I can hardly recognize it with the visual noise in all the blocks and the XXL scale. The first game I played on it I was struggling to recognize the various landmarks, it was that foreign looking.
While Shutout is scaled up a bit, it honestly isn't that bad, you gotta keep in mind that this map is used for current MLG settings, which means sprint has to be considered. I know people don't like it, but nothing can change that. And I agree with you MrGreen, the colors are a bit much, the authors could of just divided the map between the colors red and blue.
I don't know if it's the same Lockout remake, but I played one last night that had a similar issue with the color-coding, in that both of the "towers" (don't know the 'proper' callouts) were both colored red, making hard to inform where people were callout wise (again, not knowing the 'proper' Lockout callouts). Simply coloring the different areas of the map different would have easily fixed that.
My thoughts on the custom maps in matchmaking... -My favorite map is Simplex. It has nice los w/o being too large, easy to move around and promotes moving because none of the bases are good to hold out in. -2nd favorite is Scythe. It is fun, and I like that you can actually shoot someone without them being able to easily duck into cover. The one thing I don't like about this map is that it is easy to hold out and defend a side. Especially when one team has rockets and snipers thanks to the PODs. -The rest of the maps I don't care for. Shutout, is a grenade trap. -Garrotte is way to cramped and to much clutter. -Despair is a sniper's heaven and if you don't have one you are almost instantly dead. -Relay is just horrible, don't know why they included this map in the test. You get DMR'd everywhere and can't see anything because of the random pieces in the middle (the brace tunnels I believe).
I've played this playlist about five times and I'm really hoping that I won't play shutout for a sixth time. It seems that every time I play on this map, the bottom center of the map is just a big hell if a mess and the rest is unused.
lockout was sort of like that, if you recall... while this is a pretty good lockout remake, I haven't really enjoyed playing on it that much. most of the maps are totally chaotic. there's ALWAYS someone spawning behind you and taking you buy surprise. there's ALWAYS action at every moment. Unfortunately they all pretty much play like Nuke Town in COD and while that sort of chaotic, frenzied gameplay is fun in small doses, I can't stand not being able to get my bearings on a map before the battle resumes after a respawn/death. These should all probably be limited to something like 3vs3 rather than 4vs4, or with Scythe, which I believe Pa1nts has said was intended for 2v2, should be fewer than 4v4 IMO. BUT I do overall like most of the maps. There was one that I didn't really care for, but I don't remember its name off hand.
Currently I don't like the initial spawning on simplex or how lockout plays. I was a fan of blackout but I've never cared for lockout for some reason so that's mainly just a bias. The initial spawns on simplex allow for an instant line of sight to the opposing team and you can die very quickly without even being able to move. SWAT on Scythe doesn't work well due to the teleports. If they remove those the map will work well with SWAT. I'm not a huge fan of relay but I enjoy how it plays. I like the array of maps but some slight adjustments should be made.
my opinion of the forge maps so far Garotte: i enjoy playing flag on this map personally but i think it is a bit cramped Simplex: i like simplex a lot. it plays quickly like halo used to so i'm a fan. there is a random spot on the map where if you jump you're in a soft kill zone. that should be removed. scythe: i don't care for this one. the teleporters are bad, should be removed. just not likable. lockout remake that for some reason isn't on impact. okay lockout was in a snowy mountain, blackout was dark. i've seen lockout remakes on impact that are just better. the plasma pistol where the shotgun used to be is worthless. and i don't get the spawns in this. you seem to always spawn in the green room with the lift like every time i play it i spawn there all the time and it is the worst spot. for a well liked map this version doesn't play well. it doesn't seem to play as well in 4 as in the past. despair: just a terrible map. the map i feel was prob built by a guy who used jet pack. power weapons are everywhere playing this map and the map is built so to get up anywhere you have to retreat to the far outsides. no combat happens at all in the middle of the map other than a rush for rockets. just doesn't play well.