SBWT Mapping Competition: Top Man

[Rozark]

I'd like to add while some of you may think my map is "Bland" or "Not Flashy", this is a core map we're talking about. From my understanding, it isn't supposed to be completely boring (accomplished) or completely flashy (accomplished) aesthetics-speaking. It's medium. The word "Core" stuck in my head while I made this, and as such I designed it around it. If you want more flash, go play a custom NonVanilla map.

Also, concerning Top Spin's Placement: You can Rush Coil or Mega Ball up to it; Mega Ball being the preferred option. (It isn't that hard) Another complaint is that it isn't used often at all despite it being Topman's map. I ask you, is Top Spin more reliable than say, spamming something into a crowd for frags? Melee weapons in general are awkward to make maps for, unless you do something Smash did and practically make it all melee. It doesn't help that current Top Spin just in general turns some people away from it to use more reliable methods of winning. Besides Smash's map because of already stated (And Korby's too hue), I rarely saw anyone use Top Spin on ANY of the maps, and I was there since the party started. This isn't just Top Spin either, a few other melee weapons suffer from it as well. Top Spin's placement might be bad to some and If needed I can fix that, however, you shouldn't judge it based on its current placement, as all weapon placements can be fixed. If it helps anything/as an alternative: Imagine one or both of the Ring Boomerang locations being replaced with Top Spins and the current Top Spin location be something else, or something similar being done.

[Max]

On Rozark's map, Spark Shock + Top Spin is a beast combination so it definitely gets enough use

[Accel]

Reidarkk - I really like how this map has several of the motifs of the original stage, and I kind of love how the tops operate. The weapons available on the stage are of a fairly nice selection, and I quite enjoy the platforming aspect of the stage. Overall, it looks like it has quite the potential.
Rozark - Again, the weapon selection is quite nice, and it carries a few motifs of the original stage. As for the level itself, it's... a little flat. It has a nice concept, but it feels just a little bland.
Smash - I quite like this one, actually. While it's rather small, it does have multiple paths you can take, and it's weapon set promotes close combat... which, honestly makes sense when you consider what the main weapon of said stage is. I'm not sure if it's my favorite, but it's still pretty nice. I especially liked the wind tunnel in the middle... despite the fact I remember nothing of the sort in the original.
Copy Robot - Oh my god. This is like a combination of the best of several of the others! I actually, really, really like this stage. It uses just about every motif from the original stage, and the weapon set seems fairly balanced. The only real problem I have with this stage is Eddie. I fear that if someone gets lucky, and gets a homing attack such as Magnet Missile, or Dive Missile, the main area of the stage is going to be a hassle to fight in. Of course, attacks like those aren't too difficult to dodge. Also, like Shyster, I'm a little worried about the Treble Sentries.

Verdict: Rozark spun out. Copy Robot came out on top.

[Rozark]

As for the level itself, it's... a little flat.

I don't even know what to say to this.
There's stairs.
Alot of them.
Irony.

[Accel]

That doesn't really matter when the level still feels flat overall. I just didn't see much purpose for jumping beyond maybe one of the weapons, and the level in general kind of bored me.

[Rozark]

I still say it isn't as flat as you say.
I still say Irony too.

[Knux]

I don't think it was anywhere near as flat as Reidakk's map. Though that was mostly my fault for not interpreting the blueprint smaller.

[TailsMK4]

Next up is Top Man. The old map was a bit boring to play at, so hopefully these maps can make the stage better.

#1: This one...was not bad at all, but I feel I could get a headache playing here. There is a lot of the stage that can be viewed at once, even from the ground. I feel this map could benefit from having more walls instead of it being very open. The concept of the flying top here, though, was one I enjoyed, though could the top be a little bit faster when activated?

#2: I loved it when the first moment into this map was my eyes meeting the nice, dark textures of the interior of Top Man's map. I really enjoyed this map, though I wonder why we have Wire Adaptor when there is no apparent use for it. Not too confusing to navigate either. Top Man really lacked the interior textures, so I was very relieved to see them break the pattern of seeing mostly bright colors.

#3: This one was ok. The map was kind of bland. It just seemed to do the opposite of what the old map was ok about: the openness. As someone had mentioned earlier (I forgot who it was), I do not understand the concept of the air current in the middle of the stage, and I remember that was not in the original (nor in the GB version either). Finally, Hard Knuckle is a bit tricky to get, you have to jump and then use Thunder Claw to just barely get enough height to reach the platform. I honestly prefer the openness of the old map to this, sorry.

#4: This one is not bad either, though the spikes feel kind of pointless in the area with Skull Barrier. I like the bridges and the flying tops, though the tops play a somewhat minimal role for my tastes. It kind of has a MM5WAVX-kind of feel to it, which is not bad, but the map feels too large for me personally.

Final Verdict:

Rozark > Copy Robot > Reidakk > Old > SmashBroPlusB

[SmashTheEchidna]

Reidakk: This is definitely comparable to the 'Top Arena' the original map had going on. If we're going for that style, then this map is pretty good. Otherwise, it's pretty 'okayish'. The map on it's own is fine to me, though.

Rozark: I feel that this map would fare much better as it's own original one. It doesn't seem too fitting for Top Man to me.

Smashbro: This is also pretty narrow, and I'm not sure I like that for Topman. That's probably my only gripe about the layout.

CopyRobot: This place looks amazing. It's a little on the big side, but getting lost is nowhere near a problem.


Final Vote goes to Copy.

[Muzaru]

I really like Smash's map 8D
With a few tweaks, it would really shine.

Also I'd Guess that Smash was keeping the idea of basing the map on the weapon in mind.
His an ambush love pit, and with top spin being not so effective in open areas.... I think Smash did a great job with giving the weapon the home advantage.
Though StarCrash would kind of cancel that out... since it kind of locks you to the ground when it hits you... also godly ammo... and 40 damage projectiles with not much room to avoid them.
I like how Duo fist works out, seeing as if you go for the charged shots... you set yourself up to be ambushed.
Another one of my main gripes would be oil slider, but top spin is a very powerful counter against it... So I just a babby wabby

Edit... aw I just repeated what others have said already ;-;

[Knux]

Well, as long as it's what you think, there's no problem with that!

[Ivory]

Things have slowed down, so I'm going to be closing voting today around 9 PST.

If you want to get your input in, do so today.

[Ceridran]

Rozark made it cool and didn't make it a "core map with sprinkles and chocolate chips."

Rozark>Copy Robot>Smashbro>Reidakk>Core

[SmashTheEchidna]

There's something that's been bothering me here. About all the maps.


How come everyone used Komasaburo as their ONLY enemy prop? I saw him just about everywhere, and there were several of him.
In most places it looked kinda like this:

He seemed greatly overused, and I didn't see a single other enemy. It'd have been nice to see some other guys, like this one or this guy , or heck maybe even the cat could have shown up somewhere. Though he'd be pretty difficult to give rotations. But that topfiend is overpopulating the stages.

[Kapus]

Well, Komasaburo is a Top Man specific enemy. The others you mentioned (with the exception of the Cat miniboss, who would be harder to fit in) appear in other levels besides Top Man.

Komasaburo is the most Top Man-familiar enemy. He even shoots tops at you.