What Makes a Great Team Fortress 2 Map? | pl_Upward

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pl_upward made me the Team Fortress 2 player I am, and taught me how to love the game.
The music in this video is from the Mother 3 OST by Shogo Sakai and the Team Fortress 2 OST by Mike Morasky and The Valve Studio Orchestra

[@Leadhead]

Hey guys! If you wanna join in on some games, and get involved with this cool community, you can join my discord at discord.gg/PVvXESU7WU As long as I'm throwing out links, I've got new merch that you can pick up at leadheadshop.com/ plus you can support me over on Patreon if you wanna show some more love. www.patreon.com/leadhead

[@oakeer2528]

ok :)

[@nogoodgod4915]

Don't use that red line around the thumbnail. Makes people think they have already seen this video and won't bother clicking on it.

[@beefufo]

TRUEEE

[@ceppoc]

Atleast not that bright of a red

[@bbittercoffee]

Yep, I had to think for a second if I had seen this video or not.

[@leopardii6565]

Yeah I've been watching all his vids on a binge and it's a little confusing

[@jetpackdino5703]

I thought I already saw it, then was pleasantly surprised when I saw the upload time

[@Leadhead]

Really don't like how my voiceover came out in this vid. Lower energy than usual. I think this week's break will do me well

[@towniehypnosis7563]

Hey, that's alright mate, this is sounding and looking great to me, make sure you get a good sleep and dinner tonight ok?

[@thememer9111]

It's ok

[@harrisleopold9123]

Hey man, really appreciate ya. Your videos really make me happy. TF2 is also great

[@sheperinogaming1986]

it sounds good little bear do not fret.

[@Fishcrab]

Don't worry, we'll be here when you get back.

[@CoolGuyMcgeez]

what makes a good map: 1) named upward 2) goes upward 3) is upward

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

The map is a circle and thats cool

[@ratsiiaratr24]

@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 circleward when

[@zachly6555]

@@ratsiiaratr24 spiralward

[@SliceJosiah]

@@zachly6555 squidward

[@littlefieryone2825]

or badwater.

[@thetetrisgodx]

I've always thought how the map design is also very comedic on this map. The two teams are fighting over this absurd cliff and choose to traverse the longest possible route when blues starting base is really a few meters away from the final destination. They could have gone a shorter route the whole time if they built some kind of bridge.

[@ranfan1820]

Most of the team in tf2 have well below average iqs. Like they are conically dumb (barring engie, medic and spy). So that explains why they act they way they do lol.

[@esoopthederp7672]

@@ranfan1820 dosent engine have over a dozen PhD? I feel like he could plan and implement a bridge

[@nathansuachang9614]

@@esoopthederp7672 Funny that the ENGINEER couldn't practically build a bridge.

[@kirbycooper9496]

@@ranfan1820 how dare you! Heavy has a PhD in Russian literature

[@bogie8]

I always thought Heavy was smart, just couldn't speak English well

[@TheTalkingLama]

I never knew that about swift water even after 2000 hours! Really cool!

[@redman_10t39]

You'd be surprised what you could find out about maps if you look at all of the neat little decorative items.

[@TheDude8008]

There's a video that nitpicks its flaws and showcases a lot of stuff I didn't notice as well

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

@@redman_10t39 im pretty sure 2fort has a backstory too, its a facility from 1880s or something

[@lok4890]

@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 thats pretty much a reference to the original 2fort.

[@81bnforeal]

can we talk about how snipers piss jar is the best simulation of liquid in a vessel I've seen in a video game besides hl alyx??

[@snubcube]

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic

[@dingiskhan984]

Yeah

[@Ralofguy]

and holy mackarel is tootaaally perfect

[@TheEmeraldSword04]

Think they used the same technique for the bile jar in L4D2, it's like a ragdoll but not classed as a ragdoll when you do a little properties analyzing with Hammer editor or pressing Z in GMod, it seems to have simple bone on the model that wiggles a little. It's a very simple technique but I do admire a lot of things in Source games because it's one of my all time favorite game engines.

