DM-BlackstoneCathedral
Map Info
	File Name dm-blackstonecathedral.zip Author solaris Gametype UT2k3 Deathmatch Date Added 03-28-2003 File Version 1.00 File Size 6.36 mb Player Count 3-9 Map Description None Review Rating 7 User Rating 7 Overall Rating 7
Review
Reviewer Twrecks Awe Score:  2.5/3 Date 04-06-2003 Build Score:  2.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.0/3 User Point:  0 Overall Score:  7/10 Bring out your dead, and enjoy. Amazingly enough this map can pass the Theme test and delivers new content to both the eyes and ears. In addition to some nice BSP work, DM-BSC includes a complimentary static mesh set, imbedded meshes, textures and soundFX in the MyLevel Package, plus a fitting OGG (Music File). The player is welcomed by somewhat convincing architecture of the crumbling cathedral that comprise this Gothic playground. The skybox/skydome is well executed and provides the orange contrast to blue/black stone ruins and stark snowy ground. Lighting is on the darkside, but holds true to the lack of sources and the fading sun. The additional SoundFX are well placed. Scale and Placement of meshes are thought out nicely. My main beef would be some texture usage that dont provide trim for the BSP arches. I believe the SoundFX and the one stainglass texture are UT ports. Im still waiting for someone to exploit the Shanes Church set (ala matching meshes). No movers are present and the entire combat arena is comprised of one zone (no undergraound or specific indoor areas). Antiportals are used to good effect and brushwork does not impede navigation for the most part. Bot AI is very simple, yet effective. Only to the right front of the building did I find BOTs performing strange ritual dances of confusion trying to access the upper reaches by way of a shattered enscarpment. Flow is very open as dictated by the architecture. The rafters see less traffic and make easy targets of those who dare. The main power up of the level is found in the graveyard, the kegger. I felt this would have been better placed inside the lone mosoleum rather than out in the open. Again, the RL reigned supreme with its splash damage most effective coupled the uneven terrain. Items easily supported the reccomended player load. Other maps like DM-DSC: DM-ReignCaster for atmosphere and open architecture. DM-NirvanaII for custom static meshe use and a similar sound track.
Map Comments
sibn 03-29-2003 04:48 AM MST Rating: 7   This is a nice map. The floor plan is fairly awkward, with only one obvious way to reach the top of the ruined cathedral. Not that you'll spend much time up there anyway-- Having no guardrails or anything to catch you, all your enemies need is to bump you (rockets are great for this) to force you back down to the ground. Ammo is scattered all over the level, with no obvious groupings, which actually works out nicely for the "there was an explosion here recently" feel that the ruined cathedral presents. On the other hand, most of the useful weapons are very inconveniently located, and you seldom spawn near one, helping to feed the people who like the lightning guns. Yes, "guns" (the plural form). Solaris appears to like lightning guns, as there are at least a couple of them. Since it's the easiest weapon to pick up when you respawn, you can count on having a lot of people holding them when they die, further diffusing them throughout the level. I didn't notice any other problems with it, though. I don't get caught on the doorways or anything like that (always aggravating). JAMIRO 03-29-2003 06:20 PM MST Rating: 8   This level is very good, it has nice visuals and a good gameplay, I like maps from this author dm-azufron it is great map too worth the download!! Gargorias 04-07-2003 09:49 PM MDT Rating: 7   Another unique map from solaris. Very Nice. sonofjaqen 04-09-2003 10:36 AM MDT Rating: 7   I really liked this map. It looks nice. The only thing I don't like, is if you go off wandering, you instantly die (for no apparent reason) if you try to go down into the valley. There needs to be some sort of physical barrier (a fence) to prevent this or a reason for the death (ie lava). Czm21x 04-12-2003 04:09 PM MDT Rating: 7   Very good looking visuals. The bots play good. The theme is interesting. The inside of the ruins are very dark, but I guess it needs to be dark since it is a small building. Underground catacombs would have added nicely to the general theme. I found the layout too simple,and I also thought it was odd that players instantly died when they tried to go into the valley. Craggy rough old cliffs cutting off the cathedral from the valley would be better. ZxAnPhOrIaN 04-13-2003 01:09 PM MDT Rating: 9   WOOOW!!! Flow: 8/10 Atmosphere: 10/10 Weapon Placement: 9/10 Overall: 9/10 Nice architecture, and skybox. The Skybox is outstanding!! Nanikore 04-13-2003 01:48 PM MDT Rating: 8   This map has a good flow. Basically a largely open level with some elevation differences divided up into rough sections of combat. Probably wouldn't end up on the upper levels unless you happen to spawn there, because if you stay up there you won't get in on the frag action. Homeslice 04-15-2003 10:20 PM MDT Rating: 8   One of the nicest I've played in the game of UT2003, that's for sure. What everyone says - great theme, looks, playability, etc. Great. NM_156 04-16-2003 06:43 AM MDT Rating: 8   My texture browser won't open in UT ED 3.0, someone please clue me in, thx Fordy 04-16-2003 08:46 AM MDT Rating: 7   NM_156 Nice map, though I thought it was just a little bit too dark & perhaps a little bit more illumination could have been set up around the walls with torches on them. BTW NM_156 try upping your screen rez, it might be that the browser is opening up slightly off screen. Acyde 04-18-2003 06:37 PM MDT Rating: 5   