Sven Co-op Map Reviews

       We have another Carnival map, but I don't think this one is a sequel as the author is unknown. It has some fun rides that work well when they aren't killing players. Beware spawning in the ceiling. SCMapDB page Author: Unknown Date of release: 2002 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Carnival 2 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 26, 2023 | 2948 characters      Carnival 2 is a map apparently by an unknown author. I guess that means it's not an official, canonical sequel to Carnival by Kune. This map works a bit as a spiritual successor, in that it follows a similar premise. However, this time around the map functions purely as a hangout map and not as a walkthrough action map.      The rides are front-and-center on this map. Though there is a barely functional skee ball game in a cellar beneath a desert butte, just about everything else in this map that cries "carnival" is crying it through jankily constructed carnie rides. Much like real ca

      We have another Carnival map, but I don't think this one is a sequel as the author is unknown. It has some fun rides that work well when they aren't killing players. Beware spawning in the ceiling. SCMapDB page Author: Unknown Date of release: 2002 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Carnival 2 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 26, 2023 | 2338 characters      This is a fun little map with some carnival rides scattered around. We have a roller coaster thing, one of those centrifugal force spinners, skee-ball, a big arm thing, a dunk tank, and a ferris wheel.      I spawned inside a ceiling. For those of you who don't know, pressing 'L' will unstick the player. This is vital to respawning because of the spawn point above the skee-ball. There is another spawn point on top of a rock wall, the spawn points are very strange in this map.      But after I pressed L and unstuck myself I found all the rides were really fun. They all work and my teammate

       It's all fun and games here, except for a short walkthrough section at the end. But besides that there are three different games to play and they all give prizes! Be careful pressing that yellow button though. SCMapDB page Author: Kune Date of release: 1999 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Carnival (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | June 22, 2023 | 3065 characters      Carnival is an action carnival game map. Players play carnival games which revolve around using weapons, fight aliens by using weapons, roam around in an underground playground, take an underground tram ride, and fight more aliens.      Okay, so let's break things down. Things start with three main games: throw a grenade at a perfect arc through three panes of glass to a target (the most challenging as the grenade bouncing back is most likely to harm the players); throw satchel charges into chutes to explode tiny triggers within; and use mounted sniper rifles (with terrible accuracy, wtf?) t

      It's all fun and games here, except for a short walkthrough section at the end. But besides that there are three different games to play and they all give prizes! Be careful pressing that yellow button though. SCMapDB page Author: Kune Date of release: 1999 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Carnival (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | June 22, 2023 | 3290 characters      This map is a nice collection of carnival games. There is a shooting gallery with two mounted guns and a collection of red things to shoot. Each red thing destroyed spawns a goody on the ground off to the side of the booth. There is also an invisible wall to prevent players from shooting at the red things. Then we have a game where we drop satchels down some tubes that also unlock some goodies, a dunk tank that we do not seem to be able to interact with, and a booth with three slightly offset holes we have to throw a grenade through. Right in the middle of the area is an egon gun with lots of ammo

    Let's buy some boxes over at the box store! The buying process actually works, players have to earn score and use that to buy boxes. Stealing is not allowed. SCMapDB page Author: w00tguy123 Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Box Store (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 29, 2023 | 2853 characters      Box Store is exactly what it says on the tin: a store where you buy boxes. It's like a clicker, but in Sven Co-op. There's an invincible "hostile" scientist outside named "shoot me for money" or something which you do to increase your score, which you then exchange for boxes in the box store.      The real charm of the map comes from the interactions with the store. The boxes themselves are mostly very Half-Life-cute, tiny versions of the boxes from Half-Life. There's some which are different funny cubes, like a clock cube, or a glass cube, or a meat cube. They have cute names, and are mostly fairl

      Let's buy some boxes over at the box store! The buying process actually works, players have to earn score and use that to buy boxes. Stealing is not allowed. SCMapDB page Author: w00tguy123 Date of release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Box Store (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 29, 2023 | 2612 characters      The Box Store featured in this map works just like a store, with boxes for sale and a whole system to buy them. We bought them all and the map ended. It's great.      So it starts off with my teammate and I standing in front of the store with an invincible hostile scientist named "shoot me for more money". You don't have to tell me twice. The store sits on a square of land floating in the void. Strange nonsensical signs are plastered over the front of the store. My teammate informs me the music we hear is from Sonic 3, it's pretty good music.      After boosting our scores from emptying our SAWs into the scien

