If you are a DC fan, you would know that the World’s Finest signifies the DC duo: Batman and Superman. Recently, these superheroes are not only defined by their powers but also their human qualities. Batman may not have a superpower but has superhuman attributes such as unrivaled intellect, versatile mastery of martial arts, and superb marksmanship. Superman, on the other hand, is gifted with the ability to gain a plethora of superpowers from the sun. Batman is relatable to the fans with his human limitations and his psychological trauma of the loss of his parents, which makes him a very neurotic person. Superman displays his human characteristics by not only having a relationship with Lois Lane but also secretly loathing how his superpower can potentially alienate himself from the people he loves and protects. In the Starcraft 2 world, we have our own Superman and Batman, which are Flash and Jaedong.
Flash: The Demigod of Starcraft 2
Like Superman who landed on Earth with superpowers, Flash was the gifted child with a grand destiny when he started Starcraft 2. Utilizing his unparalleled macro mechanics, superb unit control, and stellar unit control from Brood War, Flash was already stomping SC2 hotshots such as Naniwa, DongRaeGu, and Ryung, even though Terran was considered to be the weakest race during the near-end of Wings of Liberty era. Flash constantly pushed the Terran race to its nearly impossible limit. Once he built his 3 commander centers, the war machine started its gears and created the ultimate army with well-equipped troops. No matter how many units Flash loses, he replaced the fallen with fresh troops at an alarming rate.
Only a God can have 8 barracks in production and overwhelm a Zerg player in a BroodWar game.
Despite his efficient macro, Flash also understood the importance of unit control and positioning as seen from his improvement in TvT, which was once considered to be Flash’s weakest matchup at the time. Flash was also not a one-trick pony. Once his Kryptonite such as early game harassment was discovered, Flash adapted and tuned his style accordingly (Superman did use lead to resist kryptonite). Recently, Flash began to slightly delay his third commander center and build the appropriate amount of defenses. In addition to his mechanics, Flash was also not afraid of experimenting with the metagame and finding new ways to perfect his gameplay. During the GSL Ultimate Group of Death, which was consisted of Innovation, Life, Parting, and Flash, Flash incorporated Battlecrusiers against Parting. Furthermore, when Hellbat harassment was extremely popular in TvT, Flash used Siege Tanks for defense. Even, in booths, Flash continued to display his perfectionist qualities by bringing a ruler to measure how his hardware should be positioned.
Flash has called in the Fleet!
Even with his superpowers, Flash is a relatable human because of his tragic qualities. In his recent interviews, Flash displayed his frustration with the current Terran metagame and the woes of being a Starcraft progamer. Since the Terran currently relies on the finesse and aggression of biological units because mechanical units such as Battlecruisers and Siege Tanks are easily countered, Flash believed that Brood War Terran was more like the Starcraft 2 Protoss, which arguably became the most defensive race with powerful lategame units in Starcraft 2. As for progaming career, Flash had expressed his envy of his friends who are now in college and living a normal life such as studying and going out with girlfriends. Unfortunately, as a dedicated progamer, Flash could not live the “normal life” because of Starcraft 2’s unforgiving dynamic that requires a daily amount of investment. Like Superman, Flash has a superpower that granted his legendary status but cursed his human dream to live like a normal human being. Unlike his other programing peers, he has a very ambitious human dream of becoming a lawyer (or prosecutor, in his words).
Even Gods must rest and have fun!
Jaedong: The Dark Knight of Starcraft 2
Like Batman, Jaedong was a superhero born with unusual eccentricities that developed into his superpower. Although Jaedong had great mechanics, he had his own quirk of playing hyperaggressively. At the time, hyperaggression were extremely risky because such tactics require a lot of resources and specific timings to work effectively. As such players like MC and Life were falling off the radar, Jaedong revived hyperaggression play into the metagame with miraculous results.
Like a true tactician, Jaedong knows how to use the mutalisk to its fullest potential.
