ONS-Julia
Map Info
	File Name ons-julia.zip Author Theseus314 Gametype UT2k4 Onslaught Date Added 06-15-2004 File Version 1.00 File Size 2.4 mb Player Count 8-14 Map Description None Review Rating 6 User Rating 7.5 Overall Rating 7.0
Review
Reviewer AMmayhem Awe Score:  1.5/3 Date 01-13-2005 Build Score:  2.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.0/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  7.0/10 AWE: 1.5 While there are plenty of snow maps out there, ONS-Julia still has a different look. It could be because of the bluish-green color to the ambience of the snow that you'll first notice. It looks a little odd, to say the least, but it isn't fully distracting. One of the other quick things you'll notice is the level of the playing field, it's not what you'd consider flat, not one bit. You can find yourself looking down a drop on a cliff's edge, or looking up at the looming walls as a Raptor flies over to harass you. As you begin to inspect things a bit closer, you'll realize that the author even went as far as to have thinner snow under the lush green conifers, even seeing some green grass too. Lighting comes from 2 sunlight actors next to each other, with light hues of 130 and 145, which is what gives off the unusual colors. They do a good job of lighting things up, with a late afternoon highly overcast day brightness, not real bright, but not too dark. Other lighting is just small lights for the node and vehicle platforms. They have a very small radius, and don't affect anything for total lighting. BUILD: 2.5 The main thing here, is the map is solid. Anti-portals are in place to help smoothness, to which I'll add that it ran fine on my machine. Ambience is scarce, as it a lot of things during winter. Some birds can be heard in wooded areas, and the rest is bitter cold wind. Sky box is kind of boring, with puffs of clouds quickly whisping by, originating from an emitter. No evil BSP errors. A couple meshes are found in the myLevel pack. Both of which help in the natural scenery of cliffs and rock formations. The rest is stock for purpose of aiding protection to nodes, slightly dressing up node areas, and again, for the ridges on the cliffs. It's kept fairly simple, and it works. CAST: 2 This map seems a little funny in gameplay, but that's because the layout isn't symmetrical. The 5 nodes are located at various levels through the ridge and canyon here, which offsets the balance a bit. The first node for the blue base is located on the top of the ridge, and there is a second one on the way, while the red's first is down the canyon, as well as a second one to follow. The fifth node on the z-axis scale is half way up, but also closer to the blue base. Then figuring vehicle placement at the nodes, the balance of the map is off kilter, but it's not too far off. Bots have no problems with the map, except maybe in strategy, but that goes with any map. Battles usually only rage at the first nodes, which means it'll be hard for the team with fewer nodes to comeback. Though it does seem to balance a tad, as the attacking the red base can be an uphill battle, and the blue base access takes you along a somewhat narrow ridge. Of course patterns of attack all depend on the path layout. No leviathons here, nor goliaths, so avrils can make a difference in defending against the weaker vehicles that populate the map. Health is fair, allowing you to be able to take some damage, and regain all without having to die for your only option. Weapons are almost all accounted for, no superweapons, and no biorifle here. But the spider mines do come in real handy here, which with past maps, never seemed to have much impact. SCORE: 6 This is just a map you have to see to believe. The gameplay aspects are difficult to describe. It has it's own style you could say, but it left me torn whether to how effective it is. I still play it, so it must have something good. :-) Definate download for something different in Onslaught play.
Map Comments
bright_eyes 06-15-2004 01:42 PM MDT Rating: 7   Yeh, this is a nice map. Good gameplay and visuals but nothing out of this world. Still worth that small download. Artman40 06-15-2004 06:09 PM MDT Rating: 9   It feels...asymmetric. Nice visuals, only noticed few flaws. You are trurly a good mapper Slip777 06-22-2004 01:27 AM MDT Rating: 9   really awsome man..almost as good as the ones that ship with the game..has a real good icey feel to it Manticore 06-22-2004 09:01 AM MDT Rating: 6   Well made, challenging ONS map......... Aconite 07-07-2004 07:50 AM MDT Rating: 7.5   Great fun. Love the spider mines. Best map since Spiffingrad. sandorski 07-04-2004 06:40 PM MDT Rating: 7   Good map Mad Irish Mapper 07-05-2004 05:09 AM MDT Rating: 7   It tis rather solid indeed. Worth the download. Theseus314 01-14-2005 01:05 PM MST   Thanks for the generous review. It's been a very long time since I played this level :P It's not exactly one of my favourite maps, I think my girlfriend likes it, but it's not like she's even UT2004's target demographic. RayZidane 01-14-2005 03:45 PM MST Rating: 7.5   I love Julia~!