Sven Co-op Map Reviews

       This great looking map is made to look just like the game Borderlands. I'm not sure if this is a recreation of a Borderlands map or just inspired by the game, but it looks truly unique. SCMapDB page Author: Dr.Abc Date of final release: 2018 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Arena Hyperion Preserve (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 19, 2022 | 5330 characters      Hyperion Preserve is an arena map for Sven Co-op with very ambitious presentation and some wacky ideas. From the brushwork to the textures to the scripted weapons to the silly progression systems, this map tried a lot. Does it all come through?      First thing you'll notice is that the map looks very good, and quite a bit like Borderlands. The environment looks great for Sven Co-op, and is lit, textured, and brushed very well. Even the buttons glow and read very clearly as interactable, fun decorations litter walls- everything looks great.      The gameplay itself is an arena wave defense wh

      This great looking map is made to look just like the game Borderlands. I'm not sure if this is a recreation of a Borderlands map or just inspired by the game, but it looks truly unique. SCMapDB page Author: Dr.Abc Date of final release: 2018 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Arena Hyperion Preserve (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 19, 2022 | 6533 characters      This map uses a lot of Borderlands 2 models and textures to recreate, what I assume to be, a location in Borderlands 2 of a big arena. The map looks great, everything really sells the idea of an arena fight on another planet against waves of aliens.      The map starts off with players in a black room and a big floating button, pressing it opens the wall up to a short hall and an elevator up to the arena. Once inside the area, which is rolling hills dotted with shipping containers, pipes, tree things, some small streams, and a simple structure. There is a platform with a button and a big symbol ove

       There are nine r's. This is a very short map that feels more like a tech demo than anything else. Players fly through arches, throw grenades in holes, and make a face spin, and that's it. SCMapDB page Author: CryoKeen (aka Keen) Date of final release: Unknown Maps in package: 1 Map review of rrrrrrrrr (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 19, 2022 | 2261 characters      rrrrrrrrr is a map credited on this site to CryoKeen, though Keen's profile does not display this as one of his maps. I'm not entirely sure how to categorize it. It's perhaps a joke map, but the joke is so esoteric I don't know how to interpret it. It's like a Meredith Monk performance- I'll just be reviewing it very technically, as I concede I don't quite understand it.      After three brief puzzles, the map ends. Two of the puzzles involve images of people I don't know in a context I don't understand. I shot the first image, and after my teammate pre

      There are nine r's. This is a very short map that feels more like a tech demo than anything else. Players fly through arches, throw grenades in holes, and make a face spin, and that's it. SCMapDB page Author: CryoKeen (aka Keen) Date of final release: Unknown Maps in package: 1 Map review of rrrrrrrrr (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 19, 2022 | 1475 characters      This is a very short map, seemingly unfinished and very light on details. Other than knowing there are nine r's all I can say is that the map starts in a sewer, players activate a sign to get a Stargate SG-1 jumpscare before being launched through a bunch of arches and into a weird alien room with water and grenades. In the wall here are holes, throw the grenades in to reveal a teleport. The teleporter will cause players to telefrag so watch out. After the teleporter press two buttons to make the lady's face spin, it will explode so watch out again. Then at the end the map ends with

       Diego Land is an unfinished and abandoned project meant for somebody, I believe it's a youtuber named Diego. The map description says there is supposed to be comedy but I can attest the mapper hasn't added anything like that before abandoning it. SCMapDB page Author: Galy Raffo Date of final release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Diego Land (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 19, 2022 | 4300 characters      Diego Land is an action map which paints in huge, broad strokes. Segments of the map are separated into huge cube rooms filled with scattered, strewn about as enemies ranging from bullet sponge levels of HP to full-metal bullet sponge levels of HP attack the player from multiple vantage points. Entrances into these arenas are always through blocky hallways with big vertically sliding doors, so the only way for a player to engage is head-on or by kiting in the doorway.      Thankfully, Diego Land is stocked heavily with lots of weapons- namel

      Diego Land is an unfinished and abandoned project meant for somebody, I believe it's a youtuber named Diego. The map description says there is supposed to be comedy but I can attest the mapper hasn't added anything like that before abandoning it. SCMapDB page Author: Galy Raffo Date of final release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Diego Land (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 19, 2022 | 6156 characters      This map is abandoned, so it's unfinished and never will be finished. What is here is very clearly unfinished. The level design is incredibly simple and blocky, and combat encounters are wads of enemies in hallways. There are some cool fire effects that don't hurt and some custom models like stretched out scientists and weird cartoon pit drones. There were a lot of 3d models of bodies laying around which looked good but they were also solid and would constantly block me. It's an interesting map and it definitely would have been bet

