Tribes2Maps.com - Review of "Sky Arena" by Sfphinx

Review:
Sky Arena is one of those maps you are not quite sure about. When you look at the screenshots it appears that the map is kind of small (at least it did for me). However when you actually are in game on the map it is much larger. I have two words for you, Oversized Bases.

First a little bit of a description for you. Take the flag stand base from Quagmire a scale it twenty times normal size, then do it again. But both openings of the interiors together and wham! Sky Arena is born. Well there is a little bit more to it then that.

There are three bases per team. The base on top of the oversized interior is the top of the main base from Silent Storm (Siege) which houses the flag. There is also a turret 10 meters from the door to the flag and a large sensor on top of the base. Down inside the oversized interior is the rest of the main base from Silent Storm (Siege), this holds the base generator and inventory stations. Down inside the interior there are red forcefields protruding from the sidewall, my guess is that they are used to stand on? There are also two turrets inside the oversized interior that are on top of forcefield blocks. Up top before you get to the base which houses the flag there is another interior, used as the capturing teams start base in King\'s Run (Siege). Inside you will find a couple of inventory stations. This entire get-up is floating about 100 meters off the ground. Oh yeah, both teams spawn below the floating bases.

The balance on this map is almost perfect. Both teams have the same base, the same layout, and the same equipment. The only real problem is, is that where players spawn. Each team players spawn below the floating bases at almost the same distance away, but I have found that it is a little off.

Item placement on this map is not the best I have seen. One common theme that I have seen with many mappers is they tend to create the defense of the flag for the teams and not let the teams build the defense in game. In this case Mccannon04 put a plasma turret 10 meters from the only entrance to the flag, which makes flag capture very difficult while either team keeps this repaired. There is about eight inventory stations per team, set up the exact same.

The playability of the map is decent with the exception that you spawn below the base every time you die, at least I did every time I control-k\'d. The bases are in the air and are aligned equally so it is a straight shot to the other base, no hills or water to get in the way.

The mechanics of the map leave a lot to be desired. Basically all there is to this map is a few interiors mirror and stuck together in mid air. No fog, No sound, and No water. There are a few trees, and they are sticking out of the main structure.

Besides the playability of a map, the Attention to Detail has become a major deciding factor in if a map is good or not. Attention to Detail isn\'t just about are the bases and terrain lined up correctly or image leaking (like if you overlap interiors or walls) it is much more then that. Attention to Detail also includes matching the sky to the terrain, bases to the terrain, adding fog, adding rain or snow, and adding brush to the terrain. Unfortunately on this map, only a couple of the areas were done. The interiors and inventory stations were aligned properly, as well as the forcefields, generators, and turrets. However, there is no mood set. It is just some structures and two flags. This is why the rating is so low.

If you are one to like floating bases and simplicity and no extra effects or no mood being set this map is for you. If you are looking for a map that has had the mood set with the fog, sound, and other map effects then you will want to look elsewhere. Don\'t get me wrong simplicity isn\'t bad, it just has to be done correctly and this map handle simplicity moderately well, but not good enough for my tastes.

-Sfphinx

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.