Chrono Trigger - Brink of Time Duel

Description
This small duel map is based on the [url=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger_time_periods#End_of_Time\"]End of Time from Chrono Trigger[/url] (which, by the way, is an awesome game for SNES or PS1 -- go get it!). In a lot of way it is [i]very[/i] accurate to the original, and it makes the jump from SNES flat area to 3D playable location without losing anything and without looking like some 8-bit nightmare, which is admirable.

I\'m going to break this into pros and cons. Let\'s start with the pros, since I like pros. The feel of this map is what it should be. It feels like Chrono Trigger, and the boxy feel of the map won\'t fool you (after all, it was an SNES game). The detail in the fence surrounding the platforms is wonderful and quite commendable for being brushwork. Not everyone would have gone to the effort to attempt to do it properly when one could have gotten away with much less. The effort, however, is refreshing. The accuracy is quite good, including the two somewhat random planters in the piazza as well as Spekkio\'s little room off to the side (which you will be teleported to upon walking through the doorway). This is simply a great replica.

Cons. Well, not so much cons as \"room for improvement\". My first disappointment was the nine time portals on the left side of the area are mysteriously missing. I think these would look really cool, even if they don\'t lead anywhere. However from the author\'s read-me I\'m gathering these are already planned, so I won\'t say much more about those. Secondly the lighting is a little strange. Don\'t get me wrong, I understand there were no sources in Chrono Trigger. However I also know that the light was more uniform. I could buy a \'mysterious light source in the end of time\' just fine. What I don\'t buy is a \'big blob of light\'. The light really needs to be more subtle in order to really fit in if no sources are going to be included (which, for once, I don\'t think should be, as it would be out of character for the map). The last thing is the Lavos book. I always thought I remembered it simply being a bucket... Wasn\'t it?

In any case, I really love how well this map turned out. It could be improved, but what can\'t? In the end, though, it\'s a great replica of a classic location from a classic game which doesn\'t fall short, but doesn\'t try to be more than it should. A wonderful job, and I\'m looking forward to seeing the next version in its expanded form.

[b]Bot Support[/b]: Yes
[b]New Models[/b]: No
[b]New Textures[/b]: Yes
[b]New Music[/b]: Yes

~Inyri

[b]Note[/b]: The last screenshot is a shot of the original area from the SNES game, for reference purposes.