A free mod that allows StarCraft fans to play a recreated version of the original game in StarCraft 2 has recently been updated. Despite Blizzard releasing an official remaster of the original StarCraft three years ago, the mod continues to retain a large enough player base that it still requires modder support.

StarCraft: Mass Recall is a mod created by a group of dedicated fans with the goal of recreating the original StarCraft as well as StarCraft: Brood War in the StarCraft 2 engine. This not only includes the gameplay from both of those titles, but the entire single-player campaigns as well. The mod was originally released all the way back in 2011 less than a year after StarCraft 2 first launched and since then it has received constant support from the creators. While much of StarCraft and Brood War were transferred into the mod, some changes were made such as addressing balancing issues as well as incorporating units from Brood War into the original game.

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PCGamesN reports that version 8.0 of StarCraft: Mass Recall is now available to players. There is a total of 68 maps in this mod with 59 of them from the original Brood War. Three of those 59 maps were removed from the original game and six of them were only available from the 1998 demo campaign. Much of the progression system and dialogue has been carried over into Mass Recall as well. The mod is compatible with any version of StarCraft 2, including the free starter edition, however there has yet to be any information given on what version 8.0 of Mass Recall specifically improves and adds.

One mod that is not only compatible with Mass Recall, but adds to it is a mod called Enslavers Redux. With four episodes taking place on nine maps, the mod builds on the Enslavers campaign from the original StarCraft by giving players new missions, enhanced heroes, and a deeper narrative that leads into StarCraft 2's story. Players who download Mass Recall are not required to have Enslavers Redux, but it is recommended the modders of the former for the bonus story content.

Mass Recall is another example of how mods can keep a game alive long after its initial release date. It also demonstrates that something created by fans can be better than something created by professional game developers, even when both parties have created the same thing. StarCraft: Mass Recall continues to thrive despite Blizzard's official remaster of StarCraft from three years ago. Part of this is likely due to the fact that the mod is free and the remaster is not, but the quality of Mass Recall contributes to that as well. In a practical sense, there is no reason for gamers to buy a title when they could get the exact same experience or one potentially better for free.

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Source: PCGamesN