[@MartinPurathur]

I need to shower, but I hope the algorithm doesn't think that I don't want this.

[@MrOliver1312]

You'll never be recommended a leadhead video again - only shower videos for the next couple days

[@MartinPurathur]

Ah fuck

[@Alphae21]

did you shower

[@chloe_gospinny]

how was your shower

[@vargasmartin7143]

I hope you're not still showering

[@water3354]

I can’t believe that Stuart little came into my room and pissed on my cat

[@Fishcrab]

I need context

[@pinecone8575]

“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

[@water3354]

@@pinecone8575 are you telling me that I should piss on Stuart little when he comes in my room to piss on my cat

[@shellnut]

good heavens no

[@Addsomehappy]

@@water3354 put him in a jar

[@largeoctahedron]

9:55 this room is forever immortalized as "a recreation of a competitive Demoman clip where..."

[@t5_k]

7:36 FAMILY GUY STOCK DEATH POSE

[@dishsoap446]

heavy has a knack for doing this

[@durphin]

Even after thousands of hours of TF2 and playing on Upward, I never thought of the depth that went into creating the map itself.

[@lispy5174]

mukyu

[@gymzaal4412]

Heavies actually have an advantage when they're below

[@drakep.5857]

It's over, scout! I have the low ground!

[@baglespelledwrong8159]

they can make their hitbox smaller with highground because they shoot out of their eyes though

[@Klausinator451]

@@baglespelledwrong8159 you can do that too If you eat enough beets.

[@rogelio_34]

Why tho

[@gymzaal4412]

@@rogelio_34 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJyWooiabZ1po6c

[@tyzonemusic]

1:29 "The entirety of pl_upward is focused on BLU team using different flank routes" as a demo majestically trimps to the skies

[@red5t653]

Well, that's just another flank route, the Demo is using his ability to go airborne to get behind the enemy and clean them out. That sort of play with either stratospheric trimping as a Tide Turner Hybridknight or suborbital Sticky Jumper launches is probably one of my favorite things to do when playing Demo and I'm not even a Demo main.

[@-megawolf-805]

What makes Upward a good map? If it were a BAD map, I wouldn't be sittin' here playin' it with ya now would I?!

[@minty4resh]

A BFB scout? Incredibly based.

[@winch2342]

RIP BFB

[@empathetic4100]

Based? Based on what

[@overlord3481]

@@empathetic4100 It's just a shitty word commonly used by twitter users

[@rogainegaming6924]

@@empathetic4100 your mother

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

@@empathetic4100 based god

[@crystalking2468]

*hears mother 3 music at the beggining* instant sub right there

[@prozystudios1595]

Another one of my favorite maps is mvm_decoy. With a tiny bit of investigation, you can discover that the story behind the map is that the Soldier disguised an old abandoned boom town to get the attention of Greymann's robots. It explains the hastily-painted signs decorating the map, the deteriorated buildings, and why "MANN" is splattered on everything.

[@somedude6833]

14:02 "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHOOOOO- THE CART IS BLOODY STOPPED!" - Tf2 demoman

[@ambassadorgaming8411]

I love the map, but it does get boring after playing it for what feels like the millionth time. Oh yeah btw I love the Mother 3 music in this video

[@someshambler5536]

9:53 I thought you actually put pyro's scream and laughs in here then I went back to hear it again, I realized it was in my head, spooky.

[@ADummie]

Glad to see TF2 stuff covered here again!

[@Sneed1999]

After a large break from playing TF2 i come back and see this gem

[@dirtmaster2290]

This video made me realize how much the pigmask music fits TF2

[@largeoctahedron]

"every class has their own personal climaxes" >_>

[@eltiolavara9]

the fact that upward is my least favorite map (because everyone wants to only play it 24/7) and i STILL enjoy it says something EDIT: this video changed my opinion

[@travosk8668]

Why wouldn't you want to play it 24/7 it's the best

[@spacesheep6547]

@@travosk8668 you kinda get tired of doing the exact same thing 20 rounds in a row sometimes

[@tylerparsons2564]

What it says is that you haven’t played some of the other maps

[@travosk8668]

@@tylerparsons2564 just do what I do 20 rounds of 2fort 20 rounds of upward rinse and repeat.

