Sven Co-op Map Reviews

      There is not a whole lot of breaking or getting free, this map is an obstacle course with a moving elevator. It's a real fun concept and it is executed fairly well, but Sven Co-op elevators will kill players more than any obstacle in the map. SCMapDB page Author: Beather Date of release: 2004 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Breakfree (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 10, 2023 | 2781 characters      I thought this map was going to have platforming, and I was sort of wrong. The entire map is an elevator, two players are required to start it up and when it does, it plays Sonic music. Then we have to dodge all sorts of wacky obstacles as the elevator goes up.      If you are familiar with the goldsrc engine or a variety of Sven Co-op maps, you may have realized a flaw in this design. At numerous points in the journey my teammate and I would spontaneously explode. We would always assume an obstacle came thro...

      Here is a beautiful map with a really well done intro sequence. According to the map description it is abandoned which is a shame since what has been completed is pretty good and well polished. SCMapDB page Author: Vector-T (now known as I-ka) Date of release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Mesa: Getaway (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 10, 2023 | 6990 characters      Black Mesa Getaway is a seemingly abandoned map by I-ka, or VectorT. To save time off the wall of the text that's about to unravel, I will begin with my summarized thoughts: Black Mesa Getaway, while unfinished, offers a slice of tense, simple, beautiful gameplay that utilizes many decisions which I principally disagree with in ways which I subjectively agree with. If you're uninterested in deeper analysis, I'll see you at the bottom paragraph.      Let's unpack that: first, Black Mesa Getaway is unfinished. Indeed, Blac...

    Here is a beautiful map with a really well done intro sequence. According to the map description it is abandoned which is a shame since what has been completed is pretty good and well polished. SCMapDB page Author: Vector-T (now known as I-ka) Date of release: 2019 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Mesa: Getaway (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 10, 2023 | 5419 characters      When we started this map I was convinced it was a converted Half-Life mod. We start in an incredibly dark room and press a button to begin the map proper, after which we are treated to some very nice cutscenes. We have a great pan down a hallway with a fight between human grunts and alien slaves frozen in time, electrical arcs and bullets frozen in the air. Then I actually decide to read the map description and I find out that this is the author's first ever map.      After the intro (complete with some G-man voice lines!) we start ...

      Use the gauss gun to jump around the level, avoiding obstacles and toxic goo. This map is apparently an unfinished part of another map, but it feels fairly complete and self-contained as it is. SCMapDB page Author: Keen Date of release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Shopping Centre (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 3, 2023 | 3656 characters      Gausslab is a beta of a puzzle map seemingly abandoned by Keen. It features some very functional, and at times very lovely brushwork with some sickly green lighting (to be fair, much of the map is lit by green goo).      The conceit is simple: use a gauss gun to launch around solving platforming puzzles. To that end, it works! There's a lot of platforming bits I enjoy with many platforms above green goo which reward just about any way the player approaches as long as they can pull off any light-precision gauss jump. There were some timing bits that ...

      Use the gauss gun to jump around the level, avoiding obstacles and toxic goo. This map is apparently an unfinished part of another map, but it feels fairly complete and self-contained as it is. SCMapDB page Author: Keen Date of release: 2007 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Shopping Centre (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 3, 2023 | 5838 characters      Gauss jumping is the art of charging up the gauss gun and launching yourself great heights and distances. This map is all about doing that. It's got a lot of platforming featuring gauss jumping, lots of vertical shafts we have to fly up and a couple difficult trick jumps. It should also be noted that this map is an unfinished beta, the message of the day even says the first part of the map was 'misplaced' and that we are left with this. It's a fine map as it is, and it doesn't come off as an unfinished beta.      We start out in a vaguely Black Mesa the...

    Here is a short mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. The banner itself even says the length is about 20 minutes, which I find is accurate. Story and gameplay-wise it is a very standard Black Mesa adventure. SCMapDB page Original mod author: ToTac Conversion author: Outerbeast Date of original map release: 2007 Date of final Sven Map release: 2013 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Mesa Sideline (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 1, 2023 | 2808 characters      Black Mesa Sideline is a port of a mod called Black Mesa Sideline, but for Sven Co-op! I haven't played the original mod so I have no idea what is different.      While the map is Black Mesa in theme, it looks pretty gorgeous throughout. Techjunk lines the industrial halls, ruined fan blades spin forlorn, subtle volume light brushes illuminate pathways, and it all looks really good. It's helped that there's also an abundance of setting in this small...

      Here is a short mod converted to work in Sven Co-op. The banner itself even says the length is about 20 minutes, which I find is accurate. Story and gameplay-wise it is a very standard Black Mesa adventure. SCMapDB page Original mod author: ToTac Conversion author: Outerbeast Date of original map release: 2007 Date of final Sven Map release: 2013 Maps in package: 1 Map review of Black Mesa Sideline (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 1, 2023 | 2580 characters      Here is a short, one map, mod converted to Sven Co-op. It's not a lazy mod, there are no level transitions to the previous maps! The mod is a fairly standard Black Mesa themed map where we are collectively Gordon Freeman and we are skipping our destiny of saving the world and simply escaping.      This map may be standard Black Mesa, but it looks great. There are a ton of details, like bulging walls, crumpled doors, and natural looking rock walls...

