starcraft2.com site updated! - Mutalisk and Hydralisk

The zerg are a race entirely unlike the terrans or the protoss. They are composed of many different species integrated into the Swarm via zerg infestation. These creatures are rapidly and selectively evolved into deadly and efficient killers to further the driving zerg imperative of achieving absolute domination. The zerg make no use of technology to create their weapons, armor, or starships. Instead, these functions are efficiently fulfilled through biological adaptation and planned mutation of the zerg strains. Even zerg buildings are in fact specialized organs within the living, growing organism of a zerg nest.

When the zerg first arrived in the Koprulu sector, they were unified by their absolute obedience to the zerg collective sentience known as the Overmind. The Overmind ultimately directed the actions of every zerg creature in the Swarm, functioning through a hierarchy of lesser sentiences. The first and most important tier of these consisted of the cerebrates, each entrusted with direct control of a sizable section of the Swarm. The cerebrates' commands were disseminated in turn by the overlords, which directly ordered and controlled the mass of zerg creatures both in their nests and on the battlefield.

Although the Overmind was primarily driven by its desire to consume and assimilate the advanced protoss race, it found useful but undeveloped material in humanity. Taking a powerful terran psionic, Sarah Kerrigan, the Overmind evolved a new and unique creature: the Queen of Blades. When the protoss destroyed the Overmind during the invasion of Aiur, the Queen of Blades manipulated the dark templar into eliminating the surviving cerebrates. As a result, she came to dominate the Swarm.
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Hydralisk
[img width=500 height=442]http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8338/ss73xv9.jpg[/img]

Type: Medium Assault Warrior
Core Genus: Slothien
Primary Attack: Needle Spines

The peaceful herbivore herds of slothien were assimilated into the zerg Swarm to produce one of the fiercest and most diabolical of the zerg strains. The evolutionary matrix of the caterpillar-like slothien was supercharged by the Overmind, twisting the hapless creatures into the nightmarish killers known as hydralisks. These once mild creatures now hunger for blood and violence, and they are infamous for acting in a particularly savage fashion.

The spindly, snake-like hydralisks house hundreds of armor-piercing spines within their upper carapace plates. These spines have been specifically evolved from the defensive urticating hairs of the slothien and adapted to a new purpose. Hydralisks use powerful muscle contractions to launch the spines in volleys at enemies approaching from either the air or the ground.

Hydralisks are especially fond of lying in wait for their prey. Groups of them have been observed burrowing into the ground in the pathway of civilian workers, uncovering themselves when they sense an opponent is near. Ambushing from burrowed positions is a favored hydralisk battle tactic, with hydralisks showing a preference for waiting until an enemy has passed before emerging to attack, or boxing in a group of enemies to destroy them with a deadly crossfire.

Thanks to the remarkable musculature of a hydralisk (4,000 muscles compared to a terran's 629), the penetrative force delivered by a hydralisk spine is quite astounding. A single spine can easily penetrate 2 cm of solid neosteel even at maximum range. Under any circumstances, massed groups of hydralisks should be approached with extreme caution and preferably siege tank support.
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Mutalisk
[img width=433 height=192]http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/778/mutaliskthumb1px6.jpg[/img]

Type: Medium Attack Flyer
Core Genus: Mantis Screamer
Primary Attack: Glave Wurm

The mutalisk has been little changed from its original form, the roving mantis screamer of the desolate Dinares sector. In their original forms these creatures were capable of atmospheric and deep-space flight, although how they accomplished such a feat is poorly understood. Apparently they were even capable of migrating between stars, presumably while in some kind of larval form.

Proof of this amazing interstellar capability can be observed from the towering aeries of the mantis screamers that are a common sight on lifeless worlds across several star systems. Most such nests are empty and abandoned now that this highly successful and adaptable species has been infested by the zerg and evolved into mutalisks.

Mutalisks form the primary flying forces of the zerg, making hit-and-run attacks against vulnerable installations and wheeling across the skies in prodigious numbers above zerg nests or land-based forces. Many attempted engagements with the zerg have collapsed due to the rapid arrival of large numbers of mutalisks before any meaningful air defense could be mustered. Under these circumstances the total loss of the forces involved is virtually guaranteed.

Conversely powerful air defenses have succeeded in keeping mutalisks at a distance, for the creatures are limited in vitality. However, they remain agile and dangerous opponents. A mutalisk can attack foes both in the air and on the ground by expelling a glave wurm: a voracious symbiote that can rapidly strike at several opponents as it explosively disintegrates. In large numbers or against weak defenses, mutalisks will always be a deadly threat.


