Kl3sk Reviews : Monster Showdown Ultimate
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Version : 8.2
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Map Type : Arena (?)
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Description : (2/5)
The first thing one notices before even downloading your map is the Description. You make no use of BB codes / hidden tags and eye-rape every single person interested in (maybe) giving the map a try. By this standard alone, the map should be rejected. Moving on...
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In-Game Review
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Terrain
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"Holy crappy terrain Batman!" < -- Robin is right : probably the worst terrain I have yet to see this year alone. What.were.you.THINKING ?! Yes, I'm ranting, but I can't help it after my eyes committed suicide at the mere glance of (what I hardly name) your terrain. To describe it, the pattern would be this : - Use same type of tile consistently - Add trees to fool unsuspecting players into believing this is actually terrain - Add slopes and water - more trees!! - ??? ... - PROFIT !! - The sad part is , I wish I was joking, but I'm not... (1/5)
Models
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??? ... I'll simply hold my breath and go for an N/A rating since the map couldn't care less about imported material. W3 models FTW! (N/A)
Icons
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Same as above : more W3 FTW moments to come, no sweat! (N/A)
Skills
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I can see custom abilities are present and that's the first positive thing this map has to offer. However, they're in no way spectacular or bring anything new. They're different than regular W3 spells, but sometimes -different =/= better- . Again : nothing special, but at least they "work". (3/5)
Misc
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I decided that I'm going to use this section of the review simply for the art of complaining.
(1 : I'm going to give you exactly ONE second for you to name when in W3 history did the sole usage of items you cannot combine or use recipes to improve constitute for a good ide...TIME'S UP! That's what I thought. But really now : terrible idea.
(2 : Could you have picked a more bland environment ? Even the concept screams OVERUSED!. What is making this map stick out as opposed to the other 47.000.000 others already released ? (apart from its dull nature)
Okay, I'd go on, but I'm really getting carried away. My point is : if you've picked a concept / idea that has already been done, and re-re-redone numerous times before, at least make it say "This is IRONSIDE'S MAP!" , not "This is Cpt. Generic's map!". For me, this experience was "Just another W3 map".
Game-Play
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- Pick mode - Pick hero - Get random item(s) - Walk aimlessly through forest - Kill creeps - Back to base to regenerate / buy more items - etc.
^ I guarantee you, there is no blander, duller, and more flat-out monotone experience this type of formula can squeeze out of its fragile body. I simply cannot find the appeal of it and I pity those that had to deal with the disappointment of downloading and testing this map before me. Even IF you meet your opponent after countless minutes of grinding, the outcome isn't all that rewarding. And just what the hell am I supposed to do with a 600 damage spell, maxed out (level 4) with a casting time, channeling, against a 15.000 HP "Monster" ?...I was level 20 and that's the damage output most characters have , no matter the Hero.
Long-story short : a) Early items are redundant (balance or revamp) ; b) Farming is a bitch (for every lil' guy you kill, his big bad brother will "soften you up" quite good) ; c) Some skills don't even specify what their effects are (or more simply : what they do ; i.e. : pulverize (Demon) - weapon upgrade (Sid) etc.) and I could go on.
Do I recommend Arena fans to play this ? : No (I can't even decide if it's an Arena map or not, since the map is huge and finding opponents takes forever...it's so messed up)
Do I recommend non-Arena fans to play this : No (Even enthusiastic people will get the wind knocked out of their lungs if they spend anything over a minute trying to understand whatever the Hell they're playing)
Will I play this map again : No (It's just not worth my time or yours. This is one of those maps that I don't see how even constant updating and improvements can save it from its gruesome fate. I will personally regard it as "one of those maps" that doesn't officially brake any of the Hive's rules, but it just doesn't meet its standards in quality.)
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Final verdict : Rejected (There are no two ways about it. The time you invest waiting for something to happen just isn't worth while and the fact the map is just a big mess makes one question the author himself)
Foot-note* : I can't be more honest when I say this : I was expecting a lot more from you, Ironside. Considering I'm supposed to be unbiased, I'll forget your name is even up there, but even for random, inexperienced map-maker, this was a total letdown. Trying to improve this map or continuing this path of random creations will ultimately lead to another failure. Try something else, be creative, go wild! I don't know. You can PM me with questions and such, I want to know what you think about it as well.