Sven Co-op Map Reviews

      This map is sort of a mall, we have a big building with stores, bars, and some sort of storage area. There's a locked door players must find their way behind but beyond that the map is light on interaction and focuses more on exploration. SCMapDB page Author: Robootto, RNG, Poka Date of release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Shopping Centre (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 1, 2023 | 2901 characters      Shopping Centre seems to be a shopping mall including some vaguely interesting shops from the likes of Robootto, RNG, and Poka, including the Sushi Shop from Poka and Robootto's collab Indojapan, and some of the stuff from RNG and Robootto's collab Metal Bar.      For the most part, it's just for walking around. I think there's an interesting sense of discovery, as you find yourself hopping off from high places to find your way around. However, aside from one secretive tunnel which leads to unlocking an only somewhat i

      This map is sort of a mall, we have a big building with stores, bars, and some sort of storage area. There's a locked door players must find their way behind but beyond that the map is light on interaction and focuses more on exploration. SCMapDB page Author: Robootto, RNG, Poka Date of release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Shopping Centre (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 1, 2023 | 2733 characters      This is a map of a shopping center with the shops being contributed by three different mappers, RNG, Robootto, and Poka. Robootto is known for a very avant garde style bordering on nonsense. RNG is known for making very detailed grit. I don't know Poka very well.      Players are dumped in the main hallway, which is pretty blocky and plain. We have thick windows and big signs allowing us to see the stores that line the way, we have quite a selection, two of which I've seen before. There is a sushi bar I've seen in Indojapan tha

      A remake of the map by the same name, there are only slight differences between this map and the original. We must defend against waves of enemies both in and out of our base and protect the random dumb scientists who flood the area periodically. SCMapDB page Author: GiGaBiTe Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Between a Rock and a Hard Place Remake (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 1, 2023 | 2965 characters      Between a Rock and A Hard Place is a pretty good two defense maps for Sven Co-op. This remake is, in our playthrough, almost the same map. However, it did differ in some ways.      There was a turret with a secret button to activate. We never did find that secret button. This feature went entirely overlooked.      There was apparently better flow to the upper hallways and better traffic management in the stairways. I didn't notice this in-game, but believe it. I remember getting caught up on that stuff more in the

      A remake of the map by the same name, there are only slight differences between this map and the original. We must defend against waves of enemies both in and out of our base and protect the random dumb scientists who flood the area periodically. SCMapDB page Author: GiGaBiTe Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Between a Rock and a Hard Place Remake (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 1, 2023 | 3678 characters      So this map is a remake, and it's really close to being the exact same map as before. Check out the review of the original if you want, here's a quick recap. The level is divided into two sides by a chasm and players have to defend one side, enemies usually come across the bridge but there is also a narrow tram line across. Players fight both aliens and humans coming out from doors across the way, and even a couple inside our base, until a helicopter arrives and we leave. Periodically a scientist will come and we ha

    Here is a map that is famous in the Sven Co-op community. Players must fight hordes of enemies in a huge arena with lots of vertical elements. Fun custom models representing members of the community (a recent addition, apparently), a kick-ass helicopter, plus music and voiceover really brings this whole map together in an amazing way. SCMapDB page Author: Aurora, JPolito, Puchi, Hydeph Date of release: 2008 Maps in package:1 Map review of Richard Boderman (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 25, 2023 | 4711 characters *!*!*!*300th MAP REVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA*!*!*!*      Richard Boderman is an arena map for Sven Co-op and by now is a certified classic. With the Garompa edit, it's even better. The monsters of the map, both friends and foe, are flavored as members of the community and have models and gimmicks to match. It's both a tremendous celebration of the Sven Co-op community and a really fun way to make this a colorful, interesting map.      T

      Here is a map that is famous in the Sven Co-op community. Players must fight hordes of enemies in a huge arena with lots of vertical elements. Fun custom models representing members of the community (a recent addition, apparently), a kick-ass helicopter, plus music and voiceover really brings this whole map together in an amazing way. SCMapDB page Author: Aurora, JPolito, Puchi, Hydeph Date of release: 2008 Maps in package:1 Map review of Richard Boderman (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 25, 2023 | 4509 characters      Richard Boderman is a pretty famous map and I have just reached the 300th map reviewed milestone so I rustled up a third person and tackled the famous boss battle the map is named after.      The map is a huge circular arena. There are cliffside ramps up the face of the sides and in the central mountain as well as ladders allowing lots of verticality in the map. Various trench systems and bunkers hide supplies and provide cover from the

