After what felt like a long wait, the new GSL season has finally kicked off. New players, new maps and new possibilities await us.
Losira vs. LegalMind
The opening series of the new season of GSL Code A was, all in all, a dud. Although we did get to see the newer GSL maps in play, the quality of players prevented anything special from happening.
Game 1 one Crevasse saw both players fast expand. When LegalMind put up a couple of forward Pylons and pushed with pure Stalkers, Losira’s response was Banelings. The audience sighed a collective ‘huh?’ The game ended quickly and with many people worried that Code A would continue to offer terrible games.
Game 2 on Xel’Naga Caverns continued the trend. LegalMind’s four Gate proxy rush was ill conceived and poorly executed. Losira held it off with Speedlings and his counterattack with Roaches and Banelings ended LegalMind’s hope at a sweep and the audience’s hope at a real game.
Game 3 on Terminus RE, a map which almost forces long games, was relatively good. Double expansions from both players led to a strong Protoss army of mostly Stalkers. Losira, insistent that this was correct, countered with Banelings once more. However, with the help of Overlords, the Baneling bombs were infinitely more effective than their land-based brethren and thwarted attacks from the Protoss. The Zerg was able to build up a Roach force of significant strength and eventually won the game.
Loner vs. August
The second set, with Loner and August, would prove an even bigger letdown.
Game 1 on Terminus RE was long but ugly. The obligatory early expansions led to sizable armies from both. August’s purely bionic mix was able to crush Loner’s Tank and bio force because Loner’s Tank control was abysmal, crushing the hopes of foreign fans everywhere.
Game 2 on Metalopolis highlighted further Loner’s inability to play TvT at August’s level. After the game reached tier 2 quickly. Once the game was at that point, August was able to move at will to any point he wished. August faked a drop, Loner moved his entire army to defend and suddenly August’s Tanks had superior position. Loner was able to expel his opponent but at a cost of so many SCVs that the game was over at this point.
Huk vs. Curious
Next up, Huk played the Zerg Curious on Tal’Darim Altar. The hype for this match was palpable and, in game 1, these two players did not let down. The Zerg’s early Zergling aggression earned him an advantage. Huk’s attempt to counterattack was thwarted and he fell behind further. However, Curious soon remembered that he was in Code A and produced some of the most useless Baneling bombs of all time (sacrificing almost a dozen Overlords) as well as sticking to relatively inflexible Roach play. Huk’s Immortals and Stalkers were able to drive the knife home and claim the win in the most entertaining game yet.
Game 2 on Metalopolis was a much more honest affair. Huk’s standard three gate expand met a Zerg who had skimped on defenses at home. Excellent Force Fields dealt with everything the Zerg could throw at the Protoss and the game was over almost as soon as it began.
Posh vs. ButterflyEffect
Posh and ButterflyEffect took the stage next. Game 1, on Xel’Naga Caverns, was a lopsided but entertaining game. Posh owned the map and a five to two base advantage while the Terran was cornered and shivering out of fear. The Zerg’s army washed over the Terran in a wave of acid and destruction and Code A fans everywhere said, ‘Fine, we’ll take it.’
Game 2 on Shakuras Plateau was similarly fun. Posh’s opening Baneling bust was successful. Instead of insisting on aggression, the Zerg used the advantage to Drone up and macro his way to victory. While ButterflyEffect tried to go mech, he could not fend off the overwhelming Brood Lord force that was at his doorstep in what felt like a heartbeat.
