History YMMV / StarcraftIIWingsofLiberty

* StrawmanHasAPoint: The Tal'darim are presented as fanatics attacking Raynor the moment he sets foot on their world. Raynor actually came to their worlds to [[HumansAreBastards seize the objects of their faith]] and [[MoralDissonance sell them for money]]. [[spoiler: Turns out the relics combine into the [[PhlebotinumBomb PhlebotinumBomb]], but Raynor doesn't know at the time.]]

** To give an example for the above, [[KillItWithFire Firebats]], a campaign-exclusive unit in this game, can be upgraded with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Juggernaut]] [[TheJuggernaut Plating]], a permanent buff to all Firebats that the player creates for the rest of the campaign. This gives them +2 armor, forever, rendering them NighInvulnerable to the point where a handful of Firebats with Medic support can hold off an almost infinite number of Zerg, especially if you've purchased the ''other'' upgrade, which increases the area of effect for each Firebat's flamethrower effect, effectively turning them into walking Zerg mulchers that ''will. Not. Die.'' The amount of GameBreaker inherent in this is best summed up by the fact that a handful of Firebats, with one or two Medics per squad and perhaps a single Siege Tank or Bunker as backup, can literally [[BeyondTheImpossible hold the line against a numberless horde of Zerg units indefinitely during the "Outbreak" campaign mission, to the point where even attacking during the Night phases of the mission, which provokes even larger hordes to spawn, cannot break the line]].

* LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt: In the ending cutscene, [[spoiler:Tychus is ordered by Mengsk to kill the newly-deinfested Kerrigan]]. We all know it isn't going to work (particularly since [[spoiler:he'd have to go through Raynor to do it]]), but besides that it would also make about half the campaign missions [[ShaggyDogStory a complete waste of time]]. And, not to put too fine a point on it, [[ForegoneConclusion give away the ending of the game as a whole...]] It's also been mentioned in interviews and such that [[spoiler:Kerrigan will be the main character for the zerg campaign]]. With that being said, while [[spoiler:Kerrigan]] dying seemed pretty much out of the question, many fans ''were'' surprised when [[spoiler:the cure worked or at the very least ''appeared'' to have (we won't know for sure until ''Heart of the Swarm'']], since it was largely assumed [[spoiler:Kerrigan would still be infested in the expansion]]. That hair ain't dreadlocks, though.

** Due to how maps and scenarios are implemented, trying to download and play ''campaigns'' is significantly more of a hassle than it was for Brood War.

* TrueArtIsAngsty: While there are many constructive criticisms of the game's story, one of the common fan complaints is that [[LighterAndSofter the sequel is not "dark" enough as its predecessors]].

*** In earlier drafts, he was [[RoboticReveal revealed to be a robot]]. This idea was discarded and replaced with a mental breakdown (probably because in a world where you can just "resocialize" people into mindless propaganda drones, going through the extra effort of building an life-like android newscaster makes absolutely no sense), but [[DummiedOut hidden model files]] of a robot Donny are still accessible.

*** It is also possible that he's a robot [[DummiedOut based on some hidden model files]].

** Make no mistake, the first game was great, but the campaigns were repetitive and unoriginal, with 80% of the missions being nothing but "destroy the enemy base" (which was HUGE). Now, there are about four of twenty-nine missions like that (and of those, three are optional), and the rest of the [=WoL=] missions are muchmore original and funny--a TrainJob, a [[RiseToTheChallenge race against the zerg, a race against a]] ''[[RiseToTheChallenge wall of fire]]'', a scavenging mission, a ZombieApocalypse, and many others. Although [[BrokenBase others]] believe that it would have been better with ''fewer'' such creative missions.

*** "[[HuskyStarcraft Banelings]], [[EarWorm banelings]], [[RuleOfThree banelings]] woaaahhh..."

** Pylo the Pylon. Appeared in a game between [=WhiteRa (DuckloadRa)=] and [=BratOk=]. Created by HuskyStarcraft to name a Pylon near the front lines, Pylo has become a sensation in the [=SC2 community=], recently spawing his own [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ4XpUKjtgk SONG]]. Pylo appears at around 9:03 [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtUT-IAy4sA&feature=related here]].

* AngstWhatAngst: While Zeratul's certainly got quite a bit to feel bad about, he just keeps on fighting, never letting it slow him down, instead finding minor ways to let his grief out; one of his "response" quotes in StarCraftII is "En aru'din Raszagal", which means "In Memory of Raszagal".

* FoeYay: Between Tosh and Nova. According to the graphic novels, she and Tosh shared their first kiss with each other, and both of them enjoyed it. In ''StarCraftII'', Tosh has slid down the cynicism side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism while Nova completed her Ghost training and was resocialized.

