Sven Co-op Map Reviews

Surface Run is a map where players must run to the surface. It's a conversion from a standalone mod that takes place in Black Mesa. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: noSICK Conversion authors: Outerbeast Date of original mod release: 2011 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Surface Run (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 16, 2022 | 3530 characters Surface Run is a Half-Life mod with some really novel ideas. I didn't play it but from what I can tell it has a lot of differences from its original version and this conversion, which I understand takes many liberties with the stories, monsters, and items. So, as such, I'm going to review it as its own thing. Surface Run is a Sven Co-op mod with some really novel ideas. It takes the player into an underground facility run by a malicious science organization trying to make more resonance cascades. Well- OH NO- they did it, and now there's a big chunk of

Surface Run - GrandmasterJ

Surface Run is a map where players must run to the surface. It's a conversion from a standalone mod that takes place in Black Mesa. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: noSICK Conversion authors: Outerbeast Date of original mod release: 2011 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Surface Run (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 16, 2022 | 3918 characters The objective of the map is simple, run to the surface. Players spawn at the elevator to the surface and are told their first objective is to find a medkit. If players use the elevator they get a message saying it needs a keycard. This first part has players wandering around with no weapons. The map is fairly linear until player get to a grate that breaks underneath their feet plunging them down into a portal to Xen. This is where the map starts having some issues. My teammate died during this fall to Xen and I don't know how. There are a few teleporters in this

Access Point - Dunkelschwamm

Access Point is a standalone mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. The whole goal of the map is to escape from Black Mesa. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Dr. Orange Conversion authors: Mikk Date of original mod release: 2018 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Access Point (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 16, 2022 | 4920 characters Access Point is a singleplayer mod that I have never played by (the, I'm presuming, mysterious) Dr Orange. Access Point for Sven Co-op is a port of that singleplayer mod by mikk. And boy, what a port it is. Access Point is a fast-paced singleplayer map which acts as a vertical slice of all of the action in the first half-dozen-or-so chapters of Half-Life. There are headcrabs, houndeyes, barnacles, vortigaunts, and grunts battled through fast and satisfying mini-battles throughout the exploration of the locale. Said locale is one of those Black Mesa industrial areas, fit with

Access Point - GrandmasterJ

Access Point is a standalone mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. The whole goal of the map is to escape from Black Mesa. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Dr. Orange Conversion authors: Mikk Date of original mod release: 2018 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Access Point (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 16, 2022 | 3376 characters This map I another port of a stand alone Half-Life mod. Unlike most other ports of mods this one is very short. At the beginning of the map it gives players a vote on a hard or medium difficulty. It's so short that my teammate and I played the map twice, on both difficulties. The first problem with the map is that since it's a port of a singleplayer mod there is a shortage of ammo. There are only two underbarrel grenades for the M16 in the whole level and not much M16 ammo either. Shotgun and magnum rounds were plentiful, but seemed stretched thin across two people and didn

C.A.G.E.D. - Dunkelschwamm

Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D., or just Caged as I will refer to the map from here on, is a standalone Half-Life mod converted to Sven Co-op. It's a prison break themed mod with quite a few maps. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Cayle George Conversion authors: ak47toh Date of original mod release: 2017 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: lots Map review of C.A.G.E.D. (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 15, 2022 | 4840 characters C-A-G-E-D, or "Caged" for short, is a Half-Life mod experience that's quite fantastic. The single-player mod is available on Steam and, to be frank and up-front, this is a mod designed to be experienced as a singeplayer mod. My review of C-A-G-E-D is: It's a very beautiful mod with some fast-paced action, satisfying combat, tense platforming, and a general feeling that you are attempting to escape from a high-level prison complex. The thematic music, end-game setting, and final visua

C.A.G.E.D. - GrandmasterJ

Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D., or just Caged as I will refer to the map from here on, is a standalone Half-Life mod converted to Sven Co-op. It's a prison break themed mod with quite a few maps. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Cayle George Conversion authors: ak47toh Date of original mod release: 2017 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: lots Map review of C.A.G.E.D. (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 15, 2022 | 3459 characters Sometimes when a singleplayer Half-Life mod gets ported to Sven Co-op it doesn't really hold up, like Half-Quake. The second map, where actual gameplay starts, has it pretty rough, but overall I think this is one of the better ports and one of the better Sven Co-op maps out there. It definitely can be completed solo, a lot of the time whoever entered a room first would kill everybody inside before the other could do much to help. With any more than two players the combat becomes pretty trivial. The map s

Geothermal - Dunkelschwamm

Geothermal is a short mod converted to run in Sven Co-op. The goal is to remove a power core from a geothermal plant, I don't know what kind of geothermal power generator requires a core but here we are. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: ChickenFist Conversion authors: Outerbeast Date of original mod release: 2016 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Geothermal (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 8, 2022 | 3949 characters Geothermal is a walkthrough map which takes players through an underground complex. Aliens attack, "Burned" Grunts are uncovered deep within, and the G-Man is up to no good. What could it all mean? Most of this map is fairly straight forward: move through obstacles and enemies until you find a switch, then backtrack until you see where a new location opened up. Sometimes this involves climbing ladders, sometimes this involves perilous platforming, most of the times it involves shoo

