Help Thread: Map Rating/Review Thread

[Anshinin]

Guess Ill submit one today ~
A unspecified route for Pokemon Crescent.
Ignore the black tiles, I was working with a older version of the rom and did not have them to hand.

Spoiler:

I generally like this map, the only thing I'd say is maybe it could use a house of some sort by that log towards the top left. Just to add some semblance of civilization. Otherwise I like the path you take through the route.

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Since this is my first post I'd like to have two things looked at, if that's okay :P

Map Name: Nyche Woods
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: This will be the map that the player visits to receive Celebi as their starter, as well as initiate the introductory sequence of traveling to the doomed future and discovering your overall mission in the story. With that in mind, I'd like the design to leave an impression.

Spoiler:

Map Name: Lamorey Region Town Map
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: First attempt at a Pokemon map, after a lot of revisions.

Spoiler:

 

[Arlaxeon]

I generally like this map, the only thing I'd say is maybe it could use a house of some sort by that log towards the top left. Just to add some semblance of civilization. Otherwise I like the path you take through the route.

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Since this is my first post I'd like to have two things looked at, if that's okay :P

Map Name: Nyche Woods
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: This will be the map that the player visits to receive Celebi as their starter, as well as initiate the introductory sequence of traveling to the doomed future and discovering your overall mission in the story. With that in mind, I'd like the design to leave an impression.

Spoiler:

Map Name:Lamorey Region Town Map
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: First attempt at a Pokemon map, after a lot of revisions.

Spoiler:

For a Gen 2 Map that forest looks quite good. Gen 1 and 2 don't have the best graphics ever...
It also does what a forest needs to do. It has some corners, ledges and twists in the road which is nice for a forest.

7/10 in my opinion.

Only one thing... I don't really see a way to get from the buttom gate house to the upper gate house... Seems unpossible with those ledges... Is that on purpose?

I don't have any complaints about the town map to be honest.
Standard Gen 2 map, does what it's supposed to do, not much out of place.
Maybe the lake on the lower right... It's the route next to it that is it's border. Unless that's on purpose, of course. But I think that's it.
8/10

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alright... Time to post a map myself.

Spoiler:

Map Name: Banyan Creek
Map Game: Pokemon Fire Red
Comments:
I'm practicing my mapping to perhaps make an hack in the future.
Banyan Creek is supposed to be a starting town. The lowest house on the left is the player's house. Prof. Oak is waiting outside to give you a starter.

 

[Uncommon]

Map Name: Nyche Woods
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: This will be the map that the player visits to receive Celebi as their starter, as well as initiate the introductory sequence of traveling to the doomed future and discovering your overall mission in the story. With that in mind, I'd like the design to leave an impression.

Spoiler:

Map Name: Lamorey Region Town Map
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: First attempt at a Pokemon map, after a lot of revisions.

Spoiler:

Oooh, I'm such a sucker for GBC tiles! Gold was my first, and still my favorite, Pokemon game. These look awesome!

A couple points for improvement:

Your first map looks very similar to Ilex Forest. That might be intentional (especially since it's where you find Celebi), but you might want to try differentiate it a little bit. Maybe a different overall shape or the gatehouse in different spots, etc. I know there's not a huge amount of variation you can do with the limited Gen II tiles, but just something to think about.

Same comment as above post: is there supposed to be a traversable path from the bottom gatehouse to the top? Sure looks like there isn't one right now. Is that intentional?

You have a couple of one-tile ledges that feel a little out of place to me. Each one restricts the player to one tile of traversable path going up through them, and since they don't meaningfully change the overall path, I would probably eliminate them. Up to you.

Your world map looks great. Very nice consistency with GSC's map. If you're intending to use it in a hack, be warned that the name of towns you scroll over is shown at the upper left (in FR at least) and will cover up towns in that corner. I think yours are all far enough away, just a word of caution for the future.

Spoiler:

Map Name: Banyan Creek
Map Game: Pokemon Fire Red
Comments:
I'm practicing my mapping to perhaps make an hack in the future.
Banyan Creek is supposed to be a starting town. The lowest house on the left is the player's house. Prof. Oak is waiting outside to give you a starter.

