Hostage Game Modes Are Back: The Community Map That Everyone Should Try
A content creator by the name of Richard Chirkin who goes by "The Useless Mouth" developed a new map called Rift in the Steam workshop. It features cutting edge map designs made up of sand styled blocks and wood frame entrances. Not only is this a brand new map design, but it also features a two versus two hostage based game mode. Before you start planning the best routes to run with friends, just know the rescue zones are randomised. Credits for this exciting content also goes to AlexCookie and EHOT.
Richard was responsible for the game design, level design, layout, brushwork, scripting, textures and material setups. Not only has Richard found success on Steam but he's also the proud creator of the famous banana switch videos. These videos were so big that they brought in over twelve million views from 2017 to 2020. Any time you find something out of the ordinary in Rift just thank Alex. He designed the easter eggs, additional level design, detail work, displacement retopology, optimisation, I/O logic and some texture work.
EHOT was brought in to form the 3D perspective, which designed the vases. EHOT is also responsible for both the generator and power generator. Other credited sources include Pirate505 for the lamp design, Mio who wrote the easter egg note and DooJka for the fade-in code. With a team of six and sleepless nights, the project was finally released on September 22 of this year. Even though this map was designed for wingman, it is compatible with any mode. So if you're a fan of deathmatch or even competitive, gather a group of friends and hop on a custom made server.
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Rift is a participant in the 2020 Source Engine Level Design Contest and has received a lot of attention from the online world. On r/GlobalOffensive Rift was one of the biggest posts of this week, bringing in six thousand upvotes and sixteen awards. Only a few hours after the release Rift faced a minor bug that the devs were quick to notice. The image for the map loading screen was deleted due to a PNG error. Those who were once booted off the server for this issue showed gratitude to the team in discussion forums. Besides that one issue, everything is up and running. Things are looking up for the creators behind Rift.
The hostage game mode was added on September 23, and became a massive hit. Only a day after the maps official release. Members of the Counter-Strike community have been rescuing hostages in video games for years now. Even though the competitive scene has taken over a lot of people like to hop on a good server every now and then to play hostage. This mode is so popular it's even been released as mockups in other games with open source code.
What makes Rift the perfect map is the fact that its map design is so complex and easy to manoeuvre at the same time. The alleyways contain the perfect head glitch spots which feature well-coded breakable vases. This way, your opponent can only hide for so long. The high ground also plays a key role in this game. A good strategy is to have one person roam the outward angles of the Rift compound while someone else sits on top, allowing free range vision and max communication. If you're feeling cheeky use the docks on either rescue point as a way to camp or jiggle peek your enemy.
Rift almost gives off a classic airsoft map feel. Lots of pinpoints, head glitches and blocked off rooms. The perfect map, so nobody has the upper hand. Strictly teamwork and gun skill will prove who's the best.
Besides the praise Rift received on Reddit it also currently has one hundred sixty awards in the Steam workshop. This looks like a heavyweight contender for the ongoing map design contest. For anyone that was a fan of the original hostage servers then Rift is definitely for you. There is no room for excuses on a map layout like this. While playing, you’ll face an action-packed game with a James Bond feel to it. Now, this is the kind of fresh content that people want to see in the CS:GO community.
A couple of people have given advice to adding in a Rift themed skin pack, something almost Aztec themed. Perhaps a play on the AK-47 Empress but instead use a Sphynx. Rift’s desert layout will have you brainwashed and forgetting about the old days of rushing B on Dust ll. The contents of this map have a professional feel to them and would easily grab the attention of anyone playing CS:GO. Alex and his team produced a great piece of work and have received wonderful comments that they deserve.
Images via The Useless Mouth