Like Batman’s utility belt, Jaedong demonstrated his versatility by having different openers. If his mutalisk transition does not work in one game, he would pull out off a zergling all-in in another game when the player least expects it. Jaedong was also not afraid to use swarm hosts or infestors for defensive purposes. With a plethora of build orders, Jaedong would do whatever it takes to win. However, ZvP turned to out to be his Bane that broke his back. Even with his versatility, Jaedong could not put a dent onto his Protoss opponents. Recently, Jaedong refused to give in and converted his weakness into one of strengths and crushed his protoss opponents recently in the WCS Season 2 Finals.
Like Batman, Jaedong has two personalities and seems to remain unsatisfied with his progress, unless he achieved his ultimate mission objective of reliving his Dong times. Whenever Jaedong was outside of the game, he would exhibit very personable traits such as savoring his victories, begging his fans to come over and watch Proleague, and having a good amount of fan girls supporting him. However, those moments were relatively short because Jaedong would don the cowl and empower himself with a fearsome batglare, military grade equipment, and a hardened mentality to achieve his grand goal of winning competitions. Despite his hard work and extensive preparations, Jaedong seemed to fall short of fulfilling his vision and found new Joker-like obstacles that would exploit his weaknesses. However, Jaedong is too stubborn to let his Starcraft 2 career die ungracefully and would continue the fight until every one of his physical being cannot keep up his indomitable will.
The Dong Stare!
Starcraft’s Finest Duo Although there are many other memorable Starcraft 2 players, Flash and Jaedong are titans in their own right. Not only do they have very uncanny abilities that would establish their legendary statuses but also go through personal problems that their fans can sympathize and relate. Unlike other Brood War heroes who have sadly retired or have yet to prove themselves and most of the Starcraft 2 famous players who did not have a concrete Brood War history, these two legends have shown top tier gameplay from beginning to end and continue their hopeful yet epic journey towards greatness, which will never be forgotten in the hearts and minds of the Starcraft community.
Legends never die
NOTE: Please let me know what you think of this write-up. Give me any meaningful feedback, so I can learn how to produce high-quality write-ups to show my passion for Starcraft 2.
EDIT: It was 8 barracks not 7. Thanks to SupaDupaFlyPro and later rezzan for the correction. EDIT: Minor edits.
On September 14 2013 19:57 hansonslee wrote: Legends never die
Oh god, there are so many jokes that can be made with this picture. >.>
Flash: 'How do they call you again?' Jaedong: 'Look down'
You mean "What do they call you again?"
Geez, you guys need to get your mind out of the gutter. I was trying to find the most dramatic photo of these guys, and now it's ruined. What has been seen now can't be unseen!
On September 14 2013 19:57 hansonslee wrote: Legends never die
Oh god, there are so many jokes that can be made with this picture. >.>
Flash: 'How do they call you again?' Jaedong: 'Look down'
You mean "What do they call you again?"
Geez, you guys need to get your mind out of the gutter. I was trying to find the most dramatic photo of these guys, and now it's ruined. What has been seen now can't be unseen!
Nonetheless, still funny, now that I see it
Honestly, I was more thinking about turning it into a fake ad for some eau-de-cologne. They look so damn artsy in that picture. :D
On September 15 2013 01:30 purakushi wrote: BW forever. There will never be SC2 legends like BW Flash and Jaedong. The game itself just does not allow for it.
Well Mvp was on his way, if only his condition didn't backfire soo much
even though Terran was considered to be the weakest race during Wings of Liberty
During the end?
It's quite debatable but terran certainly didn't get short end of the stick in WOL
Ah, a stickler are you?
Yeah, it's debatable, but Protoss was doing fairly well against Terran, and Terran did the worst against the Zerg.
No, its not really debatable, terran had multiple times 20+ in Code S. Lets not even mention at the start of WoL or the 1/1/1 period.
I am talking about the end, not the beginning or the middle of WoL.
T was never the weakest race in WoL. Weaker than Zerg? Yea, sure. Weaker than Protoss? No way. Protoss had like 2 things they could do in PvZ - immortal/sentry all in or try to hit that 15-17 minute timing window right as the greater spire completes (or hope Z bunched his BLs and let them get vortexed)
T fared much better against infestor/bl Z era and PvT was pretty balanced. Evidence of P weakest is that at the end there were like 4 protoss in the GSL.
