"Dropped the ball" is putting it mildly regarding the multiplayer maps. I realize this is not the best timing to be holding this contest, but what the hell, folks? I'd rather see a low turnout with several decent maps than half full of slapdash BS field filler (that aren't joke maps).
MATCH
Emerald Hill Zone by Warp - 2/10
<Mr. Mystery> this noob dares forsake the name emerald hill
Ugly as sin and hard on my eyes, whack-ass thing placement, copy+paste rampage in the center, no water colormap and of course the evil pool of SRM spamming terror that everybody just ends up hanging out in. Chaotic but hardly any fun. It barely even feels half finished, so why bother?
(heh, when searching my logs for quotes, I typed this place as EMERALD KILL)
Sloped Domain Zone by ComRante - 7/10
<Kaysakado> no thok barrier
<Kaysakado> hom zone
<D00D64> OUT OF THE FUCKING LEVEL ZONE
Yeah um, fix that, but fun map otherwise. Drop the random boxes (except maybe that one way up on the pillar) and turn one of the two rail panels into something else. Possibly throw in one or two more wall textures for variety, but the map layout is pretty solid (lol).
Aquatic Relic Zone by Spherallic - 7/10
I don't know what people are whining about the size, it doesn't seem that much worse than Tidal Palace. Then again, this place's rooms have a tendancy to be same-y and/or empty feeling. Either the ring boxes should be less hidden or the water colormap needs to be bumped up a bit. One of your more restrained maps, but maybe a little too much so.
Bone Cave by Brawl - 3/10
<Mr. Mystery> no wonder there are so many bones down here, it's because they all ran out of rings
Ok, to those who are getting up in arms stating the bloody obvious about Brawl's terrible maps, I am pretty sure he just submits ones like these for shits & giggles. Although, if you are doing team match or playing in a small group, this one is slightly enjoyable. Undoubtedly poor but playable.
Labyrinth Cavern Zone NOTHING IN HERE ZONE by darkbob1713 - 1/10
Even MORE desolate than Bone Cave and if you have 6+ people running around, good luck finding rings. Well, knocking people off into the abyss and playing the map to tunes 25 is funny. Maybe. God forbid if somebody finds a yellow shield!
Complete Chaos Zone by Blade - 6/10
<Inuyasha> lol special stage damage
<Dusk> LETS ALL GO IN THE WATER SO THE LEVEL ENDS FASTER.
Whee joke map. Cute, but needs lots of people for optimum insanity.
Like THUS.
CTF
Storm Temple Zone by Scizor300 - 2/10
Even the creator of this disaster hates it so not a lot to say (though why it's even in the contest to begin with is the operative question). Laggy, exploitable layout, camping heaven at the bases and 50 million random boxes. Another unplayable one in a large crowd. Shoot, hardly playable with anybody.
also what the fuck is
this aaaaaaaa
Concrete Camping Conflict Zone by ComRante - 3/10
Wherever you are on this tiny map, you're camping. This just does not work. I like a good chaotic map that isn't garbage in the process, but when there are any more than 6 people running around, there is so much uncontrollable mayhem that it takes forever to score a point, much less be able to stop your head from spinning. Fitting music choice at least.
Clockwork Towers Zone by KO.T.E/Spherallic - 7/10
<Kaysakado> who builds a clock tower over a bottomless pit
Lots of fun, just riddled with problems: for starters, it's initially very obtuse to navigate (in a Spherallic map?
no!). The way to the flag room should probably be better marked somehow. I'd remove the rain (it lags this place) and replace it with just thunder. I already mentioned it previously, but the sniper "towers" are ironically useless to snipe with and should be jacked up in height a bit; also consider a couple more windows on the towers to rail through. If no better solution can be found to keep the spinning gears from pinching people to death, stick an invisible barrier around them to keep people from falling in.
