Xagobah: Mazarian Assault

Description
Xagobah: Mazarian Assault is - despite its availability only in a beta version - a huge step up for author "superm9" on a number of levels from his previous maps. Based, according to the readme, on a Star Wars novel, this map takes us to the vaguely-similar-to-Felucia-with-a-hint-of-Yavin "Xagobah." (Which of course is eerily reminiscent of "Dagobah" and makes me wonder how two distinct planets got such similar names despite being very geographically separate.)

Anyway. For a beta map, Xagobah is fairly solid. The only prop-related bugginess I noted was the lack (or extreme darkness) of low-rez textures for the Yavin models. There were also missing sounds for the flyers, and the award weapons glitch was present on at least one unit (the basic battledroid) and will cause a freeze in your game. That particular glitch is really quite bothersome.

The map design, though, is pretty nice. While it is still a battlefield that might be a little large, it has a nice setup and doesn't feel too derivative of other SWBF2 planets. It has a nice rolling terrain and props and foliage are used well (maybe a little extensively, but that's more personal preference) to create the feeling of a jungle-plain.

The props used towards the CIS end of the battlefield could definitely be improved upon, though. The textures of the first wall don't really match up with the retextured Yavin pyramids/temples (which are themselves textured in an ugly flat dark grey). Some solid texture work could go a long way towards making those seem a little more cohesive. That side of the battlefield could also be tightened up a bit, right now it is very wide open.

The sides are redone versions of the stock sides, which are done fairly well (aside from, of course, the award weapons glitch). The only real exceptions I'd take would be the "blade" for the Clone Assassin's sword - as a semitransparent texture it looks silly - and the texture for Wat Tambor (which just doesn't look very good). To get a good-looking Tambor, you really need a new model (or at least some addon geometry). Also, some of the vehicles (dwarf spider and UT-AT) use different laser textures than everything else and it really seems out-of-place.

Anyway, it's a decent beta map, and worth your time checking out if it sounds interesting or if the screenshots entice you.

-Mav