EDIT: But I don't really care too much about this. Hype hype hype is where it's at.
On September 15 2013 01:30 purakushi wrote: BW forever. There will never be SC2 legends like BW Flash and Jaedong. The game itself just does not allow for it.
Innovation is already pretty near that level. Flash is high up too. If Life/DRG can maintain their form they could be too, they just dont have the benefit of nostalgia to carry their levels higher.
I really want both these two to do well in teh upcoming WCS Season 3 , in their respective regions. Sc2 will truely die if legends like these two leave the game
On September 16 2013 23:59 Hadronsbecrazy wrote: I really want both these two to do well in teh upcoming WCS Season 3 , in their respective regions. Sc2 will truely die if legends like these two leave the game
Nope, won't die, not gonna happen. I bet all money I have right now and will ever earn that star 2 will be around as an esport till the day starcraft 3 is released, maybe even longer.
Great writeup, imo it's one of the most amazing things in all of star 2 to see these two constantly improve and getting closer and closer to being gods again, especially with flash you can tell how he gets closer and closer to figuring that perfect makro build out.
even though Terran was considered to be the weakest race during Wings of Liberty
During the end?
It's quite debatable but terran certainly didn't get short end of the stick in WOL
Ah, a stickler are you?
Yeah, it's debatable, but Protoss was doing fairly well against Terran, and Terran did the worst against the Zerg.
No, its not really debatable, terran had multiple times 20+ in Code S. Lets not even mention at the start of WoL or the 1/1/1 period.
I am talking about the end, not the beginning or the middle of WoL.
T was never the weakest race in WoL. Weaker than Zerg? Yea, sure. Weaker than Protoss? No way. Protoss had like 2 things they could do in PvZ - immortal/sentry all in or try to hit that 15-17 minute timing window right as the greater spire completes (or hope Z bunched his BLs and let them get vortexed)
T fared much better against infestor/bl Z era and PvT was pretty balanced. Evidence of P weakest is that at the end there were like 4 protoss in the GSL.
EDIT: But I don't really care too much about this. Hype hype hype is where it's at.
On September 15 2013 01:30 purakushi wrote: BW forever. There will never be SC2 legends like BW Flash and Jaedong. The game itself just does not allow for it.
Innovation is already pretty near that level. Flash is high up too. If Life/DRG can maintain their form they could be too, they just dont have the benefit of nostalgia to carry their levels higher.
Not even close O_o. Players like Flash and Jaedong dominated the scene for years. There weren't really anyone to stop them. Bogus is great ofc but like all other "dominant" players in sc2 they have fallen from their prime (Mvp, Nestea, MC, DRG, MKP, MMA, Life, and even Innovation he does not seem that dominant anymore) and they dominated scene not even that long. Flash and Jaedong in bw are players who really cannot be compared in today SC2
even though Terran was considered to be the weakest race during Wings of Liberty
During the end?
It's quite debatable but terran certainly didn't get short end of the stick in WOL
Ah, a stickler are you?
Yeah, it's debatable, but Protoss was doing fairly well against Terran, and Terran did the worst against the Zerg.
No, its not really debatable, terran had multiple times 20+ in Code S. Lets not even mention at the start of WoL or the 1/1/1 period.
I am talking about the end, not the beginning or the middle of WoL.
T was never the weakest race in WoL. Weaker than Zerg? Yea, sure. Weaker than Protoss? No way. Protoss had like 2 things they could do in PvZ - immortal/sentry all in or try to hit that 15-17 minute timing window right as the greater spire completes (or hope Z bunched his BLs and let them get vortexed)
T fared much better against infestor/bl Z era and PvT was pretty balanced. Evidence of P weakest is that at the end there were like 4 protoss in the GSL.
EDIT: But I don't really care too much about this. Hype hype hype is where it's at.
On September 15 2013 01:30 purakushi wrote: BW forever. There will never be SC2 legends like BW Flash and Jaedong. The game itself just does not allow for it.
Innovation is already pretty near that level. Flash is high up too. If Life/DRG can maintain their form they could be too, they just dont have the benefit of nostalgia to carry their levels higher.