[@TheDude8008]

I think I'll never get tired of playing Badwater

[@GraafBerengeur]

Goddamnit Leadhead, I'm supposed to be working

[@lichking2686]

18:47 "this really put Team Fortress in a team fortress" *destroyed by random crit rocket*

[@anakintaylor5616]

I love that you use an underrated scattergun like the baby faces blaster it’s one of my favorite guns in the game it’s so satisfying to use

[@Mixa_Lv]

17:43 Although that spot is really strong for a red soldier, it has at least 3 major downsides that make the position not braindead to defend. Something to add to that staircase's design. 1) The red soldier has to peek with his left shoulder, and because stock rockets are fired from your right shoulder, you have to expose your whole body to the attackers so the rockets don't hit the door frame. 2) The door is surrounded by a low ceiling and narrow walls, so it's easy to hit him with splash damage, even though he technically has the high ground. 3) That spot can fairly easily be flanked from behind, and in that case, the blu flanker has a major advantage since he's standing on a medkit and an ammo box, so the red soldier has to be very aware of his suuroundings.

[@LucarioredLR]

Also another point to make: the map "spiral" and viewmodels. RED is constantly having to turn to their right as they go towards the battlefield, blocking some of their sight if they happen to be near a wall on their right side. While the BLU team has the opposite with lots of open area to traverse around on their right side, giving them ample view of everything going on during the match.

[@0xGRIDRUNR]

I fucking love how leadhead makes his content as accessible as possible for people like me. I do understand competitive gameplay rather well, but if I didn't this video would still be just as enjoyable I know nothing about tf2 and still enjoyed the fuck out of this video. I love your videos!

[@ToxicBastard]

Hey, it's a free game, you can always hop in!

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

Tf2 isnt that comp

[@0xGRIDRUNR]

@@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413 theres a huge difference in a game being played at a competitive level and a game in which players play competitively.

[@icngames1032]

Two other things to note: Spawn placements and the important mix of low and high ceilings with minimal invisible wall in areas of play. RED's spawns start far away from the points, but quickly grows closer. BLU's starting spawn in is sight of all the actions, while last is far away from the action due to all the walls. Building have low ceiling which hamper the mobility of Soldiers and Demos, while the outside ceiling is high enough that they won't bonk their heads once they learn where the invisible walls are.

[@sodawater5316]

I've been watching you for almost a year. its one of your best videos yet. really cool visuals and interesting theme. i love how passionate you are about any good game in every video and the fact that all information you give (even the most primitive stuff) is so interesting and probably even unique?

[@Yourlibrarian]

Has leadhead ever thought about going into game commentating? I feel like he’d be a good fit.

[@WolfOfLegend]

Upward has always been my favourite map but I could never put why into words. I think you've nailed it

[@Khazrihl]

This is a really good thematic assessment of the map. Good one.

[@GunnerBones]

Great TF2 video! It felt a little all over the place at times, but you get across good points with good editing. Looking forward to more content!

[@alexme6521]

Dud, i have been playing for so long and didn't know the first part of the vid, love your vids, thanks for making a vid on the best game ever

[@solgerWhyIsThereAnAtItLooksBad]

The one bad part is the tunnel chokepoint. It’s kinda a pain on both sides

[@lollolson]

21 seconds ago? ok

[@Astareia7312]

Wow such an amazing map analysis! Good work

[@nuparuchi]

it's amazing how this video goes so in-depth about this map while barely touching on my favorite bit of it (the spiral ramp bit because you can get all sorts of environmental kills, and generally the team gets split between the sides of the building). excellent video!