       I am not a fan of jumping puzzles, but this map does it right. There is nothing too crazy and I was able to complete the whole course thanks to the quality of life features like checkpoints and the color coding. SCMapDB page Author: Hezus Date of final release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of The Void (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 18, 2022 | 4401 characters      The Void is a map that I'm very nostalgic for, so factor that in while reading this review. I remember playing this back in the day with an internet connection so slow I couldn't platform worth a damn, but I loved it anyway. Looking back, is it still as fun as I remember?      The Void's conceit is minimalism: color-coded grid-tile floors serve simple functions, from launching the player to hurting the player to being ladders to being water to being the next spawn point. These simple tools are used in an escalating series of platforming challenges that, on their face, seem very

      I am not a fan of jumping puzzles, but this map does it right. There is nothing too crazy and I was able to complete the whole course thanks to the quality of life features like checkpoints and the color coding. SCMapDB page Author: Hezus Date of final release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of The Void (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 18, 2022 | 3098 characters      So first off, I am not a fan of platforming in first person. This whole map is a lot of platforming. I did manage to have a lot of fun though.      There are some really smart design choices like the color scheme, you may have to read the map description for an explanation on the colors. The colors actually remind me a lot of Portal, both minimalist and evocative while also being extremely practical. The map looks great, as the title suggests, the whole thing floats in a void. The undersides of platforms are null textured so so it is hard to see the next area.      The jumps themselves aren&#

       This is an arena. There are many like it, but this one is Arena. Enemies spawn in without end and the architecture is simple and blocky. SCMapDB page Author: Rivendell Date of final release: 2006 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Arena (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 17, 2022 | 3662 characters      Arena is an arena map. You ever see those gladiatorial battles where they just, like, let wolves or dogs or mountain lions or bears loose on a bunch of fighters and it's just nonsense and bloodshed and nothing makes sense? Arena is a lot like that. I think, in that way, it lives up to its name.      However, it's also one of those kinds of arena maps that's made with very little finesse. In fact, I'd say this is done with no finesse whatsoever. Reality falls apart at the seams, as players randomly find themselves swimming through midair, or at times you'll find cylinders of water. The structures are massive and fantastical, and the outdoor are

      This is an arena. There are many like it, but this one is Arena. Enemies spawn in without end and the architecture is simple and blocky. SCMapDB page Author: Rivendell Date of final release: 2006 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Arena (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 17, 2022 | 2295 characters      Arena is a fairly bland map. Players spawn next to friendly NPCs and some hostile ones and they fight and players can step in and help them. Left alone these two factions can generally keep each other busy. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to which monsters are friendly and which are hostile, it all seems random. There was a gargantua that I saw and helped kill but then I tried looking for anything else of interest and didn't find much, meanwhile my teammate fought spawning turrets, female assassins, a minigunner, and a big momma. I guess your mileage may vary. Players spawn fully loaded so that helps a lot.      The map is a big empty room with a

       Relax on white sand texture, take a swim in the ichthyosaur infested waters, explore the bungalows, sacrifice yourself or a friend to the volcano. Fox's Island is a chill hang-out map with some fun features to explore and a very nice view. SCMapDB page Author: The Fox Date of final release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Fox's Island (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 12, 2022 | 3792 characters      Fox's Island is a chill relax map by The fox. Sit in the hot springs of the island, explore the Maldives-style overwater bungalow huts- some which feature monitors for viewing the resort's stage, and one of which features a working mirror. Ride water slides, jam out to a boombox, or swim over to mysterious rock formations surrounded by dangerous ichthyosaurs.      The brushwork of the island itself is a bit blocky and rigid for a naturalistic structure, failing to convey any of the eroding forces of the ocean, but still is a treat for the ey

      Relax on white sand texture, take a swim in the ichthyosaur infested waters, explore the bungalows, sacrifice yourself or a friend to the volcano. Fox's Island is a chill hang-out map with some fun features to explore and a very nice view. SCMapDB page Author: The Fox Date of final release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Fox's Island (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 12, 2022 | 2941 characters      This is a map made to just hang out. There isn't much combat, no puzzles that I could find, just things to explore and fun things to look at. There are a bunch of ichthyosaurs in the water though and some barnacles under the docks so there is some combat.      The map is a very nice looking island with a small group of huts on stilts connected by walkways on stilts. There is a hot spring with a func_monitor (a feature that only works in windowed mode), a campfire which will burn you, and a stereo that needs batteries to play music all right by spa

       This is yet another Black Mesa map, taking place in the facility with parts of Xen merged in places. The map set is fairly difficult but short. SCMapDB page Author: The Fox Date of final release: 2005 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Area Zero (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 12, 2022 | 6357 characters      Area Zero is an old pair of maps by The fox. The first is Black Mesa themed, the second Xen themed. The genre is straight-forward run-n-gun action and the brushwork is mediocre. Let's go over it.      First off, the presentation. Players will be struck right away by the flat, boring lighting, the bland brushwork and blocky architecture. Some rooms are outclassed by Wolfenstein 3D in atmosphere. The environment feels unbelievable, a series of Doom-like corridors which vaguely imply function. Effects are lazily and haphazardly thrown around with little fanfare. Some environments, especially in the first map, do manage to be effective- some corridors ev

