Title: Arch Bridge
Author: Unknown
Download: Here

This map is big and by big I don't mean big, I mean BIG. This map is for those with Gangrel characters among us in the Vampire community, it's basically mostly wide open space and there's a lot to explore. This would be a great map for a werewolf chronicle set in the dark ages but I speculate, on with the review.

You start the map outside an inn called the Pax Romana, or as I realised when I inspected it inside, the Rome Inn. Now as the author(s) of both these maps is unknown at the time of writing I'm going to assume that thee authors of these two maps are one in the same.

Leaving the inn and going for some exploring I come across a door near the stables of the inn. Going inside I find a door which seems to lead down, to a wine cellar I'm led to believe by the locations pane. I click on the door fully expecting to be transported to a new map, however my player model disappears, I get a loading message and then nothing...

A pretty serious bug I'm sure you'll agree. This also happens in other locations throughout the map and it has left me quite disappointed.

I'm disappointed with this map for two reasons, firstly because there are so many bugs and secondly because it feels unfinished. This is such a shame as the map could have been something extremely special if it wasn't for the sake of these and a few other niggles.

Whilst exploring I can across areas of ground that were unwalkable for absolutely no reason at all. They were all flat areas of grass which were just unwalkable, nothing special about it, no "Warning You are now entering a mine field signs" or anything. Admittedly putting mines in a dark ages map would have been a good trick but it would have given a reason. Mappers take note this is one way to frustrate a player.

Especially on a map such as this where half the fun is exploring it. There is so much to see here the woodcutters cottage, complete with woodcutter who proved a nice mid-exploration snack. This cottage also features some great attention to detail as does a lot of the map which just leaves me so much more frustrated with it.

Although slow at times when your taking in a lot of geometry at times Arch Bridge does provide more than it's fair share of eye candy. From the wood cutters cottage, to the forests, to the decaying and crumbling arch bridge itself, it's all so great looking and it just leaves me wondering why? Why was this map not finished properly before it was released to the public?

As a mod maker myself I know there is an urge to release something when it comes close to being finished, to rush it in a sense. It's just a pity that the urge won in this case as this map could truly have been a masterpiece.

There are some moments of true genius in this map. For example located at a stream in the map is a "Mysterious Cave". However as you approach it skeletons rise from the water to attack you. This Jason and the Argonaut's inspired moment came just in time as the constant exploring of an (almost) empty map this size does get a little boring after a while.

After dispatching the skeletons I advanced into the mysterious cave, curious to see what they were guarding. Inside I found some tunnels that took me through to an audience chamber in which was situated a vampire. The skeletons master!

It's due to stuff like this that I find myself so annoyed by this map. Mainly because for every moment like this which made me sit back and think "That is damn cool" there is an area that is unwalkable for no reason or a link to another map which doesn't work properly.

There is a fine line between a masterpiece and just another piece of art and unfortunately this map finds itself on the unhappy side of this divide. Imagine the Mona Lisa without her smile and I think you get the picture.

This is an unashamed plea to the author of this map, whoever they are, wherever they are. Please finish this map. I'm sure the vampire community would be forever in your debt. However as it stands this map is a testament to what might have been, a flawed masterpiece. It's enough to make a grown reviewer cry like a baby (almost).

Scoring -

Originality: 4

There's a lot of good stuff going on in this map. I don't think I'll see anything like it again although I seriously hope that I do.

Artistry: 4

Mostly this level is hills and tree with the terrain being realistic. What buildings there are are constructed professionally with more than enough eye candy to fill roughly four map reviews.

Authenticity: 3

Couldn't exactly fit into a modern ages chronicle and as such it gets a three.

Technical: 1

This map feels so unfinished and has more than it's fair share of bugs and errors. Which is a shame, it really is.

Overall: 12

Extra -

Although this pack is available on it's own I would recommend getting it as part of one of the Maps Galore packs from Mod Haven.