      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

      The whole map is a skatepark, with one half indoors in what one would call a big room, and the other half is outdoors. There is a drivable skateboard but it is on a track and does not go outside. SCMapDB page Author: Unknown Date of release: 2001 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Big Room Guy 3 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | February 11, 2023 | 2477 characters      Big Room Guy 3 is a hangout map for Sven Co-op featuring two skateparks and one skateboard between them- and NO they may not share. Skate around inside of an indoor skatepark, becoming the envy of your friends and enemies alike. Walk around in an outdoor skatepark, wistfully wishing you either could bring the skateboard outside or at least open any of the doors out here.      The indoor skatepark includes the basic accoutrement one may expect: rails, quarterpipes ramps, the works. There's also a bar with taps which make funny sounds. This interior looks pretty nice, is conveyed simply,

      The whole map is a skatepark, with one half indoors in what one would call a big room, and the other half is outdoors. There is a drivable skateboard but it is on a track and does not go outside. SCMapDB page Author: Unknown Date of release: 2001 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Big Room Guy 3 (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | February 11, 2023 | 1750 characters      This map is a pretty cool skate park. There are two areas, an indoor park complete with bar area and rideable skateboard, and an outdoor park with no interactive things but it does have enticing doors that to not go anywhere.      The rideable skateboard is pretty cool, it's stuck to a track and rides around the level, going up and down ramps. It will absolute splatter anybody who gets in the way. The rest of the map is just half-pipes, rails, and other constructions that aren't really fun to interact with in the goldsrc engine. That skateboard is really the best thing in the map and t

       Are you ready to barbecue with the bear? There is a story about a zoo being closed due to Covid but the gameplay is all about shopping in the supermarket down the road. The map is very British and has a lot of jokes and references about being British. SCMapDB page Author: Captain Scarlet Date of final release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of BBQWITTEHBEAR (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | October 6, 2022 | 4427 characters BBQ Wit Teh Bear is a creative comedy shopping simulator map for Sven Co-op. There's a sense of British humor in it that I'm not entirely familiar with, with lots of seemingly local memes and sensibilities. Despite not really connecting with any of that as an American, it's still very charming, creative, full of character, and fun.      The basic conceit is that you're trying to have a barbeque, but need to go shopping for ingredients. Players hop into func_vehicle buses (which work great, btw), arrive at a super market (wh

      Are you ready to barbecue with the bear? There is a story about a zoo being closed due to Covid but the gameplay is all about shopping in the supermarket down the road. The map is very British and has a lot of jokes and references about being British. SCMapDB page Author: Captain Scarlet Date of final release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of BBQWITTEHBEAR (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | October 6, 2022 | 6874 characters      Well that certainly was something. This map contains no combat and instead focuses on running errands at a supermarket. There is a whole story about a zoo and some anime girls that have voice acting and large illustrations that float in mid-air. I don't get any of that, it all feels like a bunch of in jokes from a forum or group of friends. It's still a great experience even if I don't understand everything.      Players start off in a room with three doors. One could almost believe this is a generic and uninspired map from

       Remember the Simpsons episode about tomacco? Well this map is based on the store where Homer went to buy tobacco and tomato seeds in that one episode. SCMapDB page Original map author: Garfield (super163) Conversion authors: Zorik Date of original mod release: 2022 Date of final Sven Map release: 2022 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Sneed's Seed & Feed (originally posted on SCMapDB)  by dunkelschwamm | July 28, 2022 | 2591 characters      Sneed's Seed n' Feed is a map converted to Sven Co-op which meticulously recreates its eponymous farming supply shop from The Simpsons and holds a couple fun easter eggs.      First off, this is easily one of the most meticulously brushed maps I've seen in Goldsrc. There's lots of individually crafted store items, farm props, tiny distant details over the mountains- each with defining characteristics baked into the brush detail, like pill bottles with caps, or a pitchfork with individually brushed tines. Doors have cyli

      Remember the Simpsons episode about tomacco? Well this map is based on the store where Homer went to buy tobacco and tomato seeds in that one episode. SCMapDB page Original map author: Garfield (super163) Conversion authors: Zorik Date of original mod release: 2022 Date of final Sven Map release: 2022 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Sneed's Seed & Feed (originally posted on SCMapDB)  by GrandmasterJ | July 28, 2022 | 3214 characters      Sneed's Feed and Seed (Formerly Chuck's) is a location from the Simpsons, it's a store nearby the old Simpson Farm and pictures of two locals can be found by jumping out of the map and walking around the big noob box.      The map itself doesn't have much to do, but it does have a lot to look at. There is an NPC (not really Barney although the model is based off of him) that kind of wanders around the front and a scientist manning the register. Neither can be killed. The store has a lot of brushwork commodities on the she

