Wow, the last time I did one of these was back in v1. So much has changed...
Favorites:
1. Survival Games 2 (V1 version, Classic once chests are fixed)
By V1 version, I'm talking about the version that was playable right up until v2 was released. Very well balanced map with a nice even spread of tier 2s throughout each of the 4 corners. The version in Classic seems to reflect this as well, only with fewer tier 2s all around. Can't wait for the chests to be randomized. As for the map itself, nothing topped the architecture back in v1, and that hasn't changed. More maps have gotten close, but this is still my favorite. So much effort put into every building, and the attention to detail is amazing.
2. Teweran 2 Drybone Valley
Also an amazingly built map with great, balanced gameplay. Lots of wide open space to pvp, but also plenty of structures, vast mountains, and a river to mix things up. The attention to detail is also amazing. I also think the chest placement/tiering is great too, though with more emphasis on the tier 2s than sg2.
3. Valleyside University
A really fun map to explore and play. The gameplay here really does it for me. Plenty of chests and routes, and some great pvp areas from a flat arena to several places to run and corner people. I do think the map could use more attention to detail, though. The architecture, while not bad, reminds me a lot more of sg4 than sg2/teweran2.
4. Holiday Resort
I actually think this map is slightly better built than Valleyside (more details, nicer to look at), but the gameplay isn't quite as good. I'm talking about the giant ring of water surrounding corn, which makes water fights a bit more common than they should be. Fortunately, the map's gameplay isn't based on water fights like Breeze Island, and the outer ring of the map and corn are really fun. The corn actually reminds me of sg2's corn, and that can only be a good thing.
5. Icarus
For me, this map never gets old. It's like a giant web of different passages that are full of surprises. Very well built, and just has this cool kind of feel to it that I don't get with a lot of maps. I also like that this map has very 3d-ish gameplay, with multiple levels throughout the map to choose from. Makes it very unique.
Least favorites:
1. Boombeard's Battle
Just look at all that water. As far as the eye can see. I thought Breeze was bad, but this map is something else entirely. Corn is unfair for anyone who doesn't have a bow. Water fights are everywhere. There's a severe lack of tier 2s. Everything about this map falls flat gameplay-wise. As for the map itself... we've seen it before. A bunch of islands with a ship. Sound familiar? Basically this entire map is the outer ring of Breeze Island.
2. Breeze Island
Speaking of which, I still hate this map. Hate the water fights, hate the chests getting looted way too fast, and hate the overall laziness. Now, beating on this map on these forums in 2014 is like beating a dead horse, so I'll just leave it at that.
3. Survival Games 2 (V2 version)
The day MCSG v2 was released was the day the gameplay of this map died. It's like they took all the tier 2s in the map and stuffed them in the Pink House. Basically the first person to reach that gets all the loot, and everyone else pretty much has no chance. Sg1 had this problem as well when v2 was released, but lately it's been changed to a much more reasonable version both in Classic and v2. Meanwhile, sg2 is STILL screwed up, though they did fix it... in Classic... once the chests get randomized...
Anyways, yeah, the gameplay of the map dropped off a cliff back in April, and it still hasn't quite recovered.
Okay, done ranting. Most of the REALLY bad maps have been removed, so there isn't as much for me to criticize. I actually like most of the newer maps, and even several of the maps I used to hate (such as sg4 and Solar Frost) have grown on me a bit.
It should be played more often tho.
