|
Review:
Harvester is, without doubt, one of the most popular maps ever conceived for Tribes 2. It is one of the few client side maps to see regular play across multiple, active servers. Included with the X-pack and promoted for use in the base++ mod, this map has seen a greater than average share of exciting matches, praise and recognition.
And it’s no wonder this map was chosen to be a flagship title for the popular mod. Harvester is filled to the brim with mapping goodness, and if that statement’s not clear enough, let me break it down for you:
Nefilim went all-out making this map. It was one of his first to feature a fully unique environment - complete with custom bases, terrain, terrain textures, and sky. Each effort is a clean representation of what this engine is capable of when you take some time and actualize a map vision. The bases are large and spacious, with simple layouts, a comfortable framerate, yet are also detailed enough (in terms of textures, structural design and lighting) to inspire new mappers to try Worldcraft, as well as give players something nice to look at. The custom textures - those on the terrain and those forming the skybox are beautiful and work together perfectly to create a very dreamlike, pleasant ambiance for this map - one altogether unique for Tribes 2.
And while I could go on about the painstaking efforts Nefilim obviously took to make this map a visual delight, it’s more important to consider the gameplay: there’s a reason this map was chosen for the X-Pack. Simply put, it plays like a dream.
The map is small, with the bases located on the sides of hills. In between them is a short, rolling terrain - perfect for skiing, with tons of routes for cappers and HO. Flags are exposed and elevated at the bottom of large depressions in the terrain, and although easy to grab, can prove somewhat more challenging to cap. An experienced capper will have little difficulty (especially if working with an intelligent team) swiping and capping the flag, but less experienced individuals may find the very nature of the pit the flag is located in to be their undoing. Rest assured though, if used properly, the routes give you enough speed to grab the flag and blast out of turret and missile range in a matter of seconds.
Harvester also boasts a full array of vehicles, all of which can be bought in the vehicle bay at the back of the base. The location and defense around the vehicle pad makes it a rather safe haven, though not impervious if the enemy has destroyed the gens. Though there are subtle paths for ground vehicles, most players will discover early on that the terrain is smooth enough to facilitate direct transport over its center by even the cumbersome MPB. There are also several key areas where the MPB proves particularly effective in this map. Discover them at your leisure.
And while vehicles are not necessary to enjoy this map (it’s fast and furious on the ground), they offer a fun alternative to the player, and frankly, some of the shrike battles I’ve had on this map were astounding.
This map quite easily deserves all the attention it has received, as I’m sure most of you already are aware. If you haven’t played it yet, please do yourself the courtesy of downloading it. It plays great in both base and base++ (the latter being a faster and more upbeat version of the first), and is well worth the time it takes to download and the space it occupies on your harddrive. Enjoy!
To see the rest of the map details, including the map author's
description of the map, and user-submitted comments, go to the
map detail page.
To see all reviews from v5planet, go to v5planet's bio page.
|
