Sith Council Final

Description
For those of you expecting an earth shattering sequel to the SithcouncilV2 map, I would advise you strongly to [b]read this review before you outright judge.[/b]

=_o I've followed the Sith Council maps pretty closely over the years, being rather impressed with their strong RP value and general amusement. This version, being the final version, is basically a devil's deal in my book. The main term I'd like to emphasize in this review is [i]trade-off.[/i] Whilst there are good aesthetic changes and pretty decent content revamps, these same things could also be reversed into negatives, which is possible, although uncommon, especially in maps.

To preface, I'll be tackling this review basically in a room-to-room fashion somewhat, in an effort to help emphasize the changes in the content.


[i]Main Lobby/Darth Bar[/i] - The Main room has gotten a rather large overhaul in regards to texture, but in essence, it remains similar to the JedicouncilGC map as it was intended. The doors have been moved and removed as necessary in this revamp. The textures, I must say, aren't a great change. It must attempt a look at being wood, but in the end, they just look like the walls are covered in a very fine fur =_o. These textures plague a large majority of the map, and hurt its visual appeal. The wooden pillars now no longer fit in with the map, alienating themselves from the color scheme. Lighting seems to be much more noticeably unsourced than the last version. I think the only real good changes in my opinion would be the stairs and the use of daises to prelude the exit hall doorway.

Darth Bar looks completely...dare I say repulsive? Nay, but it's definitely taken an aesthetic hit. The red furry looking texture has made the bar seem like some sort of cafe for failing abstract artists who think they're unique. The signs have been removed, and the actual bar itself seems realistically unservicable.

[i]The "Side Rooms"[/i] - Now we shall branch out into the rooms on either side of the main hall. The "lava pit" has been revamped into an indoor cavernous area of sorts. A bland box of stone, with the worst lava texture I've seen out there. This lava texture is used in pretty much every lava area now, and looks so very ugly without a glow shader or what have you.

Moving next door, we approach the armory. Like the main hall, it's received that horrible furry red texture. The appeasing trade off was the use of cubbies to store the weapon spawns. Otherwise, unappeasing.

On the other balcony lies the Dojo from V2. No changes there(screenshot )

Moving down to the first floor, underneath the lava pit room, we find the acid pit room. Honestly, the new acid texture makes it look like...snot. It also doesn't look very liquid-esque when you look at the texture. Basically the same as the lava pit room now.

Across the room, next to the bar, is the library. It was extracted from V2, and looks the same.(screenshot )

Next door is the old interrogation room. It didn't get a very decent revamp. Biggest change I noticed was the torture room's downsize.

I was going to flesh this out a little more, but I didn't feel like it =_=

[i]The Halls[/i]- The halls are probably the most impressive changes I noticed. The annex as you enter from the main lobby I liked with its sourced red hue. From there you can reach a couple halls. The upper halls are the most interesting, having a triangular architecture, and I find it quite tasteful. The lower basement halls, however, seemed overly broad, and unappealing. It had promise, albeit it was wasted.

The biggest disappointment was that the "RP hall" was destroyed, ousting the classroom and cafeteria.

[i]Med bay[/i]- Suffice to say, it looked like it was more based roughly on the Jedi's Home JL II map's med bay, although there it was a rough look. Otherwise, it retains the usual bacta tank functions, including the out of order one.

[i]Cage Arena[/i]- Probably the best room to overhaul, although it wasn't 100% improved. The room did, however, get completely rebuilt. The arena retains its general shape, but there's no long as much wasted space. The stadium seating is now positioned in the corners of the rooms. The council observation area chairs look very baudy now, with a bright spectrum of colors. Also, the elevator looks very tacky, having a box texture that doesn't blend in with the scheme.

[i]Bedrooms[/i] - All the bedrooms have been effectively ravaged, no longer retaining the simple appeal of the others. The size of the rooms have become monstrous, and the number of furnishings don't really compensate. A lot of the rooms contain camera portals of certain areas. Honestly, it feels like more was taken away than added.

[i]Basement Areas[/i] - I mentioned the problem with the basement halls. I'll simply attack the rooms.

The dungeon was my favorite revamp, having received a nice stone dungeon rehaul. There is now a control center with which to seal off the dungeon cells with a forcefield. There is also a very blatant secret exit route that leads out into the main halls.

The council room looks slightly more like a council room in terms of chairs, but otherwise, the room now looks like some sort of angsty artist's creation, with the furry red texture and the odd shaped windows.

The pillar room no longer has the battle platform, so now it's just for jumping around and...


[i]Outside/Court Room[/i] - Now then =_= the outside has received both good and bad revamps. An aesthetically good revamp definitely was the footbridges and the path leading the the courtroom. The stone door to it could have at least gotten a better texture. The secret door factor was basically ruined with the path.

Whilst the waterfall route was a lot better, the super smooth hill just didn't feel very realistic, and the loss of the chasm of death sort of ruined the sithese feel. Ah well..

The courthouse was a much better overhaul, it looks a lot more size appropriate and less oversized. The textures are thankfully quite pleasant, the pit is a lot more ominous.



[i]Secrets[/i] - Some secrets are more obvious now, and some aren't. Sadly, some of the secret control areas don't have textures. Not a very good sign.


Overall, this map was on a very different, and arguably lower, level than with its predecessor. Granted, this could be expected by conservative fans, but even from an objective point of view, viewing it as a stand alone, it doesn't quite earn the cigar. Granted, it's still [b]Good,[/b] but it could have been better. A shame this is the final version of the map, as it doesn't seem to leave behind the best legacy.

My words mean nothing to many. SUBMIT BANDWIDTH, VIEW, AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF. For some, it could still be a grand improvement. For myself, on the other hand, it leaves more to be desired.


New Textures: Aye
New Music: Aye
Secrets to plunder: Aye
Bot Support: Aye


- Averus Retruthan