DM-TempleofImhotep
Map Info
	File Name templeofimhotep.zip Author Cypher Bane Gametype UT Deathmatch Date Added 02-07-2003 File Version 1.00 File Size 252 kb Player Count 3-6 Map Description First Level: Egyption Temple Review Rating 2 User Rating 5 Overall Rating 3.0
Review
Reviewer Nahand Awe Score:  0.5/3 Date 12-26-2003 Build Score:  1.0/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  0.5/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  3.0/10 AWE: 0.5 Absolutely first of all, this is the author's first map for UT, acording to the README. Now, what we have here is a sort of Egyptian temple in the middle of the desert. As you all know, egyptian temples were often constructed underground, exception made to big important places of mass people deslocation, like Thebes, for example. That said, this isn't a fancy themed map set in a piramid or anything, but actually an underground temple, being the entrance at the base of a big sand dune, at night time. The work the author had in giving it a more or less "realistic" feel doesn't make it a good UT map. The textures are used right with the theme, but they are lacking in giving the place a more strong sense of UT arena. All seems bland, repetitive, and without lush decoration, like seen in other great egyptian maps. There isn't much to be said about architecture. Simple most of the time, there's some nice 2D Shape Editor-made "cracks" in the ceiling at the pool after the entrance with debris at the bottom. Lighting work could use huge improvement (just like anything else). The green at the pool is nice, but all the rest inside is basic torches yellow-ish, here and there (BTW, with coronas nicely done) and overuse of "dynamic" torch weaving effect. The map's preview image (shown at this page too) is the most elaborate light/shadow work to be found, and overlit in my opinion, just like all other lights. BUILD: 1 Everything is mostly basic shapes, with the ccasional 2D Shape Editor use. Soundtrack is a default Egypt-themed (no surprise here), and some ambient sounds where included for torches and water. CAST: 0.5 This map, due to his simple build work, ran smooth. FPS were always 59fps. Unfortunately, the major issue about this map is the layout, that just buries the flow. Done are a few rooms with some pillars and altar, connected to other room similarly "decorated". There's also a net of tunnels that run under the shieldbelt room, whose only purpose is for you to spawn and get lost. Add to that some quick dead-ends and an inexisting deco or texture work to guide you to exit. The entrance part is saved from dead-end -iness (o_0) with the inclusion of a simple teleporter, and this is where that minigun ammo error is set, giving you Sniper ammo boxes instead of bullets (other type). The rest of the weapons are more or less properly placed, with 2 ammo crates near. The BOTs did fine, but i guess even for them, this map was easy cake, though they didn't get the Shieldbelt - this one needed a Impact jump to get to. Though this is the 1rst map by author, it clearly seems to show some degree of mapping skills that other don't have, no matter 12 maps they released. To the author i can only say: keep going. You're in a good path, but not there yet ;)
Map Comments
Cypher Bane 03-07-2003 04:13 PM MST   Would like to ask for some critism(positive) .I really know this map needs work but I'd like to see how much work people think and eventually redo (alot better). Enjoy! ------- Thanks for the ideas storm and the rest of you. Im going to start work on the next version soon (I hope). Iknow my lighting needs work (I rushed it in one afternoon) I have plans for more elaborate texturin and interesting coridors. note:Didn't ever realise it was sniper ammo! storm 03-05-2003 03:07 AM MST Rating: 4   well for a beginner you should be very proud of yourself you have placed the weaponry and ammo well and the health packages in that respect youve got what it takes and i think youve considered where it would be good to place the gear about the actual map well on a profecianal scale it isnt too hot but yet again for a begginer its good game flow isnt too bad but the pillers on the normal floor dont flow to well the bottom floor goes quite well tho your lighting textures kinda suck not so much where they were placed but the dark patches were very clearly blocked so u might wont to improve on that too as for theme youve got yourself a good theme somemore textures for it and it would be awsome i think you should sit down and have a six player bot match on adept level and take a look at how the bots respond to your map thats how you could adjust the map for gameplay so that it runs smootherand once again just improve on the light id like to hear what you think on my points on your map so post another comment Deceased 03-05-2003 12:31 PM MST Rating: 4   Nice map for a first try... ( better than my first map ). the textures on this map are a bit plain and boring... but that can easily be sorted. ilike the theme the map has. also that is one of the best skyboxes i have seen. overall item placement was good. apart from one small thing that annoys me . Why the hell did you put Sniper Rifle Ammo next to the Minigun in the outside area !?, lol nighty 03-05-2003 02:11 PM MST Rating: 7   first map!! good try..i like the spaces for dm..has some nice bits, but most of it is corridors (too samey) cant tell where your at. add some textures in the tunnels. I love the pool area great!!! really nice effect looking thro hole to moon..nice job m8y