Nice idea, but bad construction and nasty lighting. Bots weren't exactly white hot either. Cythe 04-20-2003 07:48 PM MDT Rating: 9   Another great looking map by Sol! Time for Solaris to take her place as the QUEEN of UT2k3 mapping! (best looking skybox EVER) Mosquito 04-21-2003 02:23 AM MDT Rating: 9   looks great Megistos 04-21-2003 08:08 AM MDT Rating: 6   This map is too dark. Which makes it even harder to move around on top of the bulding. This map is obviously not made for revolutionary gameplay, but the visuals are really nice. [morpheus] 04-21-2003 03:46 PM MDT Rating: 7   Pretty good. Too bad the lower ruins are in a physics volume:|. The music adds a lot to the experience but it could be so much more. yupalisk 04-23-2003 03:26 AM MDT Rating: 5   Sorry, we didn't get it when we tried it with a LAN game. Atmosphere and sky is nice, but the layout is for fence climber fetishes. I'm not into balancing on my tippy-toes to dominate in a map. And if you stay on the bottom, your fish food. The one funny thing is when you see someone climb the rubble a.k.a. fence to get on top of the structure, they almost look like their flying up! BoDyLoTioN 04-23-2003 10:26 AM MDT Rating: 4   It's a nice designed map but it's just too dark to see shit inside the Cathedral. It's a nice map but the gameplay just sucks... nocturn 04-24-2003 01:58 PM MDT Rating: 8   Nice job. Only one real problem, not being able to explore the rest of the visible terrain. The building has a lot of character. Heppy 04-25-2003 09:13 AM MDT Rating: 7   Hmm, your right, it certainly doesn't pay to wander away from the action' your dead anyway. Good map, plenty of Z action. DocEDo 04-25-2003 10:44 AM MDT Rating: 5   Nice but needs more light and more diverse structures and rooms, not just rubble. Also the flow is kinda dull. DarkMagic 05-02-2003 09:06 PM MDT Rating: 8   Nice map. Corners and intersecting passages make nice gameplay. bah_mee 05-03-2003 04:52 PM MDT Rating: 6   The overall theme is good, but some pointers that may be nitpicky but would add to the map. 1. If its cold and snowy why are there tropical bird noises, the map should feel cold. 2. The Sky is red and warm and the feeling is cold. The Sun is freaking out when I look away and look back, it pops in and out, maybe putting the flare in the skybox instead of the sky? 3. There should be more ways to get to the roof, also it should at least have more covered rooms, it feels really empty. and finally.. 4. if you are going to make areas with other peices of castles in it please make the player able to get there, I want to go to those areas and am rewarded by a kill zone.. not cool! I gave it a six because of the bell ^-^ thats nice. solaris 05-05-2003 05:49 AM MDT   i think it's about time to say THANK YOU for all those comments. most of them were very helpful for me and i'm glad that most of you kinda like the map. i agree with the citisism about the valley with the damage volume - and i knew that that's a weak point of the map. i just thought: well, that's the way it SHOULD look and after you died down there for the first time you know the rules and hopefully won't try jumping down there again ;) the item placement could've been better, yeh, but believe me, i tried out lots of different things. also there are some pathing problems, but again: i spend a lot of time on every point and on the details, but at one time you just HAVE to release a map. so: thanx again for taking your time and keep the comments coming!! PS: bah_mee -> i live in central europe - the birds you can hear on a warm winter morning DO sound like those birds in that map :) (including the hawk) glad you liked the bell! EZkeel 05-06-2003 10:12 AM MDT Rating: 7   I wasn't sure if I liked the map at first. It seemed a little too dark in some places and a little awkward to navigate. However, I thought it was worth trying a few more times and I found now that it's grown on me and its quite good fun to play. The views from the ground looking up at the ruins is just the sort of stuff I like to see. This one stays on my HD. dihtyrant 05-22-2003 09:47 AM MDT Rating: 8   hey, you shoud consider re-releasing you map, and fix the valley thing, and anything else you may want to fix, cuz that would be cool The_Real_Meneer_Aard 06-12-2003 11:19 AM MDT Rating: 8   its a good map but its not yet in line with the big boys. the skybox just rules, only i think the desing of the cathedral is too simple and people shouldn't be allowed to walk that far into the hills. thats all the bad to be said. download now and find the rest out yourselves! Obi-Wan 08-31-2003 05:00 AM MDT Rating: 9   yahh i don't like church levels....but i do like smashed-up churches!! kick-ass skybox, great atmosphere! marry me!!!! darthnili 08-27-2003 06:40 PM MDT Rating: 5   lighting sucks- too dark Gameplay is bad too overrated TheZorch 08-29-2003 01:16 PM MDT Rating: 9   I don't think this map is overrated. What is important in maps like this is atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere, and DM-BSC sets that up nicely. One small notes however, for some odd reason the FPS drop just before the flash of lightning. Its weird but could be due to my hardware. I am getting a faster PC soon with a GeForce FX card. Shao 08-29-2003 06:49 PM MDT Rating: 8   is just great that's all. Claw 08-31-2003 12:05 PM MDT Rating: 5   The map looks nice, but I have seen people abandon half-finished maps that looked more sophisticated. It's nice for some action, but great map... no. hampel 04-16-2004 07:13 PM MDT Rating: 8   I like it like it like it! 8 points m8! Manticore 04-16-2004 10:34 PM MDT Rating: 7   Interesting visuals including the staiend glass which is a nice touch. A bit dark overall if you like to keep the action fast. It plays well as an Invasion map.