Mako - Dunkelschwamm

  


    An official map back in the days of Sven Co-op 3.0 (or at least I think that's the right version) when things were simpler. Fight through a lot of enemies in a snowy complex and try not to get lost.

SCMapDB page

Author: Mako

Date of release: 2004

Maps in package: 1

Map review of Mako

(originally posted on SCMapDB)

by dunkelschwamm | August 15, 2026 | 2382 characters

    Mako is a fairly straight-forward snowy-urban walkthrough map where players fight lots of aliens (and some military) using a heavy arsenal to the very end. The set pieces usually aren't something magnificent but are charming and memorable and keep the map from feeling monotonous. The player-operable mortar launcher, the encamped enemy mounted gun, and the humungous explosives are all a lot of fun and give the map an almost professional sheen.

    I really like the exterior urban environments. I don't know if I think they're believable, per se, but they have a really strong consistent vibe. I compared it, while playing, to Goldeneye's "streets" level. This doesn't extend fully to the interiors of the grocery/freight buildings toward the end, but those parts have their own charm (even if it's a bit incongruous).

    The actual action of the map is sometimes inconsistent. I think the map gives the players the right tools for the job, and that the monsters are always a constantly fairly intense level of heat. Frustratingly, the enemies don't seem to ever stop respawning. This makes backtracking and respawning a huge pain that splits up the players. Your mileage may vary on if that's good or bad, but for my money's it's not good. There's also a laser wall at the beginning of the map which, as far as we can tell, the player is meant to brute-force by walking through it and turning it off by the controls on the other side. It's kind of a dumb non-puzzle, and if you insist it's not a puzzle bit then it's just a damage gate.

    In the end, we both struggled a lot to remember the beats of this map. It flew by quickly and was really quite action-packed. I would recommend it on the basis that it's an intense action map with a good outdoor atmosphere.

Pros:

  • The players are properly equipped to participate in nonstop action
  • Fun bits like the player-operated mortar keep things lively
  • I really liked the outdoor atmosphere

Cons:

  • Constantly respawning enemies were a bummer
  • Later map visuals are a tad inconsistent
  • Laser grid at the beginning was confusing
  • Map kinda didn't leave a strong impression?
  • Action felt very divided toward the end

Score: 5.9 / 10

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