to make decisions that affect the game’s story. Will you stand by your comrades in arms, even if you do not agree with their methods? How far will you go, and how much would you sacrifice to save the galaxy?

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 1: Liberation Day

This is the very first mission of StarCraft 2 that will teach you the basics of troop movement in the game. At the midway point of the level you will be given reinforcements to help you save the rebel forces. After saving the rebel convoy, at this point the rebels will join Reynor’s forces to make a last push to take over and destroy the remaining buildings.

General RTS play tip: Strategic thinking is key to success. You need to gather information about your opponents, anticipate their moves, outflank their attacks, and formulate a winning strategy.

Terran strong points: From basic but effective infantry like the marines to heavily armed battlecruisers, Terran units rely on solid armor, plentiful firepower, and strength in numbers to hold the line. Terrans excel in defensive situations where their bunkers and siege tanks really shine. Remember that.

Mission one may be a cakewalk, but each mission of the single-player campaign will present you with a new challenge unlike any you’ve encountered before: lava surges, gross misuse of Dominion mining equipment, complicated escape and rescue ops, so expect the unexpected.

How to unlock the first in-game achievement: As part of the mission one guide, we show you where to find all 6 Holo Statues to unlock the first single-player campaign Achievement.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 2: The Outlaws

This level introduces you to more StarCraft basics. You will be taken through the basics of buildings and their uses via the tutorial window, so to all those new to StarCraft this is a must-play. For veteran RTS players this level should be relatively simple. Try to create a small group of marines to form a rush squad and try to gain as many reinforcement troops as possible along the way.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 3: Zero Hour

Zero Hour is a defensive mission that lasts 20 minutes. What is the best way to survive the upcoming onslaught? Be prepared! As this is a defensive mission, so bunkers and turrets are an absolute must. Begin building bunkers and turrets that cover the road inlets is the best way to stop a Zerg rush from any side. Also be prepared for the air raid that will begin after the initial rush from the Zerg on the ground.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 4: The Evacuation

This level requires you to escort 50 rebels via transporter and each transporter will be attacked by an increasing number of Zerg forces. There are a variety of tactics that can be used in this situation including: building bunkers to fortify the road along any possible routes for incoming Zerg, or you can escort the transport with a large number of troops depending on your play style and favoured method of attack.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 5: Smash and Grab

In this mission the marauder unit is introduced, but before starting this mission take the time to choose some upgrades for your existing forces with the credits you have already gained previously. The Protoss Guardians in this level require a huge amount of fire power to take down, so building a large attack squad using mercenary troops and marauders will prove very useful.

Upgrading tip: In between missions, as you explore the inside of the battlecruiser Hyperion, you can choose to unlock access to powerful units, buildings and upgrades. You can do this for the first time between missions 4 and 5.

As the story progresses, you will be able to purchase advanced upgrades incorporating both Protoss technology and breakthroughs based on Zerg mutations (as seen in the screenshot to your right; click on it to enlarge). These upgrades will make your units tougher and grant them new abilities. These are exclusive to the single-player campaign, and their unique abilities will give you a fighting chance against Raynor’s many enemies.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 6: Outbreak

Outbreak is a two sided mission, on one hand you are playing defence at night and during the day racing to clear the infested buildings. So start by building up a strong defence, use bunkers to fortify your entrances and once these are completed you can then focus on building up a large attack group.

Once you have built a strong enough defence it will run itself, the bunkers will keep your main base safe while you can get on building and managing your resources, and then spend all your daylight hours destroying those infected buildings.

Tip: This is a very long level so take your time so as to avoid any costly mistakes.

How to unlock the speedy in-game achievement: As part of the mission six guide, we show you how to finish the mission within five days, which will unlock the campaign Achievement if you play through it fast enough.

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 7: The Devil’s Playground

StarCraft 2 Walkthrough Mission 8: Welcome to the Jungle

More mission guides will be added when they are finished uploading shortly. In the meantime you can go visit Zerger King…

Frequently Asked Questions about StarCraft 2

Where to find the secret mini-game: To gain access to the bonus mini-game Lost Viking, simply click on the arcade machine in the background of the bar area and you will be rewarded with a fully playable top-down shooter similar to R-Type. (There’s also a jukebox where you can choose your own music to play.) You can watch the game in action in the video below.

By the way, it’s a shame Blizzard didn’t include their 1993 and 1997 retro puzzle-platforming games The Lost Vikings (Amiga) and Lost Vikings 2 (SNES) in this arcade. But at least this top-down shooter’s got their namesake.

What does the full Terran Tech Tree look like: This picture made by Blizzard shows a complete Terran Tech Tree…

We’ll be updating this guide all day, as we’re still playing through the game, but the walkthrough should be completed soon.

Any questions? Ask us in the comments section below.

Nintendo Downloads this week: The undersea adventure of Dive: The Medes Island Secret and the intense arcade-style action of Heavy Fire: Special Operations appear on WiiWare. Fans of the Virtual Console service can now enjoy high-flying fun from the Super NES era with Aero The Acrobat. And for fresh gaming kicks on the go, check out the camera-based controls and customization options of Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! or tangle with legions of battle-ready beasts in Crystal Monsters, both available via the Nintendo DSiWare service.

Meanwhile, Nintendo’s WarioWare: D.I.Y. “Big Name Games” series continues with new, free downloadable microgames created by top game designers. This week the game comes from the Treehouse, Nintendo’s game localization team. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games. New “Big Name Games” will be added every Monday through July 26, for free to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for Nintendo DS or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service.

Nintendo has now added these new/classic games to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. The games go live at 9AM Pacific time. Users with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations or Amazon.com.

Next we’ve included videos of each of this week’s games, where available. Either for nostalgia’s sake or so you can see if any new game is to your taste.

