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The Best Games of March 2018

Forum Index > SC2 General
40 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 Next All

The Best Games of March 2018

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
April 10th, 2018 02:55 GMT

Best Games of March 2018

Compiled and written by Ej, Elentos, and Durn

At long last, TeamLiquid.net's best games list is back! Whether it's a major international event or an obscure online cup, StarCraft II's most intolerable s***posters devoted fans have scoured the competitive scene to bring you a list of the best games possible. Every month, the absolute cream of the crop will be featured in a TeamLiquid.net article. On top of that, dozens of more great games are being compiled in a master list, so make sure to check that out as well. Anyway, on to the games!

The Life vs Elfi Award:
For games that are so stupid that they are stupid

Before we begin the list proper, it's tradition to feature a game that's not so much good as it is unique. There are plenty of games that feature mechanical excellence and strategic brilliance, but only a handful of games deserve to be celebrated for their sheer weirdness.

(Wiki)BreakingGG vs (Wiki)Qike on Blackpink - VOD
GPL 2018 Season 1, Quarterfinals

[image loading]
Pictured: Qike's entire army vs BreakingGG's entire economy

Some fans might think big-name players need to be involved for a match to be enjoyable. Others might demand the highest level of gameplay. But with Blackpink as their battlefield, Chinese players Qike and BreakingGG—well beyond „off the radar“ for most of the Western fanbase—showed us that all a StarCraft II match needs to be great is PURE MAYHEM. The absolute chaos of this match forced us to ask ourselves a number of unanswerable, existential questions. Is this match actually good? What does "good" even mean? And how did that little Probe get a full scout of the main base thirteen minutes into the game?

The Best Games of March 2018


(Wiki)Dark vs (Wiki)Solar on Eastwatch - VOD
IEM Season XII World Championship, RO24 Group Stage

[image loading]
Half a year later, we see the unexpected consequences of the corruptor speed buff.

Many StarCraft fans consider ZvZ the worst match-up in the game, finding most of the games to be boring and one-sided. However, not all ZvZ's fit the stereotype.

In a match-up infested with 13/12s, 12pools, speedling floods and spine crawler rushes (thanks Bly!), it seems crazy that anyone would ever go for TWO expansions before a spawning pool. Of course, it would be absolutely ridiculous for both players to open in such an insane manner. Well, 'absolutely ridiculous' turns out to be best way to describe Solar versus Dark. Both players opened with greedy, double-expansion openers, both players followed-up with Roaches, and then both players followed up with Spire tech. That's where the two players' plans diverged. Dark, upon scouting Solar's spire, decided to go into Corruptors. Wait, Corruptors? What followed was a ridiculous tug of war between Roaches, Zerglings, Mutalisks, Corruptors, and Banelings, all while Caustic Spray rained down on the Hatcheries below.

Not only is this one of the best games of the month, but already, we're confident in saying it's one of the best of the entire year.

(Wiki)Trap vs (Wiki)Rogue on Eastwatch - VOD
Ballistix Brawl, Season 2, Week 8

[image loading]
Pictured: Trap's entire army and whatever portion of Rogue's fit on the screen.

Before his IEM run, Trap had gone under the radar in the competitive StarCraft II scene, regarded as just another member of Korea's middle-class. Even after he beat Dark in a best-of-eleven showmatch during the off-season, he couldn't convert that success into GSL results. Tossed into a round of sixteen group with only Protoss players, few fans blinked when Cho Sung Ho was eliminated from Code S. IEM Katowice provided Trap with a rare chance to demonstrate his skills in important matches against elite players, with the entire StarCraft II world looking on. Rogue might have stolen the show at IEM Katowice, but Trap certainly earned everyone's respect with his top-tier play. Weeks after IEM, Trap once again showed us exactly what he's capable of in PvZ when he took on Rogue in the online Ballistix Brawl.

(Wiki)Maru vs (Wiki)Dark on (Wiki)Eastwatch - VOD
WESG 2017, Grand Final


[image loading]
Swarmhosts vs ravens, the pinnacle of SC2 viewership

March was the month of Dark and Maru, as the two clashed in a series of epic Terran vs Zerg matches that made us completely rethink the nature of the match-up. The two played in many excellent matches, but this particular set on Eastwatch was one of the two we felt deserved a spotlight. Traditionally, we think of mechanic Terran a style that sacrifices mobility for higher damage compared to the classic TvZ infantry playstyle. However, on some maps, and in certain metas, the exact opposite is true. In game two of the WESG Grand Finals, Maru used Cyclones and speed Banshees brilliantly to keep Zerg occupied while mass expanding himself to secure an enormous economy. Other Zergs may have been overwhelmed and outclassed, but Dark was able to maintain his composure and gear himself up for an all-out war against the best Terran in the world.