      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...

      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 sus...

    The map description states that this map is a test only, and it definitely feels like it. It's fullbright, filled with standard prefabs, and it all looks and feels thrown together. SCMapDB page Author: Tuntis Date of release: 2005 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Black Mesa Defense (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | April 1, 2023 | 1455 characters      Black Mesa Defense is two maps. You start on one, and bafflingly end up on another, and then the experience ends.      The maps are full bright. The first is a collection of prefabs and a haphazard smattering of enemies, with a ladder to a button, then a big yellow brush. The second map has a ladder to the exit after a brief skirmish with a gaggle of grunts. The map equipped us with M16 with grenade launchers, so what was thrown at us was quickly reduced to jelly. I was excited to be equipped with HEV when I saw charges in the second map, but those were lies and di...

    The map description states that this map is a test only, and it definitely feels like it. It's fullbright, filled with standard prefabs, and it all looks and feels thrown together. SCMapDB page Author: Tuntis Date of release: 2005 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Black Mesa Defense (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | April 1, 2023 | 1108 characters      This map is functional. We start out in a huge room, the map is fullbright so I can see everything. It's full of prefabs. Enemies appear in clumps around the map, we start with M16s and grenades so we make short work of them. Then we climb up a tall ladder and the map ends with neither of us quite know which one of us triggered that or if it was timed.      The next map is much like the first map, but shorter. It also had a large brick of HEV charger, totally nonfunctional, how mean.      It's a functional map, it doesn't look good, it was mostly made of...

      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...

      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 sci...

      The map is split into a base and across a chasm is a road where aliens come from. Defend what I assume is the rock from the aliens coming from what I assume is a place that lacks softness. SCMapDB page Author: Elvis Date of release: 2004 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Between a Rock and a Hard Place (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 27, 2023 | 4677 characters      Between a Rock and a Hard Place is two maps for Sven Co-op that, for all I can tell, are identical. There's the normal version and the large version. I can't tell if the normal version is large or if the large version is actually quite normal in size. Either way, we played both and didn't find any difference.      The rub is simple: the players occupy a 2-story base set into the wall of a cave. Said base sits across a chasm from multiple enemy spawn points. That's an almost deceptive description, as enemies spawn plenty from over the br...

      The map is split into a base and across a chasm is a road where aliens come from. Defend what I assume is the rock from the aliens coming from what I assume is a place that lacks softness. SCMapDB page Author: Elvis Date of release: 2004 Maps in package: 2 Map review of Between a Rock and a Hard Place (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 27, 2023 | 4688 characters      Here we have a defense map across a chasm with a bridge. Players have to defend something or other against waves of enemies, both alien and human, and there are some scientists. There are two versions of the map, normal and large, we played both once through, winning on the large one and failing on the normal one.      The first thing that happens is I spawn upstairs and start poking around, my teammate spawns downstairs where the action happens and starts exploring that direction. Two things that I didn't find out despite looking around an...

    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, int...

      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 ...

       How the tables have turned! Play as a captured alien and escape the human holding facility. This short walkthrough map leads players through holding pens to freedom. SCMapDB page Author: John Cable Date of release: 2001 Maps in package:1 Map review of Blastcorpse (originally posted on SCMapDB) by dunkelschwamm | March 25, 2023 | 4584 characters      Blastcorpse is an action walkthrough map for Sven Co-op which takes players through an outdoor skirmish with soldiers.      Players begin in a strange xen-like spawn area, presumedly the "alien preserve" from the description, where they can get uzis which they use to mow down the soldiers just outside. Break out and cross a bridge which is immediately bombed, navigate some ichthyosaurs and a friendly vortigaunt, fight a bunch of teleporting-in soldiers, blow up some equipment to open doors, blow up an apache. Make your escape!      Much of the map revolves aro...

       How the tables have turned! Play as a captured alien and escape the human holding facility. This short walkthrough map leads players through holding pens to freedom. SCMapDB page Author: John Cable Date of release: 2001 Maps in package:1 Map review of Blastcorpse (originally posted on SCMapDB) by GrandmasterJ | March 25, 2023 | 3058 characters      Here we have an inversion of the typical Sven Co-op map, we are the aliens (in story, no custom models, although we do lack flashlights so is that alien?) fighting our way out of a military installation to freedom. We do this by using all human weapons, mostly uzis.      We start off in a cell where our military overlords have handed us a pile of uzis, single uzis so players have to wait 15 seconds to get a second one. There is a ladder to a room full of ammo. Also of note here are these weird blue rectangles on the walls next to the health chargers, those are HEV chargers. ...