This is a really excellent point - even the perfect players have a limit to how many things they can pay attention to at once. And you really killed it with the example. No other game illustrates this point (and so dramatically) like that Savior - Iris game 5 on Arkanoid.

I also felt the same way about Savior, that he was near perfect and every click he made had a purpose. I'm very eager to see how he bounces back from his loss to Bisu, to see if he can return to that "...plague?" status.

GrandInquisitor,
As for Xellos, he belongs to a different catagory. Xellos (and GoodFriend) are to be a subject for a future entry... but I'm afraid it won't be very flattering.

You two area right on the fucking money. There is truly little I can say that's not already been illustrated beautifully.

I don't think anyone will argue that his most spectacular display of skill were against Terrans. His opponents were utterly incapable of gaining enough leverage on him. At the earliest sign of a defeated battle, even before you realized you would win, he would retreat and conserve. And even if you won the skirmish, he would make you bleed. A zerg army would unburrow from the front lines and crawl out of sight just as the announcer clicked on the debris of a flying dropship. First person views would catch the Terran seeing a counter coming just at the nick of time for a semi-successful defense, after which he would jump the screen to find hopping zerglings where his away team should have been. Hero marines would rip through the last lurker as two science vessels exploded above. I think this ability to amplify his own gains while diminishing those of the opponent was his most perplexing trait. How the hell could his units be so much more productive in everything they did?

Moreover, I have never seen anyone of which almost everyone was terrified. His confidence was deservedly brimming at almost all times in the game and almost more-so in the most important matches. He would dangerously tread the border of timing with that extra drone instead of the two lings and builds that would arrive too late for any other player. Countless early TvZ's come to mind where there is a marine medic force frozen outside Savior's perhaps under-defended natural. Lings and one sunken with two coming in, and the only thing keeping the MM force hesitant is Savior's... AURA. How far along are those sunkens? Will they come in on time? Should I risk it? Lings flowing back and forth and blobs throbbing on the creep- a living Zerg singularity urging, even begging an attack. Communication so clear as though Savior's own voice were clouding the opponent's focus: "If you push now, you better be damn sure to cripple me. Because if you fail, I will take the initiative and never give it back. Just like I've done in the past to the countless others in your place. You can decide the game right here or we can keep playing for a little bit." It was only those with the sheer BALLS to commit that were successful: Iris having acquired them from undoubtedly countless games, and Nada finally in Shinhan Masters. Bisu played a damn good game too, even though Savior's overconfidence made for relatively easy decisions on Bisu's part. Especially by game three, you could see the name "Savior" was no longer a weapon.

Savior's mortality was exposed a second time there, and his "slump," if you want to call it that, all but inducted. I, for one, eagerly await this Starleague season to see what happened to the player indisputably recognized as the closest thing to perfection we've seen.

Cambium

United States16368 Posts

April 26 2007 05:15 GMT

#46

Wow, very nicely written.

Good read.

infinity21

Canada6683 Posts

April 26 2007 05:16 GMT

#47

wow awesome write-up HonestTea
Please keep writing more!

ATeddyBear

Canada2843 Posts

April 26 2007 05:18 GMT

#48

omg they should study this in philosophy or something

Savior Cuban Gangster. Perfect. Plays low-econ, high-econ, plays orthodox, plays funky, plays Mozart, plays Run-DMC. Micro, macro, strategy, management, fundamentals, and balls the size of Brazil. He plays Zerg the way the Xel'Naga intended - like a ball of mercury. Furthermore, he has the perfect demeanor - a cold-blooded assassin. I'm shocked - SHOCKED - when he loses. The way he carries himself, never smiling, I feel like it's simply natural for him to win. Birds fly, dogs die, people fuck, and Savior wins.

omg lolol

berated-

United States1134 Posts

April 26 2007 05:26 GMT

#49

Amazing read from everyone. I really enjoy when the bright minds of TL enlighten us on their thoughts, its what keeps people coming back and asking for more.

I first came into progaming about the time that savior was really in the height of his dominance. I never got to be around for boxer, or july, or oov. However, I think that saviors dominance was still different from everyone else's. As sweatpants said, the sheer magnitude of fear that was released into people because of skill was one thing that made him different.

The other thing seemed to be the way he carried himself. I have read interviews upon interviews from all the winners. Saviors attitude was something fresh, something different. A lot of people chalked this up to arrogance, but it was all well deserved! His answers were amazing, and his presence was felt. He was more than just a winner, he was a champion - in all senses. In his prime, you knew he was going to win, but you still watched because of his play; you were drawn to it, you can't help but watch in awe.

These last months have been painful for me, as a true savior fan boy. I hope that he triumphantly makes his return to restore order to the BW community and regain his position on the top.

SiZ.FaNtAsY

Korea (South)1497 Posts

April 26 2007 05:34 GMT

#50

Very funny and yet deep reading.
I really love it, my new favorite of Tl.net

jkillashark

United States5262 Posts

April 26 2007 05:55 GMT

#51

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Saro."

saRomans 3:23

jkillashark

United States5262 Posts

April 26 2007 06:01 GMT

#52

Fudge me. This thread was a gem. I nominate for Hall of Fame.

hrmM

United States210 Posts

April 26 2007 06:03 GMT

#53

i think i shed a tear

lostman

194 Posts

April 26 2007 06:09 GMT

#54

Wow what a thread...seems like brilliance begets more brilliance. Hope more people can share their thoughts on Savior's "perfection".

Pressure

7326 Posts

April 26 2007 06:12 GMT

#55

oh my god i cannot belive you fuond that pic of savior RROFL
greattt post HT, i am drooling for more ~!~!

QuietIdiot

7004 Posts

April 26 2007 06:17 GMT

#56

I think people fail to see Savior is the more perfected version of Gorush imo. Despite his lack of speed, he knows when to go attack, when to retreat, how to attribute loss for gain, etc.

I disagree with iloveoov having a lack of micro, he has shown incredible unit control time after time, especially with large units. He relies on his superior multi-tasking(which in turn, creates his impossible wall of units.) and tactics to keep him going.

But I'm ticked you completely skipped sync. In his prime, he was the god of timing, clutter micro, and still has great defensive and offensive initiatives, despite his weak, weak macro. Sync will stop all over you arrogant little openings given the space, and will romp over you like he did vs Kingdom when he put all his gates on the higher ground on Blitz. hehe :p

Wait, where's "the perfect terran" in all of this ;P
Nah, his weaknesses are obvious now. In his prime though, his execution was perfect, and the only games he lost were due to a gamble here and there by either side :x

O_o just read the post

Seraphim

United States4467 Posts

April 26 2007 08:46 GMT

#57

Very awesome read !!