(Wiki)Maru vs (Wiki)Dark on Blackpink - VOD
GSL Code S Season 1, Semifinals

[image loading]
One time you shouldn't look at ze souply.

Just a week later after their WESG final, Maru and Dark met again in GSL semifinals. As Starcraft is a game of constant adaptation, Dark abandoned Ling-Bane-Hydra on Blackpink (that earned him a quick loss to a tank timing at WESG) in favor of a Mutalisk opening with a Roach-Ravager followup. Maru's defense was pristine, but Dark wouldn't be Dark if that was the end of his aggression. When Maru decided to move out to try and punish Dark, counter-attack after counter-attack came in to decimate his economy. With a crippled economy and Hive units coming soon, the Jin Air Terran's true test began...

(Wiki)TY vs (Wiki)Dear on (Wiki)Acid Plant - VOD
IEM Season XII World Championship, RO24 Group Stage

[image loading]
Above: Dear, the only player besides MiaNonna to make disruptors.

Mech may not be standard in TvP, but it's factory units that cause the biggest headaches for Protoss. Hellions, Widow Mines, Tank pushes—All of that was made just to infuriate you if you don't have a Stargate out. Dear felt the pain of many a Protoss player as his economy was crippled by a Hellion drop, and his counter-attack with Blink Stalkers was shut down by Siege Tanks. As TY went up to 5-Barracks to go for the kill, the only way Dear could survive was to turn the game into a no-holds-barred brawl in the dirt. Disruptors, Colossi, and thirty Probes sacrificed without much of a care—just a normal part of a game between two former champions.

More recommended games from March 2018

We featured the absolute best games above, but there were plenty of other great games from March (against all odds, there's even a PvP). Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoy these games. Check back next month for all of the best games from April.

(Wiki)Neeb vs (Wiki)Nerchio on (Wiki)Acid Plant - VOD
(Wiki)Neeb vs (Wiki)Serral on (Wiki)Catalyst - VOD
(Wiki)Maru vs (Wiki)Solar on (Wiki)Backwater - VOD
(Wiki)Classic vs (Wiki)Dear on (Wiki)Catalyst - VOD
(Wiki)Trap vs (Wiki)Dark on (Wiki)Blackpink - VOD
(Wiki)Zest vs (Wiki)Impact on (Wiki)Blackpink - VOD
(Wiki)Classic vs (Wiki)Serral on (Wiki)Eastwatch - VOD
(Wiki)Trap vs (Wiki)GuMiho on (Wiki)Catalyst - VOD
(Wiki)Has vs (Wiki)BratOK on (Wiki)Backwater - VOD
(Wiki)Bunny vs (Wiki)soO on (Wiki)Eastwatch - VOD
(Wiki)Bunny vs (Wiki)TY on (Wiki)Eastwatch - VOD
(Wiki)SpeCial vs (Wiki)INnoVation on (Wiki)Eastwatch - VOD

Check out the master list for all of the best games from 2018! (Soon to be updated to include January and February)



For fans who don't mind taking a trip back in history, here are our comprehensive, year-end lists from the past

The Best Games of 2012


The Best Games of 2013


The Best Games of 2014


The Best Games of 2015






Credits and acknowledgements
Writers: Ej, Elentos, Durn
List committee: Ej, Elentos, Durn, Wax
Editor: Wax
Photos: Helena Kristiansson, via Blizzard
Facebook Twitter Reddit
TL+ Member
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
April 10 2018 03:04 GMT
#2
Very nice.

Not sure about the caption about disruptors though--plenty of Protosses go disruptor as long as the game goes long enough (which admittedly in TvP is a rare occurrence).
pvsnp
Profile Joined January 2017
7676 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 03:11:03
April 10 2018 03:06 GMT
#3
Great to see the Best Games article making a comeback.