Not even close O_o. Players like Flash and Jaedong dominated the scene for years. There weren't really anyone to stop them. Bogus is great ofc but like all other "dominant" players in sc2 they have fallen from their prime (Mvp, Nestea, MC, DRG, MKP, MMA, Life, and even Innovation he does not seem that dominant anymore) and they dominated scene not even that long. Flash and Jaedong in bw are players who really cannot be compared in today SC2
I think people's impressions of Brood War are sort of skewed by Flash and Jaedong (especially Flash). I wouldn't say that Brood War was as volatile as SC2, but no one player had that long a reign as the clear "best player," prior to Flash. Mvp's period of dominance isn't too different from that of some of the earlier bonjwas.
even though Terran was considered to be the weakest race during Wings of Liberty
During the end?
It's quite debatable but terran certainly didn't get short end of the stick in WOL
Ah, a stickler are you?
Yeah, it's debatable, but Protoss was doing fairly well against Terran, and Terran did the worst against the Zerg.
No, its not really debatable, terran had multiple times 20+ in Code S. Lets not even mention at the start of WoL or the 1/1/1 period.
I am talking about the end, not the beginning or the middle of WoL.
T was never the weakest race in WoL. Weaker than Zerg? Yea, sure. Weaker than Protoss? No way. Protoss had like 2 things they could do in PvZ - immortal/sentry all in or try to hit that 15-17 minute timing window right as the greater spire completes (or hope Z bunched his BLs and let them get vortexed)
T fared much better against infestor/bl Z era and PvT was pretty balanced. Evidence of P weakest is that at the end there were like 4 protoss in the GSL.
EDIT: But I don't really care too much about this. Hype hype hype is where it's at.
On September 15 2013 01:30 purakushi wrote: BW forever. There will never be SC2 legends like BW Flash and Jaedong. The game itself just does not allow for it.
Innovation is already pretty near that level. Flash is high up too. If Life/DRG can maintain their form they could be too, they just dont have the benefit of nostalgia to carry their levels higher.
Not even close O_o. Players like Flash and Jaedong dominated the scene for years. There weren't really anyone to stop them. Bogus is great ofc but like all other "dominant" players in sc2 they have fallen from their prime (Mvp, Nestea, MC, DRG, MKP, MMA, Life, and even Innovation he does not seem that dominant anymore) and they dominated scene not even that long. Flash and Jaedong in bw are players who really cannot be compared in today SC2
I think people's impressions of Brood War are sort of skewed by Flash and Jaedong (especially Flash). I wouldn't say that Brood War was as volatile as SC2, but no one player had that long a reign as the clear "best player," prior to Flash. Mvp's period of dominance isn't too different from that of some of the earlier bonjwas.
All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest, hm.
Thx for the writeup. Really well done. It's what I need... And even if legends fade to "normal upper class", they're still legends. Anyone links me to the Flash fanclub? (*-* )
On September 21 2013 20:32 Jj_82 wrote: Thx for the writeup. Really well done. It's what I need... And even if legends fade to "normal upper class", they're still legends. Anyone links me to the Flash fanclub? (*-* )
Perhaps a mention of their Lee-Ssang rivalry from BW would be nice. Flash and JD met in 4-5 MSL/OSL finals almost back-to-back. This includes the "MSL power failure" game and Flash's domination of JD in most of their finals matches cemented Flash's ascension to "God Young Ho" during 2010 or 2011.
Their Lee-Ssang rivalry shaped BW TvZ (3 hatch before pool, 14 cc TvZ into 4rax +1 infantry 9-9:30min Push into Mech/mine mid-game transition) and was THE storyline for 1-2 years before Fantasy and Jangbi's Legend of the Fall rivalry.
On September 22 2013 06:51 dsousa wrote: They're great but even greatness can be overhyped.
Flash is considered one of the best BW players and Jaedong was top 2 Zerg(debatable if Saviour is first). In SCII, Flash isn't doing too badly being in RO16 and all. Jaedong almost winning WCS Season 2 finals is pretty big if you recall his original transition so no, I don't think they are overhyped.
Great article OP! I remember watching that Jaedong game where he did that muta split, was sick to watch. I don't recall the commentators being so excited about it though :/
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