[@red5t653]

Oh man third point on this map is awesome. It's the most open part of the entire map bar none, directly facing the giant cliff BLU is attempting to climb, meaning it's a constant battle of who can keep control over the upper ledge that leads into last. RED obviously starts with the advantage here but with so many ways for BLU to swing around from multiple angles it's a real struggle for RED that they have to be ready and willing to stand their ground and shove BLU team back inch by inch until they're being launched off the cliff.

[@vai4271]

really loved this vid and i hope this turns to a sort of series on videogame map design cause that would be so sick

[@MildlyWatermelon]

Fantastic video dude. Great job.

[@gato90909]

As always, great video! I’ve been seeing a lot more TF2 content lately and you posting this one was a fantastic addition to my week.

[@harrytomato5874]

You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for another tf2 video from you. And it’s even on my FAVORITE MAP! Thank you so much I love this map too

[@stefannilsson2406]

The thing I like about this map is how long it is. It takes most people quite a while to run from one end of the map to the other. But it allows skilled soldiers and demomen to really exploit their mobility and travel across the map in a matter of seconds.

[@averagenecoarcfan]

this has completely changed my outlook on making maps. thank you

[@spectrobit5554]

8:31 OK that is one of the coolest looking Pyros I've ever seen.

[@Daveman7954]

I love how you use the music at the end.

[@omni6982]

Excited for this video man!

[@lord_eyad_egg7287]

Excellent quality video as always my friend

[@Megapixel8063]

Amazing video all around. I knew this was my favourite map by a wide margin, but I never really knew why

[@corneliuscornwallis]

Glad to see my favorite map in my favorite game talked about, great stuff man

[@weird_f1sh]

great video man, I really enjoyed it

[@PauloRicardo-fz9gx]

I had no idea you liked tf2 too. Ive been playing it for like 7 years and im still in love with it. It's great to see a video of you talking about it.

[@PantherCat64]

Okay, I did not realize what was going on in pl_swiftwater until today, and it's fricken hilarious. Especially with how you told it.

[@karlboson4803]

7:25 - this whole exchange is just heartwarming. Sounds like the friendliest gamer ever!

[@spartanseth7392]

I love the way you describe it. I don’t know why, but it makes me think of a veteran talking about a war story of D-Day. Good video as always.

[@victormurphy3511]

I have never played TF2. But I have been the service and we had operational training facilities that had that, "climbing the hill, urban fighting set up..." and it is so good to get to the top... It's Awesome. Great video. thank you

[@gelly4434]

hey leadhead, new fan here love ur vids on hitman and gta and now i love most of ur vids keep up the gr8 content

[@burritomaster6000]

this was a really really good in-depth video! Hopefully you get blessed by the algorithm!

[@TheBuilderize]

I remember when this map came out. I was so incredibly addicted to TF2, I don't think I've ever reached levels of joy as high as flying around this map as a scout shooting people off cliffs with the Force-A-Nature. Not even peaking on hard drugs has brought me that much enjoyment.

[@bag1856]

wow what an amazing video. Good job man!

[@cowboycave5071]

I haven't played TF2 in years. Great vid man, as per usual. Brought back a lot of good memories, even if I absolutely sucked at this game.

[@olly123451]

I'd love to see this for more maps, such a cool way to analyse a map, you could even do one for maps that aren't so good, maybe to show why maps don't work, or why they should but end up not working.

[@twpsyn]

I've played tf2 as my main game since 2012, played casually, MVM, comp in both etf2l and UGC, even played in a ready steady pan comp tournament once. I've only just now realized from the opening of this video what was happening in swiftwater lmao, genuinely made me laugh. great vid much like your others

[@maartenschutte9147]

didn't know i needed this video until now

[@rupdip2212]

this really gave me a renewed sence of appreciation, not just for this map but for tf2 :)

[@alemoncitrus8285]

God I love the Earthbound and Mother 3 OST so much. I love your use of it

[@gr3mmy]

upward has gotta be my most played pl map its so fun to play on as any class

[@gamergrill9629]

I've never really played or understood TF2, but this video was still interesting and entertaining - good job on it!