       Kani Gyosen is Japanese for "Crab fishing boat" and true to the title, in this map players will fish for crabs. Since this is based on Half-Life the crabs in question are all headcrabs. SCMapDB page Author: takedeppo.50cal Date of final release: 2020 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Kani Gyosen (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 20, 2022 | 3006 characters      Kani Gyosen is another great chill map from takedeppo.50cal. This time the focus of the map is on capturing headcrabs at the bottom of the sea using spears and reeling lines. Over the course of five "days" the ocean becomes increasingly inhospitable, escalating the stakes with bullsquids, sharks, alien controllers, and eventually armed pirates and helicopters. To defend yourself, you are armed with a machinegun of some sort which can fire underwater. Throughout it all, however, never lose sight of catching crabs!      To catch crabs, players can jump from their boat into the water (

      Kani Gyosen is Japanese for "Crab fishing boat" and true to the title, in this map players will fish for crabs. Since this is based on Half-Life the crabs in question are all headcrabs. SCMapDB page Author: takedeppo.50cal Date of final release: 2020 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Kani Gyosen (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 20, 2022 | 3971 characters      The idea behind this map is that players must spear fish for headcrabs and gather them all in a cage. The water is dangerous, sharks and bullsquids lurk around. Players have machineguns that work underwater and even have custom models for real world underwater machineguns. The crowbar replacement, the spear and the barnacle has a custom model and custom scripting as well. Although I don't think the barnacle has custom scripting, as the winch kept eating the headcrabs.      Players spawn on a cute little boat, the deck is dominated by a cage, this is where the headcrabs go. There is a small

       The author of this map has made Sven famous with his or her other map, Pizza ya San. This map is very similar in style, the gameplay is completely changed so that players can take a nice sightseeing tour around Japan travelling by train. SCMapDB page Author: takedeppo.50cal Date of final release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Ressya no tabi - The Train Travel - (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 30, 2022 | 5636 characters      Ressya no tabi - The Train Travel - is a relaxing set of vignettes which make heavy use of custom scripting and some very appealing textures and models to create a vacation train tour. Throughout the adventure the players partake in multiple vacation-like activities, such as visiting a scenic overlook by a shopping district, climbing a castle under renovation, performing community service at a lake, making pottery, and visiting two temples. At each location there is some kind of activity to be performed, and often a run-in wi

      The author of this map has made Sven famous with his or her other map, Pizza ya San. This map is very similar in style, the gameplay is completely changed so that players can take a nice sightseeing tour around Japan travelling by train. SCMapDB page Author: takedeppo.50cal Date of final release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Ressya no tabi - The Train Travel - (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 30, 2022 | 8977 characters      This map is great. The entire premise is that the players are taking a train trip to various locales There is a train station at the start of the map where players board the train, then players are teleported onto the train, already in motion, and get to explore all the cars. The first stop is some market in a downtown area, the second stop is a Japanese castle, then a pond, a pottery studio, a giant buddha statue, and finally a temple, for a total of six stops. Throughout the map players use cell phones to take pictures to rea

       Some maps are made for a liner experience, walk through the map while accomplishing objectives/killing dudes. This map opts for the opposite, it is an open map with no objectives to accomplish and nobody to kill. It's a waterpark! SCMapDB page Author: FuChSS Date of final release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Fun Waterpark (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | November 28, 2021 | 2700 characters      fun-waterpark is a map which has a singular goal which it achieves ruthlessly and efficiently: make a fun waterpark. Waterpark attractions are faithfully recreated in a very simplistic and care-free style which all enhances the summer fun atmosphere.      The real star of the map is the water attractions. To that end, there are tube-slides which propel the player along with surprisingly few hiccups. There is a set of large, blue, parallel slides in one of the corners of the park which seems difficult to ride without taking damage- not an issue, really, since

      Some maps are made for a liner experience, walk through the map while accomplishing objectives/killing dudes. This map opts for the opposite, it is an open map with no objectives to accomplish and nobody to kill. It's a waterpark! SCMapDB page Author: FuChSS Date of final release: 2016 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Fun Waterpark (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | November 28, 2021 | 2616 characters     This map is all right. There isn't really action or a goal in mind, it's a map to explore and hang out in.     My first impression of this map was marred by draw distance problems. I was admiring the nicely done water fountains when I noticed I could see around the front wall and see things man was not meant to see. Then I went inside and as I walked the water slides materialized out of thin air as I came within draw distance. This is a shame because I really do like the water slides. The sense of scale should be impressive but gets a big muddled when y