Super Chris
That one map maker.
Well now. It's been a while since we've had an OLDC, and an even longer while since I've let behind one of my votes! With that aside, let's get into the Circuit maps!
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Most favorite: HYDROWING
What we've got here is a neat little level that's a callback to the Sonic Adventure level Sky Deck, which is one of my favorite stages in the game next to Casinopolis. The gameplay here is challenging, as Sonic players are tasked with keeping up the pace while Tails and Knuckles have a slight advantage over them due to their flying and gliding abilities. It's a pretty challenging level.
However, I do have one negative. For starters, there could've been some arrows. As such, when I fall through the fog just after the start, there could be a sign telling me to turn around so I know where to go when I'm under the ship.
Other than that, I found this level fairly enjoyable and definitely worth taking on as each character.
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Second favorite: Greenflower Canyon
I actually like the level since it requires players to keep their speed as they run down very steep hills to catch up the other players. To make things fair, the other four characters get slight speed boosts so they can keep up with Sonic/Metal Sonic. While the gameplay here is interesting, I do have some complaints.
For starters, the slopes are too deep and I can't see where I'm going. This also doesn't help with the fact that there are no signs guiding players through the course. However, there are some spots with Red Springs and a line of Rings telling players where to go, but even that can confuse other players, as the next set of Springs are hard to see. Another negative I found was that the bottomless pits are too deep, which costs players a lot of time to get back into the race. The last flaw I found was a lack of scenery. Despite the level taking place in a Greenflower-like environment, there were no flowers or trees anywhere to look at.
While I did enjoy the speed-based gameplay that Greenflower Canyon had to offer, the emptiness in some parts of the levels are what bring it down.
On that note, when you're on your way back to the start, there's a huge texture leak that temporarily disrupts your screen until you reach the second set of Red Springs at the cliff above the first.
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Least favorite: Haptic Caverns
I'm gonna be as honest as possible. I didn't enjoy the level.
At the start, you're greeted with a repetitive texture that continues until you reach a field of Yellow Springs with Spikeballs hovering over them. At the end, there is no sign telling you to make a right. After making one, you go through a cave of Bumpers, which you can barely see due to the FOF floor height being near ground level. After that, you shoot yourself up with the help of two Red Springs and find yourself in front of some cliffs. Using either the Springs provided, climbing up, or flying over them, you then come across a field of large Spikeballs leading to a cavern where you find a ball and roll your way back to the start while avoiding mines.
The gameplay here is decent, but unfair in some aspects. As such, the cave full of Bumpers after the area with the Yellow Springs is hard to see, even in first-person because of the Bumpers obscuring the path to the end. Second, in the final area leading back to the start, it's possible to get stuck for a few moments on the ground because you'll be bouncing back when you get hit.
Another flaw is the scenery. Most of the areas are flat and lack any scenery. This is especially notable in some long straights, as the textures repeat and there is no variation of elevation or scenery whatsoever. The most notable examples of this are the areas where the players start and on the way back, where they have to bounce their way through a long emerald green cave.
Given the environment, it's supposed to be inspired by Red Volcano Zone, but there are no volcanoes, so it's most likely inspired by the jungle-like sections of the map. Although these are my problems with the map, they can be fixed. As they say: There's room for improvement.
These are my votes.
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Most favorite: HYDROWING
What we've got here is a neat little level that's a callback to the Sonic Adventure level Sky Deck, which is one of my favorite stages in the game next to Casinopolis. The gameplay here is challenging, as Sonic players are tasked with keeping up the pace while Tails and Knuckles have a slight advantage over them due to their flying and gliding abilities. It's a pretty challenging level.
However, I do have one negative. For starters, there could've been some arrows. As such, when I fall through the fog just after the start, there could be a sign telling me to turn around so I know where to go when I'm under the ship.
Other than that, I found this level fairly enjoyable and definitely worth taking on as each character.
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Second favorite: Greenflower Canyon
I actually like the level since it requires players to keep their speed as they run down very steep hills to catch up the other players. To make things fair, the other four characters get slight speed boosts so they can keep up with Sonic/Metal Sonic. While the gameplay here is interesting, I do have some complaints.
For starters, the slopes are too deep and I can't see where I'm going. This also doesn't help with the fact that there are no signs guiding players through the course. However, there are some spots with Red Springs and a line of Rings telling players where to go, but even that can confuse other players, as the next set of Springs are hard to see. Another negative I found was that the bottomless pits are too deep, which costs players a lot of time to get back into the race. The last flaw I found was a lack of scenery. Despite the level taking place in a Greenflower-like environment, there were no flowers or trees anywhere to look at.
While I did enjoy the speed-based gameplay that Greenflower Canyon had to offer, the emptiness in some parts of the levels are what bring it down.
On that note, when you're on your way back to the start, there's a huge texture leak that temporarily disrupts your screen until you reach the second set of Red Springs at the cliff above the first.
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Least favorite: Haptic Caverns
I'm gonna be as honest as possible. I didn't enjoy the level.
At the start, you're greeted with a repetitive texture that continues until you reach a field of Yellow Springs with Spikeballs hovering over them. At the end, there is no sign telling you to make a right. After making one, you go through a cave of Bumpers, which you can barely see due to the FOF floor height being near ground level. After that, you shoot yourself up with the help of two Red Springs and find yourself in front of some cliffs. Using either the Springs provided, climbing up, or flying over them, you then come across a field of large Spikeballs leading to a cavern where you find a ball and roll your way back to the start while avoiding mines.
The gameplay here is decent, but unfair in some aspects. As such, the cave full of Bumpers after the area with the Yellow Springs is hard to see, even in first-person because of the Bumpers obscuring the path to the end. Second, in the final area leading back to the start, it's possible to get stuck for a few moments on the ground because you'll be bouncing back when you get hit.
Another flaw is the scenery. Most of the areas are flat and lack any scenery. This is especially notable in some long straights, as the textures repeat and there is no variation of elevation or scenery whatsoever. The most notable examples of this are the areas where the players start and on the way back, where they have to bounce their way through a long emerald green cave.
Given the environment, it's supposed to be inspired by Red Volcano Zone, but there are no volcanoes, so it's most likely inspired by the jungle-like sections of the map. Although these are my problems with the map, they can be fixed. As they say: There's room for improvement.
These are my votes.