This week’s new Virtual Console game is:

Aero The Acrobat
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Sunsoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The madman industrialist Edgar Ektor has seized control of the World of Amusement. He and a deranged cast of fairground freaks threaten the circus. The only hope for survival is the high-flying, death-defying Aero the acrobat! Spine-tingling terror unfolds as Aero tackles Ektor’s wicked henchmen. Bungee-jump into a battle against evil. Skydive toward the danger below. Hang on for the ride of your life as you rise and plunge on a roaring roller coaster. Tiptoe across a terrifying tightrope. Power-drill and twist Aero right through every sinister circus enemy imaginable. All the while, the show must go on. It could become a carnival of carnage in the World of Amusement. Because the evil Ektor isn’t clowning around … and there’s nothing amusing about that.

This week’s new WiiWare games are:

Dive: The Medes Island Secret
Publisher: Cosmonaut Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: During the past five centuries, hundreds of ships flying every ensign have succumbed to the power of the ocean. Merchant boats, pirate ships, navy vessels – all have ended up covered in coral at the bottom of the ocean. All of them guarded secrets that remained hidden… until now. In Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, you are John Sanders, a treasure hunter and experienced diver who spends months planning and documenting a major expedition to locate and recover several ships of different ensigns around the world.

Heavy Fire: Special Operations
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood, Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Join an elite army unit in Heavy Fire: Special Operations, an arcade shooter for the WiiWare service. Play challenging missions in the Middle East from the ground, Humvee or Blackhawk. You will need a quick trigger finger to finish extremely dangerous levels. Rise through the military ranks and accumulate more powerful weapons with different features and controls. Replay the game to improve your best score and submit it to the world rankings. Make combos and smash the environment to get more points. You can take out enemies in a single-player mode or with a friend in multiplayer mode. The Wii Zapper accessory is supported but not required.

This week’s new DSiWare games are:

Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: With the innovative game Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!, you can soar through the sky in a hang glider from the comfort of your sofa. Not only will you put your face into the game with the Nintendo DSi Camera, but Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! also tracks your head movements to give you complete control of your glider. Simply tilt your head sideways to steer left or right, lean back to climb and bend forward to dive. Choose from two play styles and fly through three different types of game play: bursting all of the balloons in a variety of courses, throwing balls at targets for a high score and trying for a fast time in the high-speed challenge. Also, look out for hidden medals that help to unlock new courses and even new gliders. If you’re looking for a truly unique and inventive game, schedule a flight to experience Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! for yourself. The only thing missing is the wind in your hair!

Crystal Monsters
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can see monsters (called Neo-Seeds) and those who can’t. Neo-Seeds wield extraordinary power and battle using tamed monsters in grand tournaments. As a Neo-Seed who has just discovered his ability, you’re about to set off on an amazing journey to collect more than 160 monsters and become the greatest Monster Breeder. Explore a vast world, meet new friends and rivals, and engage in dynamic battles that require skill and strategy. Master the nine elemental types, train your monsters through battle, teach them new moves, use team attacks and fuse them together to unlock their true potential. You can even customize three of your favorite monsters by putting friends’ faces on them using the built-in camera.

Puffins: Let’s Race!
Publisher: Other Ocean Interactive
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get ready to challenge the speediest puffins on the island for the title of Fastest Flyer in Puffins: Let’s Race! Race against the clock or go head-to-head with your opponents in a battle to the finish line. Use cleverly placed power-ups like the squawk shot to get ahead of the pack and claim victory. Race through four different game modes on eight different tracks to prove your skill, or challenge up to three of your friends via local wireless play. Do you have what it takes to become the race champion of Puffin Island, or will you be left behind with the rest of the flock?

Petz Hamsterz Family
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Adopt your very own family of hamsters! Care for them, teach them fun tricks and unlock new toys and accessories to give them lots of love! Care for your hamsters by feeding them, playing with them and keeping them clean and warm. Discover your hamsters’ unique personalities – watch them react with cute and funny facial expressions. Teach your hamsters fun activities like bowling or running on ramps and watch them progress. Earn coins that can be used to unlock new toys and accessories for your lovable hamsters.

Absolute BrickBuster
Publisher: Tasuke
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Classic brick game action is here on the Nintendo DSi system. There are two modes of play: Free Play and Challenge. Pick one of eight characters and set special items to play at your own pace in Free Play Mode. The special items include different balls with special attributes, expandable paddle and paddle tilt. There are 10 stages in all. Each even-numbered stage gives you a mission, the result of which will determine the level of the next two stages. In Challenge Mode, different levels of missions are given – clear them to advance in the game.

Tekken x Street Fighter and Street Fighter x Capcom have officially been announced! Dropping the series’ VS. moniker in favor of X. Both games were revealed at Comic-Con 2010 by both Namco and Capcom, they have been previously rumored as Capcom VS Namco or Namco VS Capcom.

Falling in line with the rumor is the fact that one game is being developed by Super Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono at Capcom (naturally, that game is called “Street Fighter x Tekken) while the other game is being developed at Namco by Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada (naturally, that game is Tekken x Street Fighter).

The games are being developed for Xbox 360 and PS3 and each will feature a completely unique graphical-style and gameplay style all their own!

The developers then DEMOED Street Fighter x Capcom live. The game is similar to Street Fighter IV complete with side-scrolling gameplay, an ink-based intro with Jin and Ryu and tag-team gameplay. The demo featured Ryu, Jin, Chun-Li and Nina!

However the games are quite far off, and this is only a first look. But very exciting stuff! A Tekken vs Street Fighter game is something that gamers used to only dream of and joke about how cool it would be. But with the renaissance of fighting games, it looks like the time is indeed now.

Here is the first teaser.