I am grateful for the amazing forgemaps thanks to Sandbox But What most are missing is beautiful Aesthetics to go along with a good map. This does not just mean add dynamic Lighting but adding Real Features Like Scenery A perfect example of this is Socratic Method: http://www.forgehub.com/forum/competitive-maps/64277-socratic-method.html Not Only does this map have great playability but beautiful Aesthetics that make me almost believe sometimes it was apart of a map pack I paid 800 points for or got it with Halo wars LE. Comparable to this: http://www.forgehub.com/forum/featured-halo-maps/83403-crown-flies.html which I go into a state of dormancy thanks to its stale looks. No matter how much dynamic Lighting this guy adds. Okay this was mostly just a rant but I thought Someone had to say it (Knowing me someone probably already did)
Well yeah, it's called aesthetics. Aesthetics cost money, which can often damage gameplay. To have the choice to build another room, or add a little pipe going across the roof, is a hard decision to make. Every forger does it differently. It depends on the map. Aesthetics count, they do, but if you're running low on money, it's best to strive for gameplay first.
The map you compared wasn't quite the right choice. That map is unlike any other map. Its unique in its own rights and you need to accept that. Like zander said, it really depends on playability or aesthetics. Do you want a bumpy map with gaps in the floor with a picture of the mona lisa in the background just you can can look at it? Or, do you want this map you are comparing where flawless forging were put in. Although there isn't a monument of George Washington, you can look at the map in awe just by the beauty of its cleanliness.
I have to agree to an extent, but for me the beauty of a map also makes game play, having an very aesthetic looking structure that is usable and has a purpose also. Kinda like Skulls (or what ever the name of it was) it had the 2 giant skulls that served as a base for each side red vs blue, red skull, blue skull. I love clean maps don't get me wrong, a very well forged map is beautiful especially since (not to be a jerk to the newbies) all the smut maps that have been appearing as of late. But a really beautiful map that plays well is just, well nothing is better not even the most clean well forged map in the world.
Crown of Flies was made to have the best gameplay possible... not to look great. Yet, IMO, it is very aesthetically pleasing. You just don't notice all the little things Squidhands did to make it so. Like the two Quarter Walls interlocked into each other to make a cool design on the wall. Or the man cannons at the end of one of the high tubes to make it look like a gas leak. Or even the deck sort of thing that's right up from red sniper. Crown of Flies is a great looking map that plays great too. And to further on what people above are saying, if you have to sacrifice any aspect of gameplay for some aesthetic piece, you don't need that aesthetic piece.
In my opinion, well forged maps with flawless structure and floors and such are always pleasing to look at. I mean, for you example, Crown of Flies. It's very well made, very smooth and the layout is really well thought out and it all adds up to give it a polished, professional look, which, lets be honest, always looks pleasing. Game play is always a forgers first priority, anything left over goes on to aesthetics. Crown of Flies uses up most of the budget on the amazing, well made layout and what was left went onto aesthetics. They might just be a bit blander, but they're there. You may just have to look into it that little bit more.
Also, Socratic Method is a conquest map. Conquest maps in general are simpler in design than competative maps, so it is easier to add aesthetics to them. And Crown of Flies looks just fine.