    Based on a level in Gex by the same name, this map features a rooftop battle in a wacky city that players traverse through platforming and ladders. There is good music but also constant annoying sound effects. SCMapDB page Author: Agent Zero the Koraa Hunter Date of release: 2018 Maps in package:1 Map review of Dial "A" for "Arson" (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 23, 2023 | 5630 characters      Dial "A" For Arson is a Sven Co-op map aiming to recreate a map from Gex. I have not played Gex, but am sorta aware of it, and knowledge that wall-climbing is a major element of Gex was crucial in figuring out the way forward.      The theme is rooftops in an urban skyline at night. Players battle snipers, bodyguards, "city rats" (baby voltigores), "mutants" (baby gargs), and robogrunts. To do this, they use pistols and then MP5, crossbow, sniper, hivehand, SAW, and spore launcher once they're found in

      Based on a level in Gex by the same name, this map features a rooftop battle in a wacky city that players traverse through platforming and ladders. There is good music but also constant annoying sound effects. SCMapDB page Author: Agent Zero the Koraa Hunter Date of release: 2018 Maps in package:1 Map review of Dial "A" for "Arson" (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 23, 2023 | 5903 characters      I played this map and reviewed it a long time ago. I remember it was late at night and my teammate was falling asleep, neither of us had fun and I tore the map to shreds. My teammate didn't review because he remembered none of it. Well, after a revisit I can say that I was wrong. Playing this map while awake was definitely the way to go.      The map starts with a sweet camera flyover of the level, it's based on Gex, a platformer, so there is a lot of platforming showcased. Players pop into existence in a little room above a pile of HEV a

    There is only a little bit of Black Mesa in this map, but plenty of arenas, 17 in total. Players go from one arena to the next clearing them out with some light platforming in some areas plus plenty of hidden stuff to find. SCMapDB page Author: IT_Skino Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Black Mesa Arena (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 20, 2023 | 4887 characters      Black Mesa Arena is a two-map set for Sven Co-op wherein players battle through multiple arenas using lots of weaponry against lots of enemies. Is it any good?      The first map is often a bit spartan in appearance, taking a brutalist minimalist approach to a lot of the arenas. Players are given all of the boilerplate weaponry early on, and face huge onslaughts of enemies. At first it seemed possibly overbearing, but through cunning and grit just two players managed to survive pretty well through a lot of these encounters. Every enemy in Santa's bag is fe

      There is only a little bit of Black Mesa in this map, but plenty of arenas, 17 in total. Players go from one arena to the next clearing them out with some light platforming in some areas plus plenty of hidden stuff to find. SCMapDB page Author: IT_Skino Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Black Mesa Arena (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 20, 2023 | 4034 characters      Black Mesa Arenas is title with three words I dread when I see Sven Co-op maps. The screenshots and the description didn't help. But I must admit to my first impression being totally wrong, which is something I have found happens a lot.      The map description says it all, there are 17 arenas to fight in. These arenas are usually pretty simple with the best looking ones evoking an overlarge liminal feel. Some arenas look better than others, like the graveyard was pretty fun but then there are a bunch that have spike pits ringing the outside that are just big bl

      Old school classic Frogger, hop across the freeway and a river to reach some buttons, press them all to go to the next round. Any misstep and you will die horribly. SCMapDB page Author: LentoMan Date of release: 2004 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Frogger (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 18, 2023 | 3162 characters      Frogger is a 3-tiered arcade "puzzle" "skill" game map for Sven Co-op.      The setup is simple: run past 4 lanes of speeding cars, reach the dock, then jump across 4 lanes of giant logs in quick-kill water to 4 button alcoves. Hit the button, get killed, start over, hit all the buttons, end the round. The next round is more complicated: the second round adds invincible turrets which the players must distract using the hivehand- really creative! The third round adds an RPG to explode the turrets, shortly followed by a crossbow to sniperfight snipers who appear in the button alcoves. With that completed, the m

      Old school classic Frogger, hop across the freeway and a river to reach some buttons, press them all to go to the next round. Any misstep and you will die horribly. SCMapDB page Author: LentoMan Date of release: 2004 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Frogger (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 18, 2023 | 2794 characters      I felt a bit of deja vu when I saw this map, I had previously seen it in another map by the same author, retrohunt. That map was duck hunt fused with frogger, but this map is all frogger.      Players have to traverse a very busy and deadly street and then jump across logs in a poison river and jump into alcoves to press buttons. Pressing all four buttons ends the round and there are three rounds. Turrets and weapons start appearing in round 2 and the map gets quite difficult. I had racked up about 60 deaths myself from just running into traffic and hails of gunfire. The map uses a clever mechanic where turrets will shoot at bees f