Do we have some new official TL Writers around here, or have they yet to be bestowed that honor?
Denominator of the Universe
TL+ Member
SetGuitarsToKill
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
Canada28396 Posts
April 10 2018 03:14 GMT
#4
Hurray best games are back
Community News"As long as you have a warp prism you can't be bad at harassment" - Maru | @SetGuitars2Kill
Solar424
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
United States4001 Posts
April 10 2018 03:20 GMT
#5
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
April 10 2018 03:31 GMT
#6
On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Just call him 'chess player' since that's what 棋客 translates to.
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 03:33:28
April 10 2018 03:32 GMT
#7
Damn that's great, thanks guys!

On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Cake?
Then again I don't understand why it's offensive so I'm probably saying it wrong
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 03:43:41
April 10 2018 03:35 GMT
#8
On April 10 2018 12:32 Nakajin wrote:
Damn that's great, thanks guys!

Show nested quote +
On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Cake?
Then again I don't understand why it's offensive so I'm probably saying it wrong


It sounds closer to 'cheek' than 'cake'.

Just avoid pronouncing it like 'kike'.
pvsnp
Profile Joined January 2017
7676 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 03:47:42
April 10 2018 03:39 GMT
#9
On April 10 2018 12:32 Nakajin wrote:
Damn that's great, thanks guys!

Show nested quote +
On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Cake?
Then again I don't understand why it's offensive so I'm probably saying it wrong


The terrible pronunciation will offend my cringe instinct, but that's about it for me.

"Chee-kuh" is the closest I can romanize it. First particle on a rising inflection, second on a falling.
Denominator of the Universe
TL+ Member
EngrishTeacher
Profile Blog Joined March 2012
Canada1109 Posts
April 10 2018 03:50 GMT
#10
On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Ki-ai-ke sounds about right.
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33388 Posts
April 10 2018 03:53 GMT
#11
I don't even know Chinese and yet I can tell you guys are botching it
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
pvsnp
Profile Joined January 2017
7676 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 03:59:14
April 10 2018 03:56 GMT
#12
http://imtranslator.net/translate-and-speak/speak/chinese/

There you go. Copypaste in 棋客 and select "Chinese" from the dropdown.
Denominator of the Universe
TL+ Member
LuLuneth
Profile Blog Joined July 2017
30 Posts
April 10 2018 03:57 GMT
#13
first vod links to dark vs solar for me rather than qike vs breakingGG
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33388 Posts
April 10 2018 04:03 GMT
#14
On April 10 2018 12:57 LuLuneth wrote:
first vod links to dark vs solar for me rather than qike vs breakingGG


ah my bad, fixed
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
LuLuneth
Profile Blog Joined July 2017
30 Posts
April 10 2018 04:53 GMT
#15
cheers, match starts at 16min for those wondering
yangluphil
Profile Joined July 2015
318 Posts
April 10 2018 05:03 GMT
#16
On April 10 2018 12:39 pvsnp wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 10 2018 12:32 Nakajin wrote:
Damn that's great, thanks guys!

On April 10 2018 12:20 Solar424 wrote:
How do I pronounce Qike's name without it being offensive?


Cake?
Then again I don't understand why it's offensive so I'm probably saying it wrong


The terrible pronunciation will offend my cringe instinct, but that's about it for me.

"Chee-kuh" is the closest I can romanize it. First particle on a rising inflection, second on a falling.

This is accurate. End of thread.
Neither party will be missed.
Durnuu
Profile Joined September 2013
13320 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 05:33:04
April 10 2018 05:27 GMT
#17
On April 10 2018 12:06 pvsnp wrote:
Great to see the Best Games article making a comeback.

Do we have some new official TL Writers around here, or have they yet to be bestowed that honor?

We don't have access to the super secret TL Writers chat, so we're not actually biased™.
BUNNYYYYYYYYY https://i.imgur.com/BiCF577.png
Mahanaim
Profile Joined December 2012
Korea (South)1002 Posts
April 10 2018 06:06 GMT
#18
Nice! Thanks a lot!
Celebrating Starcraft since... a long time ago.
lichter
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
April 10 2018 06:20 GMT
#19
apparently screencap-ing technology has not improved since 2012
AdministratorYOU MUST HEED MY INSTRUCTIONS TAKE OFF YOUR THIIIINGS
SetGuitarsToKill
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
Canada28396 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-04-10 06:24:37
April 10 2018 06:24 GMT
#20
On April 10 2018 15:20 lichter wrote:
apparently screencap-ing technology has not improved since 2012

it's retro, an artistic choice
Community News"As long as you have a warp prism you can't be bad at harassment" - Maru | @SetGuitars2Kill
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