Geothermal - GrandmasterJ

Geothermal is a short mod converted to run in Sven Co-op. The goal is to remove a power core from a geothermal plant, I don't know what kind of geothermal power generator requires a core but here we are. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: ChickenFist Conversion authors: Outerbeast Date of original mod release: 2016 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Geothermal (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 8, 2022 | 3832 characters This is a fun little map where your objective is to remove a power core from a geothermal power plant. I don't understand what possible core a geothermal power plant can have, are we stealing the soul of a volcano here? The basic gameplay of this map is exploring a mostly empty underground laboratory setting looking for the next objective. It's a scavenger hunt for buttons to open doors or turn off obstacles. Players start with only a medkit and eventually find a crowbar, pistol, magnu

A Soldier's Tale - Dunkelschwamm

A Soldier's Tale is a standalone mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. While the map set is pretty solid it does take place in Black Mesa, which is a setting that has been done to death and back. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Matt Arnold Conversion authors: Mikk for mapping and Outerbeast for scripting Date of original mod release: 2000 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 7 Map review of A Soldier's Tale (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | January 1, 2022 | 4743 characters A Soldier's Tale is an incredibly well made walkthrough map which captures much of the same fun energy that Opposing Forces had, capitalizing on the interplay of several factions fighting at once in a way that very few Sven maps have the balls to. HECU, Black Mesa personnel, Black Ops assassins, Xen military, and Race X military all duke it out in massive battles from one arena to the next. Beyond the Opposing Force style gameplay, however, there is al

A Soldier's Tale - GrandmasterJ

A Soldier's Tale is a standalone mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. While the map set is pretty solid it does take place in Black Mesa, which is a setting that has been done to death and back. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Matt Arnold Conversion authors: Mikk for mapping and Outerbeast for scripting Date of original mod release: 2000 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: 7 Map review of A Soldier's Tale (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | January 1, 2022 | 2423 characters A soldier's Tale is a fairly well done map set. I will admit I am pretty tired of seeing Sven maps take place in Black Mesa but this one was well done and convincing. Although I do feel the need to point out a room in one of the maps accessible only by a vent, that is some strange architecture. The story follows a squad of HECU grunts being sent into Black Mesa and meeting both the Xen aliens and whatever is with the aliens from Opposing Forces. There ar

Deth - Dunkelschwamm

Deth is a very early Half-Life mod made in 1999. The map description states this is the author's first map and it shows. It's also got a highly topical picture of Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: DETH Conversion authors: w00tguy123 Date of original mod release: 1999 Date of final Sven Map release: 2019 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Deth (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | December 30, 2021 | 1860 characters Deth is a very early map for Sven and apparently the first by its author. I wouldn't go as far as to say that it isn't obvious from the result that this map is by a beginner, but I will say that for a beginner's map it's not terrible. Worth playing, though? Well, let's hash that out. The map begins with a series of rooms which are oddly proportioned and lightly sprinkled with some push-over enemies. Poor brushwork and misaligned textures barely convey a real world environment. It'

Deth - GrandmasterJ

Deth is a very early Half-Life mod made in 1999. The map description states this is the author's first map and it shows. It's also got a highly topical picture of Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: DETH Conversion authors: w00tguy123 Date of original mod release: 1999 Date of final Sven Map release: 2019 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Deth (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | December 31, 2021 | 2090 characters This map is one of the first non-official release maps on scmapdb. I never expect much from old maps because the whole scene was still new, this one was a decent enough attempt at a first map. The map doesn't look great first of all. The spawn room has some enemies in there so players spawn in having to deal with that. Plus the textures used for was not scaled in a way that looks good. The carpet was a texture with a big logo on it that tiled in a patter that didn't really look good or even centere

USS Darkstar - Dunkelschwamm

USS Darkstar is not a Star Trek themed map, let me get that out of the way now. It is an original setting with a massive space ship filled with a bunch of biological specimens that closely resembles a zoo. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Neil Manke Conversion authors: Lymphoid first and later Lossy Date of original mod release: 1999 Date of final Sven Map release: 2017 Maps in package: 18 Map review of USS Darkstar (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | December 29, 2021 | 4044 characters USS Darkstar is a classic Half-Life mod made by Neil Manke and Black Widow Games, famous for the They Hunger horror conversion. Instead of pulpy horror cliches, USS Darkstar harps on sci-fi tropes, while forging a very unique identity of its own. At times it reminds me a bit of System Shock, at other times it reminds me a bit of Star Trek: TNG. This conversion to Sven Co-op is brilliantly executed. Balancing is in proper check, everything works correctly (aside from occ