      This is yet another Black Mesa map, taking place in the facility with parts of Xen merged in places. The map set is fairly difficult but short. SCMapDB page Author: The Fox Date of final release: 2005 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Area Zero (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 12, 2022 | 3911 characters      Area Zero is a simple Black Mesa themed walkthrough map from 17 years ago at the time this was written. I didn't expect much from it and so I was surprised at some of the tricks it pulled on me, like hitting us with baby headcrabs out of nowhere. Overall the map did look blocky and rough but there were some features that showed real promise.      Players start out with no weapons and no medkits. I died a lot on this series, there is no ammo and there is no health in the first map. Players find a wrench in spawn area and fight through some minor enemies and then a shock trooper. We pick up a shotgun around the same time.      Players go up an elevator a

       This map is a work in progress and may change drastically in the future. That said, it's really only missing a proper game end and everything else looks good and works well. SCMapDB page Author: Gruntzz Date of final release: 2022 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Bounty (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 10, 2022 | 6181 characters      Bounty is a map heavily inspired by Hotline Miami, from the aesthetic to the gameplay. What's the gameplay like? Why, you run into a room fulla guys and immediately get shot to death, that's what!      This is a work-in-progress map (as of June 10 2022) as far as I understand, so take this review as constructive criticism that I'll happily revisit in a re-review should this map be updated.      Getting on with the review: let's start with the aesthetic. I think one of Hotline Miami's greatest strengths is its strong sense of aesthetic, but visually and sonically. Bounty captures the lighting, mood, and s

      This map is a work in progress and may change drastically in the future. That said, it's really only missing a proper game end and everything else looks good and works well. SCMapDB page Author: Gruntzz Date of final release: 2022 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Bounty (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 10, 2022 | 5352 characters      I know this map is a work in progress and when it updates I will revisit this review. The map is a brutally hard search and destroy/assassination mission where one shot will literally kill you, oh and survival mode is on. The first thing we did was turn survival mode right off, the map was playable after that. The respawn timer was very long, I think that is a totally acceptable alternative to survival mode.      Players start in the street, with a nice looking but eerily empty beach and beach chairs immaculately lined up in columns and rows. Players can swim in the water and drown which gives a custom death announcement, whi

       The map description simply reads "The average sven player cannot beat this." The map is a room with a box and a button, what mysteries does this map hold? SCMapDB page Author: GAMESABA Date of final release: 2008 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Area 491 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 5, 2022 | 1754 characters      Area 491 is a map that I don't understand, but can beat. You begin in a room with a box and a button. If you press the button you will explode, but if you break the box and then press the button you will not explode and you will complete the map. The box takes quite a few hits to destroy, but with teamwork it doesn't have to take long.      The map itself is pretty boring looking. Little effort is put into beautification, and if I had to describe the aesthetic it would be "debug room". The button gives no indication that it will explode, I'm guessing for troll reasons, and the box which must be destroyed gives li

      The map description simply reads " The average sven player cannot beat this." The map is a room with a box and a button, what mysteries does this map hold? SCMapDB page Author: GAMESABA Date of final release: 2008 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Area 491 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 5, 2022 | 1591 characters      This is a Japanese troll map consisting of a big room with a button on one wall and a box in a corner. There is some stuff on the wall but that's all texture, none of it does anything. Running to the button will trigger an explosion that will kill you instantly and a message in Japanese (romanji) that my teammate is hard at work Google translating as I write this. It means something like "hey pretty good, it takes guts" if Google translate is any good.      The secret to beating the map is destroying the box, which has a ton of health, and that will stop the explosions. When the explosions are off you can run up and press

       Arctic Mission is a fun little romp through things that can vaguely be described as 'Arctic'. It is short and sweet with fun combat in interesting locations. SCMapDB page Author: TruckStopSantaClaus Date of final release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Arctic Mission (originally posted on SCMapDB)  by dunkelschwamm | June 5, 2022 | 4478 characters      Arctic Mission is a map by TruckStopSantaClaus. It's action-centric, with players marching gun muzzles forward through aliens and soldiers, room after room. It covers a few different environments throughout, but a lot of it gives military complex vibes after an initial outdoor area with lots of snowy evergreen and some cavernous bits.      All of this is done with some moody lighting which I think creates a pleasing atmosphere, and also plays up an interesting theme I see throughout: you begin outdoors at a normal residential home which is bright and pleasing within, then after being lost in the woods you come t