Love this map, looks awesome. I really appreciate the thought that went into the cliffs along the outer boundary of the town, instead of just building the town itself and relying on a border block. Also really good integration of palettes; the slightly faded look gives it an "old" feel, at least to me.

One small point for improvement: your thin trees are all using the bottom tile with shadow, which is inconsistent with the big trees and make them look a little blocky. You probably want to change those to ones without shadow.

Keep up the good work!

 

[Anshinin]

The forest was actually supposed to have a cut tree so you could go back up, I completely forgot to put it in though so now its there. I'll probably try to do some improvements (make it wider) and add more to the forest since the general shape is exactly like Ilex forest.

Also I do plan on changing the graphics eventually, I'm just in the map making phase of this rom hack.

Map Name: Scorpio Town
Map Game: Pokemon Silver
Comments: First town with a gym, also the location of that lake you see on my town map.

Spoiler:

 

[avantimaestro]

Hey guys i have been trying out some new stuff lately and this is the result. i didnt really focus on the details because i am really just trying to see how this second layer works in towns. this map has no real context, its not part of any hack or something, its just a test. what are our thoughts?

Spoiler:

firered tiles + the border tiles

 

[Anshinin]

Hey guys i have been trying out some new stuff lately and this is the result. i didnt really focus on the details because i am really just trying to see how this second layer works in towns. this map has no real context, its not part of any hack or something, its just a test. what are our thoughts?

Spoiler:

firered tiles + the border tiles

View attachment 77101

I really like the area east of the department store, the general stairs going down into the areas for the buildings is nice. I think the town should be a bit more compressed and that northern area should have some sort of buildings or something in it. Also the exit to the north could be a bit less oriented to the right, or maybe not as wide. Otherwise I like the general layout since that's what you wanted feedback on.

7/10

 

[Charmiebee]

Hey guys i have been trying out some new stuff lately and this is the result. i didnt really focus on the details because i am really just trying to see how this second layer works in towns. this map has no real context, its not part of any hack or something, its just a test. what are our thoughts?

Spoiler:

firered tiles + the border tiles

View attachment 77101

The map overall is nice but the north western corner could probably use a small pond or something.

8/10


My turn
I have been working on a total of 7 maps over two weeks
they are still under devlopment adding and tweaking maps the maps i didnt upload yet is viewable
by the world map

The last 4 days i updated most of these maps and i fixed some errors i saw.
I would like these maps reviewed please.

Route 501


Route 503


Neko Forest could change the name later


A world map with a total of 6 maps spliced together

 

[Sefuree]

Spoiler:

The map overall is nice but the north western corner could probably use a small pond or something.

8/10


My turn
I have been working on a total of 7 maps over two weeks
they are still under devlopment adding and tweaking maps the maps i didnt upload yet is viewable
by the world map

The last 4 days i updated most of these maps and i fixed some errors i saw.
I would like these maps reviewed please.

Route 501
View attachment 77148

Route 503
View attachment 77150

Neko Forest could change the name later
View attachment 77149

A world map with a total of 6 maps spliced together
View attachment 77151

7/10

The maps are nice but there are a lot of empty spaces. You should work on filling them in and making your map seem fuller.

Made this map for Pokemon: Hybrid Version!

 

[PokemonBen]

7/10

The maps are nice but there are a lot of empty spaces. You should work on filling them in and making your map seem fuller.

Made this map for Pokemon: Hybrid Version!

Your map is good, but I believe you had the same map in Emerald in your Pokemon Hybrid thread? Or a custom tileset. It looked better the old way. Old Way was a solied 9/10 for me but this one is a 5/10. The tileset made all the difference.


So this is an extended Pallet Town for Fire Red using the Saffron City Tileset. It's set in the future, so I guess I'll call it Pallet Town 2025 (stolen from Call of Duty). I just wanted to know opinions as I feel it may be a little bland, but then again, everything is a bit more cramped in a emulator.

