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Map review of Keen's Solar System
by dunkelschwamm | May 3, 2026 | 2195 characters
We start looking at the map's title over a little eye-candy rotating sprite effect. We run down a ramp toward the sprite and fall through the ground into a black void where the only things we can anchor ourselves to are the rotating planets in a massive diorama of the solar system.
I can't overstate that this introduction gave me a rollercoasteresque sense of disorientation and excitement as I took in the next thing the map had to offer: a glut of fun information.
The void is a big black room containing a large diorama, at the center of which is the sun (composed of a similar rotating sprite eyecandy effect as what is used in the introduction). orbiting that are planets, around which moons and other satellites orbit. There are also various asteroids and even a comet out there. Looking further, there are plenty of gag planets and references to various pop culture media like Star Trek.
A plainly written paragraph like that doesn't really do it justice. This project is very simple but extremely effective. There isn't much of a game, but it makes for one hell of a lobby or hangout map. There's even a second room to hang out in if you jump into the sun (though that's a more boring cube room with simple textures on each side that you have to suicide to exit).
I can't recommend this map enough. It's short, it's simple, it's sweet, and it's free so give it a play.
Pros:
- Tons of recognizable cosmic bodies on clear display without slowing down even our shabby rescue computers
- The way there are orbits within orbits is very satisfying to watch
- The disorienting nature of the introduction was very effective
- Great use of less-is-more on the special effects
- Incredible amount of references, gags, and cool trivia within
Cons:
- The sun room is just a big kinda ugly dead-end room
- Can get old fast given there's no gameplay other than just looking at the planet sprites
Review originally from https://scmapreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/keens-solar-system-dunkelschwamm.html
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