Breakfree 2 - Dunkelschwamm

 

    The sequel to Breakfree is more of the same. We don't have to go back down the elevator and there is now a boss fight! Unfortunately the biggest obstacle is still the elevator mechanic itself.

SCMapDB page

Author: Beather

Date of release: 2004

Maps in package: 1

Map review of Breakfree 2

(originally posted on SCMapDB)

by dunkelschwamm | April 29, 2023 | 2270 characters

    Breakfree 2 is the sequel to Breakfree. Visually, it is a huge upgrade with liberal use of Sonic 2 textures and an Eggman model for the scientist to match the Sonic 2 music. The music is the exact same.

    This time around the map is split into two parts: the annoying elevator part, and the annoying boss part. The annoying elevator part is somehow more annoying than the previous map, offering large brushes that shoot from out of unpredictable places in the wall at a faster speed than players can dodge. There are also similar grinders and rotating brushes that the elevator passes over and obscures before they come back up. Taken all together, it's a pretty miserable experience ascending this map.

    The boss is similarly annoying, but to a lesser degree. Players get a crowbar and are assaulted by headcrabs and random explosions that did not seem tied to the headcrabs despite the headcrabs being the bomb enemies from Sonic 1. Defeating Eggman involves breaking the console above him, despite it not reading as breakable, when it reveals itself under uncommon circumstances, which requires riding a tiny elevator brush to access (which often killed me). Killing the NPC, which we had done by accident, does nothing. Thankfully, at least players can climb a chute from the loserbin (players respawn in a box outside the main shaft where they can watch).

    Maybe with a ton of players who can die a lot before it becomes an issue, I can see this working a bit better. As it is, I find it to be a pretty grating experience with few redeeming gameplay qualities. Aside from a visual upgrade, and what can technically pass as a boss battle, I'd consider this still a very unplayable map- especially with Sven's awful elevators.

Pros:

  • Looks much better this time around
  • There is definitely a boss battle
  • Custom models!

Cons:

  • Broken elevators
  • Annoying, hard to predict obstacles that come out of nowhere
  • Annoying cycles on the boss
  • Annoying deaths that feel like they come from nowhere and are punished by being separated from the gameplay
Score: 4.7 / 10

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