REALLY problematic is the flag rooms, which are almost as easy to camp in as Storm Temple. Half the time i'm running to get the point, some jackass (or several) hiding in the giant gear or in the window pops up, shoots me, takes their flag back and runs away with mine. Not even the bridge perch in Nimbus Ruins is as evil as this. It's such that it's never a very good idea to head to the flag room alone; you gotta have somebody to run in first and smoke the roaches out. Fix-fix plz.
Desert Dash Zone by darkbob1713 - 4/10
The layout is ok, but a strong contender for the worst gimmick ever. That sand is so frustrating it is unreal, you so much as touch it and 9 times out 10 you are a sitting duck. It had just about everybody in fits.
Yet, since the sand is so evil and there are two bomb panels in easy reach of each other, this leads me to the only way I ever have fun with this map (note there were at least 6 people playing):
Metal Sonic 2.0 was hit by Mr. Mystery's explosion ring.
Metal Sonic 2.0 was hit by Mr. Mystery's explosion ring.
Metal Sonic 2.0 was hit by Mr. Mystery's explosion ring.
Metal Sonic 2.0 picked up the blue flag!
Metal Sonic 2.0 was hit by Mr. Mystery's explosion ring.
EXPLOD. Railing people from the top of the bases is cute too. Not a horrendous map, just not thought out and more entertaining when abusing it. Also, just what might be wrong with
this picture? (PROTIP: check the top of that base while you're at it.)
Vivacious Valley Zone by RedEchidna - 7/10
So I trust the name was subject to the same toxic stupid treatment as the amazingly fugly wall textures? Actually though, the map's not too bad; like Lime Forest at high speed. Grenade panels in the bases probably aren't a good idea, and trying to escape with the flag underground is uh, chancey because GOT FLAG! will be sticking up through the ground above for all to see. Think about toning down those red springs next to the bases since you can shoot clear across to the other base very quickly with them.
CIRCUIT
Wacky Tesseract Zone by Fawfulfan - 7/10
A slight thokfest in a couple places, but very good up until
<Mr. Mystery> fuck 2D?
This may not seem like a bad idea on paper, but it throws non-chasecam users (yes, in race) for a loop. The area also lasts like 5 seconds and mostly consists of "hold right" so it's obviously a weak link. Either make it less simplistic or replace it entirely. Otherwise, this is good stuff and needless to say destroys that bloody mess of yours from last contest. The "wavy stairs" bit was especially clever. The translucent blue blocks should prolly not kill people from the sides...
Green Hill Zone by WEREHOG - 1/10
Hey look he remembered to put springs in the water! And a (map-breaking) shortcut! And hee hee a spike strip at the finish line to trip people!
Puke.
Jungle Ruins Zone by darkbob1713 - 6/10
Not bad, certainly beats most of the crap this contest, and it's nice on the eyes. Short and straightforward though. The spike pit needs fixed as it's almost impossible to see coming until you step right on it. It's possible to fall into a couple of the cracks and get stuck if using Sonic.
Egg Hall Zone by Blade - 8/10
Another winner here. I get hung up on walls and corners a hell of a lot in this place so possibly make it a little less narrow in places, but it's awesome. Killer ambiance and love the maces.
Arctic Caves Thok Zone by Simsmagic - 2/10
More fun if you be a pro and race the thing backwards. Otherwise, whoohoo translucent walls (but opaque water, go figure).
City Jump by Brawl - 0/10
Oh wow, I can win going the wrong way! Stunning!
I repeat: he surely must enter maps like this to laugh at the voters' expense. Trouble is, this is hardly even definable as a joke map because there is nothing to it
or its' presence in the contest. By definition that makes this a non-entry, so a goose egg it is.
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I won't be voting on the SP maps, but Detonation Drift is pretty epic and seems like the deserving champ this time (awful music choice notwithstanding). Molten Cavern is neat with a slick badnik (Gola remake FTW) but a little bland, Icelandic Tempest is...interesting, and Sparkling Hill is all the reminder I need that anyone who thinks the "music" of Sonic 4 is quality listening needs to soak their head. Repeatedly.