* [[YMMV/{{StarCraft}} Starcraft's (series and first game/expansion) YMMV tab]]

** Unfortunately, this was expected. The game created this before it was even released. Features such as multiple building select split the fanbase early on on the development cycle, followed by debates over how protoss display team color, if the lurker should have been removed or not, and more. Not to mention the arguments that broke out when it was revealed that Blizzard was changing the voice actress of Kerrigan from Glynnis Talken to Tricia Helfer. And now that the game is actually out, the base has become extremely polarized, nearly to the extent of the Literature/InheritanceCycle over Starcraft II's story. It's either a story of equal merit that steps forward in presentation and storytelling, or the final proof that Blizzard has [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]] and is ruined.

* ManlyTears: [[spoiler:These were shed by some when Raynor finally succeeded in freeing Kerrigan. Especially true for players that were hoping for this in the Brood War expansion to Starcraft 1 but, instead, had to wait 12 years for it.]]

* MisBlamed: Early in the game's development EVERYTHING that the fans didn't like was blamed on Dustin Browder, to the point some accused him of trying to ruin the game on purpose because he used to work on the CommandAndConquer series and saw Starcraft as a rival franchise. FanDumb indeed.

* [[YMMV/StarcraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm Heart of the Swarm's YMMV tab]]

* AngstWhatAngst: While Zeratul's certainly got quite a bit to feel bad about, he just keeps on fighting, never letting it slow him down, instead finding minor ways to let his grief out; one of his "response" quotes in StarcraftII is "En aru'din Raszagal", which means "In Memory of Raszagal".

** "Media Blitz" is pretty easy, as well. Even on Brutal difficulty, you can use the Odin to singlehandedly wipe out one of the three bases and much of a second during the "suprise attack" phase. Once the regular phase starts, a repaired Odin can singlehandedly wipe out the remaining base with little to no micromanagement. With the bases destroyed, there will be no attacks anywhere until you try to control the beacons to broadcast the signal.
* BrokenBase: Unfortunately, this was expected. The game created this before it was even released. Features such as multiple building select split the fanbase early on on the development cycle, followed by debates over how protoss display team color, if the lurker should have been removed or not, and more. Not to mention the arguments that broke out when it was revealed that Blizzard was changing the voice actress of Kerrigan from Glynnis Talken to Tricia Helfer. And now that the game is actually out, the base has become extremely polarized, nearly to the extent of the Literature/InheritanceCycle over Starcraft II's story. It's either a story of equal merit that steps forward in presentation and storytelling, or the final proof that Blizzard has [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]] and is ruined.
** Now that it's out there's a bit of a Broken Base on the Zerg. Some thing they're the weakest race and are helpless before any competent Protoss or Terran, while others think they're fine and the weaker players just have yet to "click" with the race and realize their full potential and versatility. Patch 1.4 was a good example--it nerfed the Infester's Neural Parasite so it no longer affected Massive units (read: Thor, Colossus, Ultralisk), prompting some to complain that with the nerf they'll have an even harder time dealing with the other races, while others applauded the nerf for no longer allowing a handful of Infestors to incapacitate entire armies in seconds. Blizzard responded by nerfing it in a different manner, but the split was still there before they announced their decision.
** It doesn't help that the Zerg ''are'' the RedHeadedStepChild of the franchise, as their reliance on Larvae gives them ''completely'' different timings from Protoss and Terran. Even if you know what you're doing as those two races, you might be utterly lost as the Zerg, and at least some players write them off on grounds of being too much work to figure out.

** Matt and the Hyperion--specifically His Bridge, which he is very protective of.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Terran Up the Night.

** Because of Matt Horner's close relationship with Raynor and the fact that they were both part of the [[LaResistance Sons of Korhal]] only to leave following the [[MoralEventHorizon fall of Tarsonis]] many have erroneously drawn the conclusion that Horner is the [[PlayerCharacter Magistrate]] from "[[StarCraft Rebel Yell]]." [[http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/game/hero/matt-horner His official backstory]], however, contradicts this, though the Magistrate did exist according to ''[[ExpandedUniverse The Queen of Blades]]'', where it's stated that he joined the [[LaResistance Sons of Korhal]] prior to the infestation of Mar Sara.
* EvenBetterSequel: Make no mistake, the first game was great, but the campaigns were repetitive and unoriginal, with 80% of the missions being nothing but "destroy the enemy base" (which was HUGE). Now, there are about four of twenty-nine missions like that (and of those, three are optional), and the rest of the [=WoL=] missions are muchmore original and funny--a TrainJob, a [[RiseToTheChallenge race against the zerg, a race against a]] ''[[RiseToTheChallenge wall of fire]]'', a scavenging mission, a ZombieApocalypse, and many others. Although [[BrokenBase others]] believe that it would have been better with ''fewer'' such creative missions.