 

[Crimson Stardust]

Your map is good, but I believe you had the same map in Emerald in your Pokemon Hybrid thread? Or a custom tileset. It looked better the old way. Old Way was a solied 9/10 for me but this one is a 5/10. The tileset made all the difference.
View attachment 77189

So this is an extended Pallet Town for Fire Red using the Saffron City Tileset. It's set in the future, so I guess I'll call it Pallet Town 2025 (stolen from Call of Duty). I just wanted to know opinions as I feel it may be a little bland, but then again, everything is a bit more cramped in a emulator.

Hi there,
To rate your map, this is based on my personal opinion, been awhile since i rate a map..
Ok, for me, it is truly boring. The map is just to square. and the city is just so empty.
You can make the map look less square and add more stuff in the city, but at the same time not too clustered.

1/10

My Map
Map Name: Some Random Cave
Map Game: Forgot
Comments: One of my old map. I forgot whether i did it for my hack or for fun. Its been like 2-3 years since then..haha

Spoiler:

 

[M.L]

Hi there,
To rate your map, this is based on my personal opinion, been awhile since i rate a map..
Ok, for me, it is truly boring. The map is just to square. and the city is just so empty.
You can make the map look less square and add more stuff in the city, but at the same time not too clustered.

1/10

My Map
Map Name: Some Random Cave
Map Game: Forgot
Comments: One of my old map. I forgot whether i did it for my hack or for fun. Its been like 2-3 years since then..haha

Spoiler:

Rating

Spoiler:

So for your map, I must say I don't have many negatives to say. I feel a few spots feel a tiny, tiny bit to bland and maybe some dirt patches or something to just indicate that the path is going somewhere, that button for me is an eyesore this could just be me but i dont feel like those colours belong in that pallete set.
I like the overall design of the map so I will rate..
8,5 [small things really.]

My map:

Spoiler:

Game name:??
Rom Base: Firered
I give credits for these tiles they are not mine and credits go there respective owners.
Map name: ??

 

[Crimson Stardust]

Rating

Spoiler:

So for your map, I must say I don't have many negatives to say. I feel a few spots feel a tiny, tiny bit to bland and maybe some dirt patches or something to just indicate that the path is going somewhere, that button for me is an eyesore this could just be me but i dont feel like those colours belong in that pallete set.
I like the overall design of the map so I will rate..
8,5 [small things really.]

My map:

Spoiler:

Game name:??
Rom Base: Firered
I give credits for these tiles they are not mine and credits go there respective owners.
Map name: ??

To your map,
First, it looks really pleasing to the eyes..haha

But, i don't know if i forgot or you just leave it be, but there tile errors on the mountain end.
2ndly, this may just me, but i like the natural type of mapping hence why i think your map just looked too structured or planned, since it looks like it is in the forest/wild..etc..the trees should look more natural and the mountains can be shown more..etc..

but that just an opinion from me who favours natural mapping, but at the same time yours look much better then those structured mapped..haha..sorry if i don't make sense..xD

6/10

My Map
Map Name: Route 1
Map Game: Forgot
Comments: Route 1 and the first event in my old hack..haha(them memories) Don't know why i didnt use or add the small trees in..haha

Spoiler:

 

[Flowerchild]

My Map
Map Name: Route 1
Map Game: Forgot
Comments: Route 1 and the first event in my old hack..haha(them memories) Don't know why i didnt use or add the small trees in..haha

Spoiler:

This map is really pretty.
As I'm someone who maps Game Freak style I'm not the most suited to rate a natural style map, but I'll do my best.
The first problem is that this map isn't fully natural style. You have a straight border of trees around the entire thing. I realize that this is to get A-Map to display the correct tiles past the edge of the map, but if you're going full naturalist, you should instead expand the map in all directions and fill the edges with more natural trees so the player can't see the end of the map. The player can see 7 tiles left and right and I think 4.5 up and down, so make sure you have that many natural tree tiles in between the player and the edge.
The other minor thing is the fairly large amount of open space at the very top of the map, behind the front layer of trees. When making the map, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but when playing this map I'd think there's an item back there, try to figure out how to get over to it, and be frustrated when I figure out that there's no way back there. Also, from an artistic perspective, it's catching a viewer's eye when you should be directing their attention towards the actually interesting parts of the map: the paths, tall grass, and central group of trees.
I don't normally give ratings, since I find them to be pretty subjective and arbitrary, but everyone else in this thread is doing it and I'm a sucker for peer pressure so I'd say 9/10. Despite my lengthy wall of text, this map is quite good.

