Canals

Canals is a map featured in SFD, added in Pre-Alpha 1.9.0.

Visual Characteristics
Canals is unique in its theme, with its oriental Asian theme, which could suggest that the map takes place in the Chinatown of Sunny City. This is backed up by the uses of the various Chinese-themed elements (the Chinese lanterns, neon signs and the statue of Buddha).

The map features distinct blue roofs and brightly coloured backgrounds, as well as similar amounts of wooden and concrete tiles. There is a water hazard on the lowest level of the map, which is accompanied by a rocking boat. The centre of the map is the main portion, and extends to include most of the map, excluding the small wooden structure on the left of the map. The map also contains an elevator to the right and many breakable wooden walls, as well as a hanging crate and searchlight on the top right which can deal extensive damage if used correctly.

Gameplay
Due to the cover that most of the map has, and the fact that Canals does not have many extremely open spots (except for the fragile wooden platforms to the right), obtaining a gun early on does not have to be your first priority. Canals is very much a map that favours the mobile players, and melee can be an extremely useful tactic due to many of the map's spots allowing for high fall damage to be dealt. Places like the rooftops, the wooden platforms, and near the water hazards are great places to lure your opponent into - before punishing them with an attack that is devastating, or potentially lethal.

Explosive power weapons like the Bazooka and Grenade Launcher are often neutered on the lower parts of the map due to how close everything is.

The fragile wooden platforms to the right can be risky to attack a player on, especially with melee. If your opponent manages to hit you with a kick or a grab, you will fall straight through the platforms, which can lead to a hefty amount of damage being dealt upon impact with the ground.

The small building on the right (with the fan in) can be a good vantage point for players who prefer to keep their distance and use firearms. The wooden counter gives you a extremely good line of sight across one of the main alleys of the map. However, be wary, as while the counter can keep you covered from players approaching from your left, you remain exposed from both above and to your right. The quick elevator to the right is optimal for players to rush you with melee weapons in an attempt to get you to retreat out of your cover and into the open, while the weak glass pane above leaves you vulnerable to firearms and explosives.

The map features several things that can be shot down, including a hanging crate, a searchlight and a weak piece of concrete. These can be extremely useful - if you can use them correctly. The searchlight and hanging crate can both be felled using a single bullet, however the piece of concrete requires more damage to be broken loose. One shot of a power weapon like a magnum or sniper rifle will almost always dislodge the concrete, and gib anyone underneath it. The hanging crate is arguably the one that has the potential to deal the most damage; the crate will hit multiple places before stopping - usually next to the aforementioned wooden counter. This gives the crate multiple opportunities to gib players standing in places that the crate hits.

Tips

 * The wooden platform at the bottom that separates the player from the water hazard is actually incredibly weak, and can be broken with a few bullets.
 * Shooting an explosive barrel of propane can near the weak wooden platforms at the top-right will often break most if not all of the platforms.
 * The Chinese lanterns can be broken, and will release a small amount of fire when destroyed.

Lore & Trivia

 * The skyline of Sunny City is quite far away, which would suggest this map takes place on the outskirts of Sunny City.
 * The map contains a lot of wooden and concrete tiles, which could suggests the original Canals is quite old, but has been recently renovated or rejuvenated.