BR-Anima Ex Machina
Map Info
	File Name br-animaexmachina.zip Author Edward Duke-Cox Gametype UT2k3 Bombing Run Date Added 01-15-2003 File Version 1.00 File Size 2.97 mb Player Count 0-8 Map Description None Review Rating 6 User Rating 7 Overall Rating 7.0
Review
Reviewer Shock6822 Awe Score:  2.5/3 Date 02-07-2003 Build Score:  1.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.0/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  7.0/10 BR-AnimaExMachina (interesting name) is by mapper Ed Duke Cox, who youre probably familiar with since all his UT2K3 maps have received Ownages from CliffyB I believe. AnimaExMachina is set in a cave...dealy...and it definitely looks nice. Some people may think some of the caves are sorta sparse in terms of texturing, but I liked the subtleties of the map...waterfall with the noises, crystals being light sources, the beam of light behind the goal...good stuff. Lighting is well done in this, though some reflections and lights on the floor (ie in the RL room) are odd. The rocks are decent and the hallway architecture is nice as well. There are lots of ambient sounds throughout the map, which is nice. Adds to the ambience (obviously). Bots are so-so in my opinion. They dont really go in the RL room much and on one occasion, my bot actually went towards the WRONG goal with the ball...dont know if that was a pathing error or what, but Ive never seen that happen. Besides those few flaws, bots will give you a challenge though, thanks in part to the layout. I dont remember any HOM errors or anything, so the map is fine there. I enjoyed the gameplay. The map is clean not only in looks, but also in gameplay, if that makes sense. There are multiple routes to the bases and through the middle etc, even if some are a bit cramped. The layout is still a challenge and definitely requires teamwork against humans. The beam effect for the goal is cool, but I kinda wished it woulda done something like fry you :P Meh, no points off though or anything...silly gripe. Another good thing about the map is that despite the looks of the map, my fps never dropped and it always ran like buttah. Good job optimizing Ed. Pros: Above par looks without sacrificing playability, fun map, neat theme Cons: Bots, some lighting and texturing Bottom line: A welcome addition to the custom BR world. You have no reason not to download this map.
Map Comments
SirTahngarth 01-15-2003 07:36 PM MST Rating: 6   Very nice layout, with enough complexity to keep it fresh yet easy to find your way around in. I like these cave-themed maps. I was going to give it a 7 but I knocked it down a point for one significant problem- this map is certainly big enough for 5 on 5, yet I telefragged someone at the start of every round because there doesnt seem to be enough player starts. its annoying to hear "Team Kill!" and lose a point every round when you couldnt even do anything about it. Overall great effort, but you've got to add more player starts. Its good to add a few more than you think you need in team games, you never know how many players will actually end up on a map. Syrtis 01-16-2003 08:57 AM MST Rating: 9   Excellent BR map, good looking, clean, fast and fun: it plays better than most epic/DE BR maps imho :) DaZ 01-16-2003 06:04 PM MST Rating: 9   Fucking excellent. Download this now :) DocEDo 01-17-2003 10:47 AM MST Rating: 4   Cave, hi-tech indoors, cave. Not bad, but, nothing new. Needs more stuff in it. 1/2LuNaTiC 02-07-2003 07:50 PM MST Rating: 5   This map got boring very quickly. Shadowlurker 02-11-2003 05:03 PM MST Rating: 4   this map is probably the msot boring map i've played. The looks are so monotanious bland, and the gamepaly is nothing special. Another case of CLiffyB taking drugs. Friendly Bob 02-12-2003 07:26 AM MST Rating: 6   I actually playtested this map for Ed and we both decided that it wasn't one of his best. Not a truly terrible map, though. Who else thinks that the ownage rating is somewhat losing it's credibility? solidsnake 02-20-2003 02:50 PM MST Rating: 8   This map is fucking briliant TheSpoonDog 02-20-2003 04:58 PM MST Rating: 6   Not bad for a standard sort of package. Plays similar to the out-of-the-box maps. Tidy and nicely constructed but still - it's more of the same meshes slapped together to try and create something different, but at least the author has used different skins/textures on some meshes to make them appear different. Draco 03-15-2003 03:35 PM MST Rating: 8   This map looks good. Average gameplay. theBAMNman 09-06-2003 02:00 PM MDT Rating: 8   I honestly don't like BR that much and the out-of-the-box maps are horrible because they only have 3 paths max. This map splits into five in the middle, then 3 at the bases, which is a really good layout idea. I had no problem with the bots, and the visuals were nice. I guess I'm just saying don't blame the map for the gameplay limitations of BR because this map handles the possibilities of BR pretty well.