Packaged with the 2011 Australian Christmas Update, the new Foundry map offers Team Fortress players a new place to compete with team-mates and to dominate opponents. Currently set up as a standard control point map, teams compete to control all five linear points. Each side of the map is symmetrical with only the central point being unlocked at the start of play. Foundry is the first Valve map since Barnblitz, which was released with the F2P Uber Update in June 2011.
The Good
Foundry offers some good play opportunities for all character classes. There’s room to rocket and sticky jump, there are places to hide and establish roadblocks; and there are alternate routes at every stage. Play can teeter on the edge for extended periods with neither team dominating, but can also quickly change into a blitzkrieg as one side manages to rapidly capturing enough points to win. There’s even an achievement for capturing the final point within 5 seconds of the previous one. Tactical nuance and team communication will determine the winner on this map. There’s little opportunity to sit back and soak up pressure.
The Bad
There’s no real stand-out highlight of the map. It feels fairly generic. The foundries themselves only feature in play around the final points and are likely to see very little action beside those wishing to score the relevant Achievement. Texturing is well done, but the lighting feels underdone leaving the map looking dull, even those areas that are well lit.
Summary
Lots of fun on offer. Play is fast and furious. The map feels ideally suited for 6v6 and Highlander player. Highly recommended despite the ‘dullness’.
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