Sense of Star

All progamers have their own unique styles. Some styles, especially among A or S-class progamers, are notably apparent. There are those that use a particular unit more than others, enough that the unit is considered to be their trademark. Others excel in mindgames, manipulating the opponent with feints and deceptions, while still others are known simply for their unbelievable speed and power. In this way, progamers exhibit certain colors in their games. However, there is one that is quite different than the rest, that illuminates a wide spectrum of colors.

Known as the "Rainbow Protoss," watching his game is more like watching an artist paint on a canvas. Unlike most Protoss users that use the firm Protoss characteristics of strength and power, IntoTheRainbow skillfully dances around his opponents, taunting them with clever movements just outside their reach. His graceful and perhaps flamboyant performances allowed him to receive the 2006 Korea E-Sports Award for Best Display of Talent & Skill.

His dazzling skills, along with his stylish and charming outward appearance, attract fans in which over 90% are female. Rainbow quipped, smiling, "There really aren't many male fans. In the past, there were a few, but these days there are hardly any. The members of my online cafe are almost all girls, and I think there are some male fans that join only to lure the girls."



Master of Diversionary Tactics
Like his nickname suggests, Rainbow uses many diverse styles that sometimes bring surprising victories against even the toughest opponents. During the MBC Teamleague, he was known as the "All-Kill Protoss," using various unpredictable plays to eliminate the entire team by himself. In the past, Rainbow consecutively defeated [Red]NaDa, the "Tornado Terran" that was feared by the Protoss at the time, giving him the title as "Nada-Killer." Other equally threatening Terrans that he thoroughly defeated include the "Perfect Terran" Xellos[yG] and "Monster Terran" iloveoov.

One exceptional performance was during the CYON MSL, defeating GoodFriend, a solid Terran user by 2-1. Game two of the series (shown in Video One below) was incredibly stunning, as reported by a news article by FighterForum:

It's possible to win only with jabs. The most exciting thing in boxing is to connect a straight hit and win by KO. But when one is hit by many light punches, it is possible for one to lose consciousness. Like body blows, accumulating a sense of fatigue is the power within a jab. On the map R-point, except for one time, Rainbow only used diversionary tactics to defeat his opponent.

After making reavers early in the game, Rainbow disturbed his opponent's mineral lines, disorienting him little by little as he continued his drops with high templars, using psionic storms in anticipation of the workers' movements to reduce the number of SCVs. The few remaining SCVs that escaped the attack were finished off by the reavers that waited by the other mineral line. Though GoodFriend gave some damage to Rainbow's main base, he surrendered, as he did not have any workers remaining.

Reaver Specialist
Rainbow's signature unit is the reaver. Without question, there is no one that can use the reaver as well as him. It is rumored that he has a strange transcendental connection with the unit, understanding its intricate nature and even controlling the erratic movements of the scarab. One commentator stated, "It seems that the reaver, when conjured up by Protoss users, only listens to Rainbow perfectly. He is its true owner."

Unlike most Protoss users that develop the traditional macro-oriented style, Rainbow is unusually highly developed in agitating the enemy with micro-intensive skills. There's a saying, "Even if you know it's coming, you can't protect yourself." The "Protoss-Killer" Midas[gm] can attest to this, after a humiliating loss against Rainbow and his reaver with over 30 kills.

"It's not just the reaver. I have fun with all expensive high-tech units; I save money that way," Rainbow commented. "When I use guerilla-attacks for a long time, my units just keep piling up. I guess I've become accustomed to controlling the game using high-tech units."

When asked of his most memorable game, he laughed, "It would have to be the time I mind-controlled [Oops]Cloud's SCV to make seige tanks and other Terran units when I couldn't produce any more Protoss units."

Highlights: IntoTheRainbow vs GoodFriend @ R-point
CYON MSL



Highlights: IntoTheRainbow vs [ReD]NaDa @ Forte
SKY Proleague 2005

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Posted by Marencielo on 24 June 2006 at 23:08 | Permalink