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My Map
I didn't make a map.

 

[Lance32497]

Since there's no map to review, I'm here to show my map, I'm really noob in making map so I need feedbacks for me to improve my mapping skill.

Map Game: All of these are FIRERED.

Criscanto Town
Weather: Regular
*This town is the hometown of the player. The Laboratory isn't placed here that's why there are 3 houses only. The unique house on the left side is the player's house, while the others are player's childhood friends' houses.

Spoiler:

Route 1
Weather: Regular
*This is the first route of the game, the upper connection is the hometown and the lower connection is the central city.

Spoiler:

Olenburg City
Weather: Rainy
*The central city of WEST GINOA Region, the biggest biulding there is the lab. The first Pokècenter, Pokèmart and Pokèbank can be found there.

Spoiler:

Route 3
Weather: Rainy
*The reason why there's the third route but not the second, it's not yet accessible due to the fact that you have to defeat the first gym leader before entering the route. Anyway, Landalure gate can be found there, that's the home of steel type pokèmon.

Spoiler:

Landalure City
Weather: Mist
*It was once a mountain but since the father of the gym took care of it, the Pokèmon society decided to build buildings here for poor and homeless Pokèmon. Later on, they decided to make it a town and it was called city after the establishment of the gym.

Spoiler:

NOTE:
I'm using Diegoisawesone's Triple layer-block hack that's why there are blocks that aren't supposed to be placed there.

 

[M.L]

Review Long so in a spoiler it goes.

Spoiler:

Review:
So firstly let me point out a few things I am sure you are aware of and that is the tiles errors I can see that you probably aren't super skilled at tiled insertion or just manipulating the current tilesets as that has cause many errors for you and with the red mountains where I am pretty sure you just use the pokecentres palletes to insert doesn't look all pleasing especially since your fences are changed aswell.
Ok now that that is out of the way to the maps:
So your first set map it feels to open too much space and the road feels a bit long for the map as there are is nothing imbetween the road first house and the next one, the trees are super uniform I know the original style but adding a few dents in the hundreds of trees maybe some gaps to create an open feeling, the mountain style is one I like.
Your second map I like the layout but again feels to open add some trees to take up some space a few paths to guide the way maybe.
third map I personally am not a fan of the way you added the houses and buildings on the mountain, I feel that the chances of there being mountains placed like that gives an offish unnatural feel *(Again my opinion some people may feel differently)
The map is big which isnt a bad thing just feels empty.
Your fourth map I like simple to the point not to open the mountain layout I like so that one for me is good only thing I would do is I like using paths to guide the player but that is just me.
Last map again tile issues where the you dont have side steps other wise the map isnt too bad some narrow sections the player has to walk on which isnt always great but not an issue.
Overall they need work but they aren't too bad.
I am not going to rate them all as this is just my opinion.

No map for me to post today

 

[RanaldRoo]

Review of Lance32497's Maps:

Spoiler:

Criscanto Town:
+ The unique tiles for the house at the top-left look nice.
- A few errors such as the upper corner of the player's house and the tree at the top-left. Most of the other ones are always out of the player's view so you wont have to fix those.
- I think the town is a bit too long horizontally; that path would take a while to walk along without running shoes and so would the long linear path out of town. Also, the sign being right in the middle of the path is a bit awkward.
Score: 2.0 / 10

Route 1:
+ In terms of the first route the difficulty seems to be alright and passing through long grass is unavoidable.
- Again, tile errors when a treetop overlaps with the corner of the rocky terrain tile. (I know FR/LG do not have this tile by default; you will have to add it or change your design.)
- Some parts seem a bit square (eg. long grass would not grow in rectangular boxes.) and I'm not keen on the one block gap you have to pass through at the top of the map.
Score: 2.5 / 10

