Catalyst - Dunkelschwamm

 

    Welcome to not Black Mesa where we do science that is really similar to what goes on over there but we're totally different, I promise. According to the description we are a secret organization sending scientists over to another dimension via resonance cascades, that sounds safe.

SCMapDB page

Author: HeAdCrAb KILLA

Date of release: 2019

Maps in package: 1

Map review of Catalyst

(originally posted on SCMapDB)

by dunkelschwamm | July 9, 2023 | 3156 characters

    Catalyst is a short puzzle map revolving around an Icon of Sin style enemy-spawning computer-crystal thingie.

    The gist is as such: players walk through a short Black Mesa-y introduction and teleport to a room full of the map's main arsenal (shotgun, MP5, glock, crowbar, handgrenades), an elevator up to the main supply bunker with rooms full of additional goodies (importantly, a sniper rifle, revolver, HEV, health, and underbarrel grenades). A console on the top floor deploys 3 friendly turrets in front of the bunker.

    Why the turrets? In front of the bunker is the aforementioned Icon of Sin style boss. Here's the skivvy: a big crystal sits between two impenetrable vent plates. Vorts and alien grunts endlessly spawn in front of it. Doors beneath lead to a console where one player can press buttons which briefly open the vents beside the crystal. A player outside, engaging with the xenian military, can chuck grenades into the vents. After 5-6 or so grenades in each vent, their completion is marked for the player operating their buttons. Then, a button beneath the crystal can be pressed to end the map with a spectacular explosion.

    The map is very short and sweet. I'd say it's also quite nice to look at. The crystal is a really neat setpiece that's fun to watch explode. I wish the journey from a respawn to the battle wasn't so awkward. The elevator ride is a chore, resupplying is a chore, and- might I ask, where is the medkit pickup? I suppose it's not that necessary for how much assistance the players get. With full HEV and the turrets deployed, I felt very safe walking around in the battle area with my shotgun casually blowing away aliens. I also wish there were more places to pick up the grenades, or at least a more obvious designated spot. They are necessary weapons for completing the puzzle, after all.

    The battle itself works as a fun little puzzle, short and sweet. It's balanced well for two players, and once you figure out what the idea is it's not so bad. It's not terribly intuitive, but if I knew exactly how to beat it going in I likely would have crushed it very quickly.

    Overall, if you're looking for a fun little Icon of Sin style puzzle/boss gimmick, this map does it pretty decently.

Pros:

• Fun gimmick executed decently
• Map looks good
• Good arsenal when full
• Good HEV resupply
• Very cooperative-oriented, but a single player could likely also complete it
• Spectacular blowing up the crystal at the end there

Cons:

• The whole introduction is a bit of a chore, especially before the arsenal is established
• The whole introduction is a bit of a chore, especially when backtracking from a spawn before figuring out the gimmick
• The arsenal is unfortunately distributed and spread all over the place
• Generally doesn't lead the player very well. Weird feng shui
• Kinda lame how it's like "Okay you're done with the puzzle, press this randomly placed red button to end the map now lol"

Score: 7.2 / 10