Bonus 600 minerals for the update

Source: http://starcraft2.com

 

Re: starcraft2.com site updated!

² late like i : http://www.starcraft2forum.org/inde...Itemid=47&&topic=6381.msg161777;topicseen#new

 

Re: starcraft2.com site updated!

There is no need for you to paste the entire Zerg section for Minerals ;] I'm sure we're capable of clicking the link

Also didn't Proxy post this first as I was going to post there but it got deleted...

Also where people think the Lurker is seen by the enemy is wrong. It seems the unit is only displayed to the current player, possibly for easy recognition of every burrowed unit.

 

I made a nice post about it. He just put op the links.

 

My thoughts exactly.

Anyway. 2 units at the official site. I don't think anyone would've guessed so few features to be revealed for the Zerg

 

I expect it to be updated more today maybe. Atleast with the Zergling.

 

Me too.....I have seen the Hatchery and it looks way too bulky and big....bigger than the Nexus and the Command Center!

 

I didn't expect the Mutalisk exactly!
I was thinking more in the line of Zergling, Baneling, Hydralisk and Hatchery.

 

It doesn't say the Hydra can mutate into a Lurker, I wonder why. Also, the distinct spitting sound is gone

ps it's a little funny that a slithering creature with no legs will be able to outrun most other things it's really fast now

 

Yeah. I noticed that too! I hope that they just haven't recorded all the final sounds yet, cause that spitting noise was lame, you could barely hear it.

 

I have seen a lurker in-game here

link:
http://www.sc2pod.com/news/
better quality than the other vid and you seen the lurker at 1:20 of the video

 

Nice, now we just need to get Jon back...

 

Lurkers are all over the screen shots. The Hydralisk seems to use them spines on its tail to move faster.

 

wow, I was expecting small number but only two units? And of course the most obvious ones as expected from Blizzard

And even that seems incomplete. Just look at the very beginning of the short Hydralisk movie. I ask WTF is going on there?! Hydras are taunting terran aircrafts to death?! It's fine that they have instant attack like in sc1 and interesting idea to have instant ani air and projectiles for anti ground, but how about some kind of visuals? Anything to show that they actually hit the target with something?
Seriously, that's how it looks right now, they are taunting battlecruiser and vikings until they get destroyed. I skimmed through description and there's nothing about Hydras using sound waves there.
[/rant]

 

Yeah, they need to fix the attack, i saw them look at the BC and then 5 sec later: BOOM... WTF?!?!?

 

LOL

Also note how fast they kill those units. Sure they're in masses but that BC doesn't even have time to say wtf. But this might be because there's very little sound to the Hydra's attack and we can't hear them spit rapidly.

 

Speed was probably messed with like in carrier movie and I do believe they will add some visual to it, I just can't help but wonder why they didn't yet

 

Yeah there are a few issues I think we'd all agree, sound and speed, but this is a fantastic *first* look.
Also, did any one else think the marines' death noise was sorta annoying?

I love the concept for the new queen:
http://www.sc2armory.com/game/zerg/units/queen/

The old one looked like an ugly crab


Glad to see infested units of some kind are back:
http://www.sc2armory.com/game/zerg/units/infested_terran/

And the new Ultralisk!
What a tank!
http://www.sc2armory.com/game/zerg/units/ultralisk/

As for the...Infestor...
Thats the single most hideous unit I've ever seen:
http://www.sc2armory.com/game/zerg/units/infester/
Someone beat him and his mother with an ugly...battlecruiser.

Over all they look fantastic!

PS: I still think Blizzard is making SC2 too 'happy' 'cartoonish' and 'WC3ish' though
Some of the Zerg units look like Blizzard concepts done by Dinsey artists.

 

Being ''Cartoonish'' is what makes the art in the game unique. And unique is better. I don't understand why you people want everything to look perfectly real.

 

Because the Starcraft world is dark and gritty, in the last game DuGualle committed suicide.
Imagine a cell shaded DuGualle with a long horse face pulling the lugar's trigger...doesn't have the same effect.

Cartoonish...ness... (to me, at any rate) instantly makes anything that attempts seriousness fail. Bashes it against the rocks or seriousness.
And being realistic does not make it unoriginal, just as being cartoonish does not make things original.
All I ask is the bright greens and purples be toned down. I don't necessarily want real I just don't want to laugh every time I play.