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View Full Version : What Makes a Great Game? + Epic Replay


RedRagToAnOrc
03-12-2007, 12:37 PM
I've just seen the second game between ToD and Lucifer in WC3L, and it was one of the best games I've ever seen - and another caster got to commentate it!

It set me thinking about what makes a great replay/game in your opinion. Is it high level heroes? A new/innovative strategy? Constant battles/wonderful micro/surrounds? I'm interested to know.

For me, I guess it's probably constant action, and the fact that something is always happening, which is basically what happens in this game.

4K.ToD (Hu) vs mYm]Lucifer (Ud)
Twisted Meadows
WC3L

Billed as a "Must See" by the WC3L website.

In my recent World Rankings, Lucifer came out in first place, while ToD was second. In this match, the second of the series, they're placed face to face and incredulity ensues.

ToD starts the game with a standard Archmage and Footmen build, while Lucifer goes for a Death Knight and Ghouls, harrassing early on and escaping a narrow surround, keeping his hero in the fray and constantly staying at a fragment of HP.

ToD takes the opportunity to creep an expansion point and proceeds to fast expand, pushing Lucifer's base to buy some time. Lucifer uses a Staff of Teleportation to get back and forces a Town Portal from ToD, whose Archmage is almost at Level 4.

ToD techs to Tier 3 quickly for Gyros and Knights, with a three-hero combination, while Lucifer does the same, but for Fiends and Destroyers, with a Lich as his second hero and a Dark Ranger third.

Lucifer finds his expansion which he's been putting up under pressure from ToD's Gyros, Knights and two Tanks while ToD puts up a third expansion in the top right spawn. Lucifer pushes back, ToD repels him and then Lucifer pushes once again with Destroyers, while expanding for a second time in the bottom left hand spawn.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is half the game. What follows is a masterclass in hero nuking, numerous hundred-food armies, expansions across the whole map, multitasking and surrounds. Can Lucifer keep any buildings alive against ToD's Tanks and Gyros? Can ToD beat an Undead player without a source of gold income for 15 minutes? I most certainly won't spoil the ending. :)

Basan
03-12-2007, 1:36 PM
Hmm, that replay seems pretty interesting. Will certainly take a peep.

As for "epic replays", I usually go with the same as you topping it with stealth manouvers, either surprising the foe or coming up to a new tech/combo keeping it unveiled from the opponent. That is generally followed by some intense action to deal it/with it. :)

h0bgawblin
03-12-2007, 5:20 PM
My favorite replay is when there is constant action, but each player has a secret that the other doesn't know. For moon it's ussually an expo, for tod, it's ussually using all of his peasants for militia. However, epic replays for me consist of, suprises, innovation, constant action, and fantastic micro.

GroG
03-13-2007, 1:28 PM
..eh. I've seen better. 7/10. I knew Lucifer had lost once his expo was shut down and he kept running away without getting any kills.

GenocideAlive
03-17-2007, 3:30 PM
Good replays mean something I haven't seen before that's viable.

Most of the stuff I do I still have as of yet to see replays doing similar, so I simply assume that they're still hammering away at AM/MK/Pal vs. DK/Lich/DL(CL) zergfests.

edit: Saw the replay, am unimpressed. I could see why someone would call it epic, though; lots of high level hero fighting, dying. In the end, the obvious winner was HU because of staffs. UD focuses a hero over and over and over, the HU just staffs it out. All that focus wasted.