* FoeYay: Between Tosh and Nova. According to the graphic novels, she and Tosh shared their first kiss with each other, and both of them enjoyed it. In ''StarcraftII'', Tosh has slid down the cynicism side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism while Nova completed her Ghost training and was resocialized.

* GameBreaker: Although you'll need such upgrades for [[NintendoHard the final missions of the campaign on the harder difficulties]], it isn't hard to see why some of the campaign upgrades and abilities are exclusive to the campaign, and why some of them used to be in the multiplayer but were scrapped.

* GoddamnedBats: Those annoying little broodlings that come out when you destroy a zerg building.

* GoodBadBugs: If you're having trouble deciding what to spend credits on in the Armory (because you're right--even if you get every research point and complete every mission in the game, you will not get enough credits to buy everything), then once you've gotten your protoss and zerg research maxed out, go redo any previous mission that gave you zerg or protoss research samples, and then check the research console in the lab. You'll gain extra monetary credit for the surplus samples you've collected so far, ''including'' the ones you've already cashed in. Fixed a few months after release as an Obvious Rule Patch, since the intent of limited credits was to force players to pick and choose on upgrades.

* MemeticBadass: Just looking at [[TVTropes This Wiki]] shows how popular General Warfield is, even though his one appearance in the story essentially amounts to [[spoiler:[[ButtMonkey getting his ass]] [[TheWorfEffect kicked]], although in an admittedly stylish way]].

* MemeticMutation: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKZlcgOzi_E TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DAMAGE!!!]]

*** Battlecruiser commanders shout "Abandon ship!" as soon as the bullets start flying. Even if they are part of a nigh-unstoppable twenty-unit group and the offending unit is a single wimpy hydralisk. Annoyingly justified by how Battlecruiser commanders follow the stereotype of the cowardly Russian submarine commander, and would understandably overreact to the slightest threat. They also yell "[[StarWars It's a trap!]]" every once in a while too.

* MostWonderfulSound: That guitar riff that plays whenever Swann announces a new unit for you, usually with a few free samples. For that matter, the "schwoom!" sound of getting a new Achievement.

* PlayTheGameSkipTheStory: TVTropes is probably the most you'll ever hear about the actual ''story'' of Starcraft 2.
* {{Sequelitis}}: While the quality of the missions have improved, some question the changing of voice actors, especially for Kerrigan. Many players also feel that Brood War had a far better multiplayer 1 on 1 than the sequel.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: BrokenBase aside, there were a lot of complaints about the [[EnsembleDarkhorse Siege]] [[DropTheHammer Tank]]'s acknowledgement and StopPokingMe phrases not being equal as the ones of it's {{Starcraft}} counterpart.

* ArtificialStupidity: If you set up an "even" team match involving AI--you plus computers versus other computers, with all computers set to the same difficulty level--your allies will nonetheless be dumber than your opponents. The opponents move out as a team, whereas your allies [[LetsSplitUpGang do no such]] and are only likely to send help (to you ''or'' each other) if your base isn't too far away. Even if they ''do'' help, there's also a disproportionate chance that the opponents will out-macro your allies as well and thus have larger armies. And finally, the computer [[MyRulesAreNotYourRules doesn't need to scout]] to find the weakest member of your team; they just know.

* ExcusePlot: Most of the missions where you fight against the Tal'darim. Try as hard as you can, but it won't be easy to come up with an adequate reason for Raynor to fight them, and the missions themselves do nothing to drive the plot forward. Even more, the entire story is completely invalidated by ''Heart of the Swarm'', where it is revealed that the Tal'darim [[spoiler:work for Dr. Narud aka Samir Duran, the same character who gave Raynor the mission to gather the artifact pieces in the first place, therefore basically ordering him to kill his own servants for nothing]].

* StrangledByTheRedString: People who have only played the games and not [[Expanded Universe read the books]] will be somewhat surprised by how much Jim Raynor wants to save Kerrigan, as the last time they met Raynor was swearing revenge on her for Fenix's death.

'''Jim Raynor''': ''We are who choose to be, Matt.''\\

* ClicheStorm: All of the game. The ability of the characters to endlessly spout clichés is quite staggering.

** Was Hariel Hanson truly an innocent, honest and altruistic woman, or a BitchInSheepsClothing MadScientist [[spoiler:who revealed her real self in the Haven Fall ending ?]]

* AngstWhatAngst: While Zeratul's certainly got quite a bit to feel bad about, he just keeps on fighting, never letting it slow him down, instead finding minor ways to let his grief out; one of his "response" quotes in StarcraftII is "En Tarodine Raszagal", which very likely means "In Memory of Raszagal".

* ExcusePlot: Most of the missions where you fight against the Tal'darim. Try as hard as you can, but it won't be easy to come up with an adequate reason for Raynor to fight them, and the missions themselves do nothing to drive the plot forward.

* Narm: The extremely hoarse news reporter in the Wings of Liberty campaign saying "...casualties in the billions!"