Olenburg City:
+ The red rock and the nice looking concrete roads make the city unique and look way better than the default tiles; you should try and replace the FR/LG tiles as they look nasty.
- The map is really big for rather few houses so that means a lot of pointless walking down streets which is boring. Try moving things closer together and reducing the lengths of the linear paths.
- On the concrete roads you have to pass through a lot of one tile wide gaps which personally I don't like (its awkward, easily blocked and visually unappealing).
Score: 2.0 / 10

Route 3:
+ The grass and tree layout looks quite natural on this map.
- You don't need all those rows of tree tiles at the bottom as the player cannot see any of them.
- Again, the path at the right seems unnecessarily long for a linear path.
Score: 2.5 / 10

Landalure City:
+ The concept is good (a mountain/rocky city) and the idea of going through the cave to get to the gym increases the challenge but a quick way back would help for healing up (eg. a ledge to hop down).
- You can't actually get into the the town from the route that leads to it! There are not step and no cave entrance.
- Again, too many one tile wide gaps and a few tile errors with the trees at the left.
Score: 3.0 / 10

Overall:
+ Its a decent for someone new to making maps.
- The FR/LG default tiles are horrible/disgusting and I would hugely urge you to insert new ones like WeselyFG's tiles but make sure you credit him.
- There are quite a lot of tile errors to iron out and long linear paths that should really be shortened.
Score: 2.5 / 10

The maps would look so much better with new tiles not the FR/LG defaults and if it had good tiles I would up my scores to closer to 4 or 5. You've got a lot of room to improve but you deserve a cookie for trying - my maps were like yours when I started out - keep trying and you will get better.

My Map:

Description:

Spoiler:

Its the starting town. The player lives in the house on the left and after receiving their first pokémon has to travel down the route below the town before heading through the cave into the next town/city. It will also play a role later in the game once the player gets surf and waterfall with the caves at the top of the map. Also note that you can hop down over fallen logs, just like small ledges, but cannot hop over them travelling upwards. (Credit to the creators of the Emerald 650 ROM base and WesleyFG for tilesets.)

Image:

Spoiler:

 

[Lance32497]

Review of RonaldRoo's Map

Spoiler:

I'm not good in mapping but since I have to do it, well, I'm going to start this, the map is near to perfect for me, that's the starting town so everyone would expect that it's plain an simple. I don't think that it's fun starting a game with a cave, even though it's part of the story, we can't deny the fact that we will be exploring that, I know that the solution for that is not to put wild pokèmon or place an NPC that blocks the way which is I think not good to start the game right? Anyway, the map is awesome, I will rate it 8/10

MY MAP
RETOUCHED OLENBURG CITY
COMMENT
If you have seen any error tiles, that might because I'm using Diegoisawesome's Triple layer block hack so the first 2 layers are in one block so the 1st layer of block next to it is the 3rd layer. Anyway, I deleted some tiles that I think don't make any sense and repleaced and added that might beautify the map.

Spoiler:

 

[Dionen]

Review of Lance32497's Maps:
My Map:

Description:

Spoiler:

Its the starting town. The player lives in the house on the left and after receiving their first pokémon has to travel down the route below the town before heading through the cave into the next town/city. It will also play a role later in the game once the player gets surf and waterfall with the caves at the top of the map. Also note that you can hop down over fallen logs, just like small ledges, but cannot hop over them travelling upwards.

Image:

Spoiler:

I hope you are not using Light Platinum as base for a hack

 

[RanaldRoo]

I hope you are not using Light Platinum as base for a hack

No, I'm using the Emerald 650 ROM base and I'm inserting WesleyFG's tilesets (giving credit for both of coarse!)
(Sorry if this is off-topic but I felt it needed to be said.)

Proof:

Spoiler:

 

[Danny0317]

Spoiler:

The map itself is quite good. I'd add a few more flowers every now and then. However, the pallets, that needs a lot of work. The red mountain and fences do not look good at all, in my opinion, and the really blue edges of the other tiles either. Fix those things and I won't have any complaints :)

So, here's my map. Emerald is the base, it's called Ivy City, for my hack Fluorite. Credits go out to Wesley FG and Slimshady for the tiles. Don't mind the fact that the Emerald buildings and other tiles clash, I'll fix that eventually.

Spoiler: