DM-Onion
Map Info
	File Name dm-onion.zip Author Steve Keene Gametype UT2k4 Deathmatch Date Added 04-02-2005 File Version 1.00 File Size 13.09 mb Player Count 2 - 6 Map Description None Review Rating 7.5 User Rating 8.5 Overall Rating 8.5
Review
Reviewer ArcadiaVincennes Awe Score:  2.5/3 Date 04-13-2005 Build Score:  2.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.5/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  8.5/10 DM-TheOnion (UT2004) A map name implying several layers which accurately enough depicts the gameplay - but without the stench. Note: the ECE Bonus Pack and Hourences' UT2004 texture pack must be installed in order to run the map AWE: 2.5 The texutring is well-aligned through with no glaring misalignments. Quite a wide variety is used but to such an effect in terms of keeping with the theme, that it all flows together well. Usually this much texture variation without extremely clearly defined areas would lead to a sense of a mish-mash however, somehow, IMO, this map avoids this. All the textures pertain to an old semi-industrial/urban location with cracked concrete, stone, wood, and rusted metal all swimming together. I think the old bad choice was allow much of the floors to use the curved paving stone pattern texture from Hourences' texture pack. A little more variation in this texture use would be the only texturing suggesiton I could conceive of giving. The lighting was quite good throughout the place. Lovely shadow work combined with lighting coices of just the right saturation and variety blend each area into the next. The coronas were well placed, well sized and none came over too overpowering. In general I would say the only critique I have in terms of lighting would be that the lowest areas in the map should have been a bit more dimly lit to add another 'layer' in contrast to the brighter, more open areas near the top of the arena. As for the architecture, it's a bit of a blend of different styles again contributing to the layering theme. Some pieces look derived from a megalithic gothic castle style, others from a run-down urban setting, and other from stark factory settings. However, again, it all blends together well and nothing really seems out of place. My only complaint here is that some of the outside the map scenes look a little 'UT99'-ish compared ot the inside of the map. They seem a little primitive in comparison to the acutal arena area. In general, we have a blend of varied texturing, blended lighting colors, and blended architectural styles. Despite the variety of all of it, it all flows together nicely weaving layer upon layer together. The overall effect with the industrial/urban theme and propensity towards brown and grey of most of the texturing does give a little bit of a drab color pallette to work with, but the gestalt of the pieces all combined outweigh the initial displeasure I felt when viewing the earth-toned screenshots. BUILD: 2.5 From the BSP assembly, to the integration of the meshes and component parts, the build is quite good overall. The movers sound appropriate enough and they're pathed with the appropiate lift jumps as well. The BSP is nicely complicated and zoned fairly well. Some antiportal work has been done as well, perhaps a few more would have helped a bit. Meshes were appropriately blocking volumed to encourage uninterrupted flow, however, there was a broen ceiling area I was able to get into that I would expect was not a planned play area. As for sound, there was some nice triggered effects but in terms of true hotspots and general ambience, I found the sound a little lacking. There were a few aural hotspots but even more would have added more 'layers' and most of the time the general ambiant noise was wind up above and just a general hum/wind sound down below. Overall the build is quite good here with jsut the sound being found lacking IMO. CAST: 2.5 The gameplay is as multilayered as the name of the map implies. There are ramps and lifts and lift-jumping and wall dodging to be had. I think some more ramp-dodging opportunities could have been had but overall I'm not complaining. There's enough other things to bounce off of that you'll hardly notice any missed opportunities. The map has good flow overall. I couldn't really complain about any item locations nor any real neglected parts of the map. The bots do a good job here as well and will give you a challenge. However, I noticed that they never really stayed in the upper areas of the map for too long. Most of the time when I came across the bots I was able to rain down death from above. One point to pick on is that the map performs pretty much at either a few FPS below retail (read 1 - 5 less), or is drops significantly at not a few points. The drops occured when looking across larger portions of the map where the view crossed several zones and thus good portions of each of those zones had to be rendered. Due to the map layout, this is largely unavoidable and the author did zone the map thoroughly. The best way to resolve this would have been to close the map up a little more providing more chances for antiportal insertion as well as additional zones. However, the drops geenrally aren't drastic enough to significantly affect gameplay except perhaps on old, low-spec machines - mid range machines and up should be fine. To sum up, the gameplay is a many-layered affair that will have you boucing all over the map. Perhaps a bit better to play with humans than bots due to the bots' proclivity to stay low, you'll certainly enjoy the possibilities afforded you on this one despite the occasional FPS drop. To put TheOnion back together, the overall design from texturing, lighting, and architecture, to its many gameplay possibilities truely render it a many-layered map. Gameplay > eyecandy and this map may not be the most 'magical'-looking map, but its gameplay is = to its eyecandy. And both are represented extremely well in this map. A definate download that won't stink up your hard drive.
Map Comments
D-7 04-02-2005 05:42 PM MST Rating: 8.5   Download. Nuff said. mozart 07-03-2005 09:12 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   the more I play this the more I like it. Kantham 04-03-2005 09:19 AM MDT Rating: 8.5   WOW , Downloading RIGHT NOW Edit: The gameplay is totaly random , the overall is very good , the fps are too . The author put a big effort in it , and you can see it all around the map a must have if you want a gameplay totaly different with a mid-industrial map. MajorM 04-03-2005 05:39 AM MDT Rating: 8   I´m only missing the cheese ;) G.Lecter 04-03-2005 02:18 PM MDT Rating: 9.5   One of the best DM maps I've ever played! - I really liked the layout, great z-axis and connectivity. The lftjumps add even more flow. Item placement is very good too. - I also liked how the LightingGun works here. This weapon is useless in most of DM maps. However, crouching down a moment and having a pair of sniper frags is a good choice here... :) - Definitely the Hourences texture pack can make wonders. The visuals are great and simple. I'm sure with a more spectacular theme this map would have been worse, I love this brown ambience with such good framerates. I played this one a lot since it was released and I never got bored of it. It makes the wish of keep playing it after the end of a match, that's what a good map must have. lol With these things it would have been perfect: - The water sheet does not show well with my GeForce4 MX. - I miss a better skybox (not so white). - Custom music would be cool too. A must have. Download now... cUnNiNg_StUnTs 04-05-2005 05:07 PM MDT Rating: 9.5   Great job Luv_Studd this is one of your finest maps, and makes a great Team DM map which we don't have that many of in the community. A lot of work went into this well thought out design and it shows. I look forward to seeing it on servers soon. :o) nELs0n 04-06-2005 03:43 PM MDT Rating: 8   whoa nice! now, i really like the layout of your map. looks like you really spent a lot of time and thought on it with all these slopes and stuff. it's not that big but having so many ways to choose from it's appearing bigger than it actually is. the setting reminds me a bit of a tony hawk's pro skater 2 map :D good work! Manticore 04-09-2005 03:20 AM MDT Rating: 8   Good layout with plenty of z-axis and a flow that doesn't quit. Looks good too... redfist 07-03-2005 11:53 PM MDT Rating: 6   It's a well enough map,but it feels like the same FOV problem that ut2003 has,like things are in your face all the time.(hard to explain) Too many paths and places ,ramps ,dropthroughs,like it doesnt have a direction of wich way to go. Wich makes it hard to preplan the oponents moves. I remember one other level you did,you seem to make intertwined convoluted type of maps. There is alot to the map,and and getting real tired of that triggered clank sound (nothing against your map) but it's everyware......... The size is too big,not just the peremeter,with all the different ways to go in there it adds up to too much,mabye a min of 5 players. Still a good job,not my kinda DM action.The texture picks are excelent,lighting felt like ut2004,done ok. EDIT,,you know........... you really need to make a "garlic" level now. you commited,no discrimination.poor garlics ,,,,,heh... hawkwind 04-18-2005 01:56 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   a note to the admin, the extra "user" point isn't showing on this review, should be 8.5, not 7.5. that aside, this is one of Luv_Studd's best works, in a whole series of good to great levels. the complexities just blow me away. yes, it has more "lebensraum" or , i guess in deference to Luv_Studd "liebensraum" but it is billed as a TDM level, and as such plays wonderfully, and plays wonderfully non team if you've had enough caffeine. looks great, plays great. those sounds allow players a CHANCE of not being ambushed. maybe it would be good to create a stable of similar sounds, so people don't have to hear the same clank/creak. gj man OldManPeterson 05-03-2005 08:19 PM MDT Rating: 9.5   I'm lovin it. Kobra 05-08-2005 08:13 AM MDT Rating: 9.5   Congratulations!!! Great map!!! :) Fuzzy Logic 05-11-2005 12:54 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   Dumb name, great map...! Freedomshaoray 05-11-2005 04:13 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   Hate the name!!! Love the map!!! :D Good Job!! kingmango 06-02-2005 09:36 AM MDT Rating: 9   Another kick ass Luv_Studd DM? What a surprise? lol :D Almost as good as DM-Dante ;) scirmast 07-03-2005 10:59 AM MDT Rating: 8.5   The Onion Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! This map is superb! An open fragfest for duels and FFAs, The Onion hosts one of the best layouts to date. There are many routes to evey part of the map, though some might not be used that much. Plenty of Z-axis! The biggest flaw is that the hitscan weapons are overly powerful here, while Bio Rifle and Link gun are very much neglegted. Of all duel maps I think only Grendelkeep is more hitscan oriented than this. However, given that The Onion excells in all areas this can be somewhat forgiven. Trickjumps and indicator sounds are a plenty, and botplay is good too. Double Damage is not used in duels, but in FFA it'll be usefull. The best custom map to date. A must download for all! Luv_Studd 07-03-2005 06:33 PM MDT   Thanks guys, and thanks Arcadia for a very good review. It's right on the money. I am trying to take some advice given at a forum to see about a CTF variation of this map, and will take note of your input here as well. Cheers! :) update: thanks guys who posted after I did also. redfist: I agree with most of your comments, thanks I appreciate the feedback! ~~~~~~~~~ Thanks King M, scirmast and others above - my gripes with this map and Dante are the scale compared to the player - I definitely have that in mind on my future maps. Turns2Ashes 07-03-2005 08:28 PM MDT   Kinda too big and open for my tastes, but that's really more the fault of the player scale than anything. Didn't like how both the hitscan weapons were up top. That's way too convenient to be good, especially with weapon stay off. IronMan 05-26-2008 11:55 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   I really enjoy this map as well as alot of Steve's maps. Excellent layout and item placement isn't too bad either. Bots play well. I have the LE version of this map which I think I found over at UPlayground. This map is highly recommended.