    Despite the name this map is a Shadow Warrior themed map, no Black Hawks around, bird or helicopter. It's got both key hunt elements just like games in the old days and its got plenty of combat as well.  SCMapDB page Author: Lt.JC Date of release: 2006 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Hawk (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 16, 2023 | 3883 characters      Black Hawk is a map for Sven Co-op which aims to take inspiration from Shadow Warrior, making a series with a more classic build-engine style.      This build engine inspiration is especially apparent in the flow of the map. There's a lot of key hunting, monsters spawning in a monster-closet-adjacent fashion, and secret hunting for weapons. The two main maps in particular are extremely similar to the first two maps of Shadow Warrior at first glance, with the first map being almost beat-for-beat in terms of progression. I think this key hunt style works great, and my teammate had ment

      Despite the name this map is a Shadow Warrior themed map, no Black Hawks around, bird or helicopter. It's got both key hunt elements just like games in the old days and its got plenty of combat as well.  SCMapDB page Author: Lt.JC Date of release: 2006 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Hawk (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 16, 2023 | 7587 characters      I haven't played much Shadow Warrior and as a result I suck at it. This map is a lot like its source material, at least according to my teammate who saw the inspiration right away, it has challenging combat in some areas and a lot of annoying key hunt elements. There are three maps in total, the first and second are walkthrough maps that pick up right after the other and are built very similar to levels in Shadow Warrior. Then there was the bonus map that was a brutal platforming co-op journey.      We spawn in a street, for various reasons my teammate and I went afk for a bit and I ca

      It's a fairly standard kill box map. There are a bunch of monsters in a pit, safely away from players, and players get to pour death down the hole at their leisure. SCMapDB page Author: Robootto Date of release: 2003 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Splatter (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 11, 2023 | 2038 characters      Splatter is a gimmick map for Sven Co-op. Some hatches in the floor allow easy access for players to drop explosives and other armaments down upon infinitely respawning aliens. That'll teach them to be aliens!      Players are supplied with rockets, satchel charges, grenades, a gauss rifle (necessary for catapulting one's self up into an upper area), under barrel grenades, and some other weapons. What matters is the explosives you can drop on the enemies. This is surprisingly fun, and the small area through which you can shoot at the enemies can make for some fun games of trying to get your explosive in the hole from

      It's a fairly standard kill box map. There are a bunch of monsters in a pit, safely away from players, and players get to pour death down the hole at their leisure. SCMapDB page Author: Robootto Date of release: 2003 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Splatter (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 11, 2023 | 2032 characters      Spawn in a safe room filled with weapons and take a peek through some holes in the floor to a pit filled with monsters. Drop a satchel charge in, launch a rocket, perhaps lob an underbarrel grenade. The monsters respawn near instantly.      That's about it for interactivity. There are some interesting things to look at, some checkerboard missing textures, a stack of unbreakable boxes, and a weird booth behind some chain link with a bunch of satchel charges in front of it. The map description says that's an admin room, and it certainly had a bunch of buttons that did some stuff. But there is no discernable way in or out,

      Some mysterious stuff is going down on Earth so the players pop through a dimensional portal to what I assume to be Black Mesa to catch the G-man. Fight through the facility as soldiers and aliens fight each other and watch out for ambushes. SCMapDB page Author:eMTeG Date of release: 2002 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Between the Lines (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | February 4, 2023 | 3454 characters      Between the Lines is an action walkthrough map for Sven Co-op.      The name of the game is move from hallway to mini arena to hallway to mini arena over and over again until you stumble upon the abrupt ending. All the way through, you battle dense placements of HECU and Xen military locked in combat. Namely, battle HECU grunts and vortigaunts, headcrabs, alien grunts, alien controllers, barnacles, and baby gargantuas. Enemies spawn so many at once it creates frantic fighting. You can tell the enemies are spawned the moment you approach them, as

      Some mysterious stuff is going down on Earth so the players pop through a dimensional portal to what I assume to be Black Mesa to catch the G-man. Fight through the facility as soldiers and aliens fight each other and watch out for ambushes. SCMapDB page Author:eMTeG Date of release: 2002 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Between the Lines (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | February 4, 2023 | 3156 characters      As far as maps go I would say this one is very average. We have the standard Black Mesa texturing, even if the story is trying not to be standard Half-Life fare. Players start off with the basic pistol, medkit, crowbar loadout in a spawn room with weapons locked behind glass. Going through a teleport throws players into the level proper.      I wasn't happy to start a level off with seeing all these weapons locked off and then getting thrown into combat with nothing more than the standard weapons. However, I quickly found an mp5 and my teammate r