In learning about the plight of the Protoss, its goals, its religious and philosophical beliefs, and the way its people operate, it became clear that StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void is, essentially, a real-time strategy-themed version of one of my favorite sci-fi stories ever: Battlestar Galactica.

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The Protoss are desperate...and dangerous. Legacy of the Void’s campaign shines a light on the flickering light of Protoss culture, placing pathos at the front of the humanoid alien race’s conclusive story. Before diving into my first Protoss mission, I explored the Spear of Adun, the warship led by primary character and leader of the lost and last of the Protoss. Hierarch Artanis.The Spear of Adun, like Battlestar Galactica, leads a fleet representing the precious few Protoss remaining in the universe. Many of its people are in stasis, awaiting to wake up to war or a home. The Spear of Adun is a symbol of a better time for the Protoss, an “ancient relic” that reminds them that they were, at one point, a prominent people in the universe. Here, Artanis makes the weighty decisions that dictate the Protoss’ fate.I couldn’t help but think of Admiral Adama the entire time I spoke with advisors, chose units in the upgrade tree, and learned about the viewpoints of major Protoss figures.Like Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan before him, Artanis is the center of this StarCraft II story, and he immediately became one of my favorite characters in the StarCraft universe. He is a calm, level-headed leader guiding a small army to reclaim their home world, but he’s not a violent warmonger. He’s a character who exudes empathy, someone who cares about the people around them, Protoss or otherwise. More video games could use a lead like Artanis.Instead of aiding the last free Protoss, I chose to assist the Terran Jim Raynor. The longtime friend of Artanis held the Xel’Naga Keystone, a nebulous plot device the Protoss need for something I didn’t fully understand. The objective was a typically smart, multitasking-centric mission with a meaningful side-quest.I sent Zealots and Dragoons to wipe out mercenary Terrans, giving Raynor room to set up new bases and regain control of his under-attack area. On the side, I knocked out enormous relays that depleted shields – making my future battles more of a sure thing.It was a simple, clearly early mission, but it was strong in the same way most StarCraft II campaign missions are. They’re involved, often featuring surprise turns and updated or additional objectives, and rewarding to complete. Using the Spear of Adun in combat made a basic mission even easier – something that’s likely to change farther along. Artanis can order Orbital Strikes from aboard his ship, sending a handful of devastating blasts to the surface, obliterating enemies in an area. I used the targeting system to blast down Siege Tanks or enemy structures, giving my guys room to focus on attacking units. I hope there’s more versatility and usage for Spear of Adun in combat – it’s a great tactical addition to StarCraft II’s already intense and intelligent strategy.Legacy of the Void isn’t the end of StarCraft, but Blizzard emphasizes that it is the definitive end of StarCraft II’s years-long story of universal unrest. I like Hierarch Artanis, and what he’s fighting for, and the people he surrounds himself with. I hope his journey ends well.

Mitch Dyer is an Editor at IGN. He hosts IGN Arena , a podcast about MOBAs, and is trying to read more. Here's his reading list . Talk to Mitch about books, Dota 2, and other stuff on Twitter at @MitchyD and subscribe to MitchyD on Twitch