USS Darkstar - GrandmasterJ

USS Darkstar is not a Star Trek themed map, let me get that out of the way now. It is an original setting with a massive space ship filled with a bunch of biological specimens that closely resembles a zoo. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Neil Manke Conversion authors: Lymphoid first and later Lossy Date of original mod release: 1999 Date of final Sven Map release: 2017 Maps in package: 18 Map review of USS Darkstar (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | December 29, 2021 | 3259 characters This map is one of the oldest maps on scmapdb that are not official releases. It's actually a conversion of a single player mod from way back when that I never played. It's got a lot of maps in the campaign but the first section is a lot of nice scenery, practically showing off the areas you will be fighting in later. I don't think you even see enemies or weapons until map 5 (out of around 16). The last map itself is just a cutscene and credits. I loved the en

Half-Quake Amen Coop - Dunkelschwamm

February 22, 2022

Half-Quake Amen is a rather famous mod with a focus on save scumming and nasty traps. I haven't played the standalone mod but from what I hear it's really focused on messing with the player. Now it is available for Sven Co-op at the expense of some of its features. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Muddasheep Conversion authors: Royal-soldier Date of original mod release: 2002 Date of final Sven Map release: 2009 Maps in package: 26 Map review of Half-Quake Amen Coop (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | December 1, 2021 | 3027 characters Half-Quake Amen is one of my personal favorite Half-Life mods. It's funny, tricky, and does a lot of weird gonzo shit that pokes fun at the concepts of "intuitive gameplay" and "rule of fun" which were all the craze when Half-Life had come out. Often the player is comedically punished for relying on intuition, and the mod reminds you from beginning to end that this is Half-Quake and you are her

Half-Quake Amen Coop - GrandmasterJ

February 22, 2022

Half-Quake Amen is a rather famous mod with a focus on save scumming and nasty traps. I haven't played the standalone mod but from what I hear it's really focused on messing with the player. Now it is available for Sven Co-op at the expense of some of its features. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Muddasheep Conversion authors: Royal-soldier Date of original mod release: 2002 Date of final Sven Map release: 2009 Maps in package: 26 Map review of Half-Quake Amen Coop (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | December 1, 2021 | 3283 characters I remember when the original Half Quake came out and my friend absolutely raved about it. He kept trying to get me to play and but I wasn't all that into the modding scene at that point. So when we got back into Sven and saw that Half Quake was converted we finally got to playing it. I had fun. I love the concept of the creators themselves having a conversation with the player, not in a self-insert cringy kind

Afraid of Monsters: Director's Cut - Dunkelschwamm

Afraid of Monsters is a well known Half-Life mod. This conversion to Sven Co-op is near flawless and brings the original mod to life in all it's glory. It's been lovingly ported and updated throughout the years to keep it running stable and smoothly. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Andreas "ruMpel" Rönnberg and James "Minuit" Marchant Conversion authors: Zorbos, R4to0, JonnyBoy0719, and Sence Date of original mod release: 2005, Director's Cut on 2007 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: lots Map review of Afraid Of Monsters / Afraid Of Monsters: Director's Cut Co-op (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | November 29, 2021 | 4044 characters Afraid of Monsters is one of the greatest Half-Life mods of all time in terms of consistency, design, trickery, impact, and meme-ability; an icon of modding. The Sven Coop port of Afraid of Monsters: Director's Cut is one of the greatest ports of a mod to Sven Coop.

Afraid of Monsters: Director's Cut - GrandmasterJ

Afraid of Monsters is a well known Half-Life mod. This conversion to Sven Co-op is near flawless and brings the original mod to life in all it's glory. It's been lovingly ported and updated throughout the years to keep it running stable and smoothly. SCMapDB page Original mod authors: Andreas "ruMpel" Rönnberg and James "Minuit" Marchant Conversion authors: Zorbos, R4to0, JonnyBoy0719, and Sence Date of original mod release: 2005, Director's Cut on 2007 Date of final Sven Map release: 2021 Maps in package: lots Map review of Afraid Of Monsters / Afraid Of Monsters: Director's Cut Co-op (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | November 27, 2021 | 1955 characters This is probably the best Sven co-op map series I've played to date. I never played the original mod so I can't comment on how faithful it is to the original, but its amazing. The hub level is really nice, the fact that there are multiple versions of maps for difficu

101 Grunts - Dunkelschwamm

101 Grunts is a very early and simple map with long hallways full of human grunts. You fight a total of 101 enemies, hence the name. Due to the numerical nature of the name of this map series it is the first map that appears on an alphabetical listing of all maps on the map database. SCMapDB page Original mod author: Jonathon L. Gower Conversion author: CubicVirtuoso Date of original mod release: 1999 Date of final Sven Map release: 2008 Maps in package: 3 Map review of 101 Grunts (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | November 27, 2021 | 1195 characters 101 Grunts is a fairly simple, straight-forward map about fighting 101 grunts (and some turrets). The set suffers from a lack of ammo early on, though playing with large groups may mitigate this. Beyond this, the set delivers on a linear succession of corridors and rooms full of grunts to engage in deadly combat. By the end I found my bloodlust satiated, but fail to remember many memorable moments upon reflection.

101 Grunts - GrandmasterJ