[@harambae7014]

I'd love to see a video like this about Hightower. I haven't played TF2 in years but I used to love that map. So much fun rocket jumping around the tower and raining down hell at the enemy base.

[@grimloncz3853]

Honestly, it's nice to have some things you can rely on. Like leadhead uploading every week.

[@isle_of_violets]

I LOVE THIS MAP SM

[@ottovonbismarck3905]

19:05 OOF that scout could have been at the front in about 2 seconds, but still chose to wait and tried to steal it from a heavy, lol

[@Unkle_Genny]

I saw that too and cringed lol, literally the fastest class in the game trying to steal a teleporter from the slowest class in the game. Smh

[@HeranBago]

I somehow felt that pl_upward was one one the best levels I have played in any game ever, but this video really put it into words. It knows its game so well and plays to its strengths.

[@noodlenogginsnogginonoodles]

I noticed in the description you said some of the songs were from the Mother 3 OST but I also heard "Your Name, Please" from Mother 2 Regardless, it's a great video and I really liked the Mother music added in

[@id85181]

there are also those nuances in map geometry and what you can stand on or not, like spy perches and sneaky engie tele spots and how you can literally ninjaneer on the third point increadibly well, and how you can crouch jump from the right stairs to the point on the third point. its like you said the little things that allow every class to prosper on this map.

[@RoaringShack]

I'm so glad to see a tf2 vid that is genuinely interesting

[@galactic_c4090]

I think the small slant that push you cart back, really help with the tension. Giving this, now or never moment, cause the time is usually low due to the defense of the enemy team

[@otokonoko379]

yeah upward is amazing. also respect for using the baby face’s

[@ramrose4111]

i love this video please make more!

[@jamesbrincefield9879]

I’ve never quite understood this game or the entire genre in general despite watching more than a few videos about it. This is the first video I’ve ever seen that made me see the appeal of it.

[@HandlesShouldBeRemoved]

the music was the best thing ever!

[@tev5040]

I was so surprised to find you aren’t a tf2ber. Great video!

[@leatheryfoot6354]

LeadHead is getting so much algorithm, I'm so happy for him

[@captntargaryen]

Beautiful

[@mickb5854]

Great video!

[@original4463]

Really good video!

[@frank1-]

i would like a video talking about the history of every map cause every map has his own history like 2fort,well,powerhouse etc

[@FormaThought]

Damn fine analysis of a classic map.

[@RiffSilverthe1andonly]

Please, PLEASE do more, I really like this its like uncle dane’s enginner’s blueprints which I also love but for everybody and the map itself

[@JagEterCoola]

Psst; You should've talked about Frontier as well. Even though only about half the map Is a straight uphill, every single thing you said applies there in a much more varied way because there's elevation stacked on top of elevation in several ways. It always 'looks' like It's red team holding the high ground against blue, but blue spawn after first is captured has them above the cart, leaving only 2 extremely vulnerable positions for Red team to counter-push them, which they will have to do because the ground they are so desperately defending is extremely hard to take back if your hold breaks, so you NEED to be on the constant offensive as the defending team - This gives Engineer's dispenser/sentry massive screentime IMO, both teams have great class opportunity for most of the map (With the exception of red scout on second due to a lack of a third flank route, although getting behind the enemy with Bonk can easily let you distract their team for an obscene amount of time.)

[@GiRR007]

honestly tf2 doesn't really do that well of a job at telling a story with its maps as I would hope. Its there but it could be MUCH better, would help to make the maps feel less like arenas

[@PantherCat64]

I need how to figure out how to record games to see different camera angles. it's surprisingly entertain to see what happens during a match. You are a lot more focus on playing during the match that you don't get to notice when 3 guys get blasted off a cliff all at once right as they die. Seeing this video reminds me of why I liked this game: it feels like a violent cartoon with a Pixar art style.

[@Wet_Deer]

Engineer is my favorite class and Upward is one of the best maps for sentry nests. Badwater is my favorite map though for the excellent sentry positions.

[@anecdotalintrigue6137]

great video!

[@Propain4eva]

Playing red soldier on upward last is so amazing