Starcraft is one of the best combat / strategy games ever ;0). The basic game play is pretty easy to pick up and if you play the single player missions in order you'll quickly learn the strengths and weaknesses of each troop type. Then the fun really begins when you battle against real opponents across the Internet. After you have played the single player missions you'll have your favorite race (Terran, Protos or Zerg). You'll come up with your own tactics on how to deal with your opponents There is a huge on-line community out there defending the `Honor' of each respective race. Buy the game and come play.  This game came out back in 1998 and it is still being played now.  Few games can say they have that lasting appeal. Starcraft is great on it's own but Starcraft really needs to be played with the expansion Starcraft:Brood war; it adds more depth to both the game and tactics with new missions and new units. If you don't own Starcraft instead of buying starcraft by itself buy the Starcraft: battle chest and get Starcraft, Starcaft: Broodwar and strategy guides for both games. The battle chest is well worth the extra.