Starcraft II Beta Down, The Zerg

Starcraft II Beta Down

It was fun while it lasted but the first phase of the SC2 beta has come to an end.

"We previously announced that the first phase of the StarCraft II beta test would be coming to a close in all regions on Monday, May 31. In order to prepare for the final phase of beta testing, we plan to extend the current phase in all regions until Monday, June 7. After this date, the beta test will be unavailable for several weeks while we make some hardware and software configuration changes for the final phase of the beta test and the release of the game. We plan to bring the beta test back online for a couple of weeks prior to the game's launch to complete our testing. We’ll have more details to share about when this final phase will begin at a later date."

Posted by Nebu (May 28th 2010)

The Zerg

I found Terrans a fun but at times a hard to manage race. Mobility was becoming an issue in our team games as it is hard to call off an attack to aid an ally's base. I decided to give Zerg a try and was quite impressed. The units are definitely less durable but not only do they have the numbers advantage, they also make up for it in movement speed.

In a 3v3 or 4v4 situation, I found myself able to come to the aid of an ally being attacked then launching a counter attack shortly after, in addition to increased harassment abilities. Creep (the main Zerg mechanic that allows them to build structures) further increases movement speeds as well as HP regeneration and this deters attackers from trying to out maneuver you on your home turf. The Hatchery mechanic of building units allows for one structure to build all units (given you have the necessary prerequisite structure) which enhances Zerg's ability to counter specific units of the opposing army on a short notice.

Harassment is one of the main experiences that I have enjoyed playing as Zerg. The Mutalisk, a small air unit capable of hitting air and ground, is often dreaded because of its mobility and fast shots. Massing a handful of these is enough to keep the opposing team on the defensive while your allies claim territory and resources. There is no better feeling than to punish those who have poor building placement as this will sometimes cost them the game.

I have been practicing my Mutalisk harassment and starting to get the hang of things. It's a shame that I will have to wait several weeks before I can resume.

To end this off, here is the Zerg theme!