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ActRaiser (https://www.vgmaps.com/Atlas/SuperNES/index.htm#ActRaiser)
For this month's "Maps Of The Month" featurette, I wish to draw your attention to Rick Bruns's ActRaiser (Super NES) maps.
In ActRaiser you play the "Master" of a world populated by humans that worship you, but are repeatedly threatened by demonic forces. Take on human form and vanquish evil! Then return to your home in the sky and foster the growth of your people.
The unique thing about ActRaiser is about how it covers two gameplay genres: half of the game is a platformer and half of the game is a city simulation. The platforming action portion takes place when you take on human form and use a sword to fight off the demons in various parts of the world, to make the land peaceful for the humans to thrive. When you are in the Sky Palace, you and your angel helper can direct the humans towards monster lairs and change the terrain to facilitate the expansion of the cities. Together, these two experiences make for a one-of-a-kind experience on the Super NES. (Oddly, the city simulation portion was not present in the platforming-action-only sequel.)
Rick Bruns has mapped out all of both modes, so you can see where everything is, whether you are slaying demons or building cities. Equipped with these maps, you can feel as omniscient as you would expect the "Master" of a world would be.
So to recognize the effort put into mapping this world so masterfully, Rick Bruns's ActRaiser (Super NES) maps will be known as VGMaps.com's Maps Of The Month for December 2015.