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| DM-Raze | | | Map Info |
| | | | File Name | dm-raze.zip | | Author | darth_weasel | | Gametype | UT Deathmatch | | Date Added | 05-28-2005 | | File Version | 1.00 | | File Size | 5.28 mb | | Player Count | 2-4 | | Map Description | A small DM map built quick to show off Hourences new texture pack. There will no doubt be a few rough edges because i was pretty rushed, but it should do fine for a casual 2-3 player game, since the small size lends itself to fast tight gameplay.
The texture packs:
(http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/map_hub.php?mid=8479)
(http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/map_hub.php?mid=8480) | | Review Rating | 7 | | User Rating | 8 | | Overall Rating | 8.0 |
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|  | | | | Review |
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DM-Raze (UT99)
Has the map been razed to the ground? Or raised into the air? No, neither. Again we face an industrial map of indeterminate origin. Hastily constructed per the author's readme, perhaps Hourences' wonderful texture package (necessary to play but included in the D/L), is what the author hopes will raise this above the average industrial map.
AWE: 2.5
The texture work is relatively nice. I noticed quite a few misalginments, both vertical and horizontal, although on some BSP angles, this was unavoidable. However, the textures are chosen well and applied well despite the alignment problems. Most of the facility is brick and concrete which therefore moves away from the standard brown and medium grey industrial color scheme and more towards a new reddish/brown and light grey schema. Overall the effect is nice and the various wall, ceiling, and floor decos and their associated varying textures tend to help one forget that brick is by far the predominant wall texture. One the downside, trim is applied in most areas but there is some missing from time to time.
Lighting is good overall. There's some good hotspot work and hints at shadows but their instancing around the map seems a little inconsistent. The light colors contrast nicely together varying between warmer whites and yellows and cooler subtle blues. Some reds provide a deeper lighting contrast in some areas thereby aiding in landmarking the map.
The architecture is also pretty good overall. Nicely slanting walls inserts, both positive and negative spatially, provide some interest to otherwise boring wall areas, and the overall architectural effect is that of a solid facility. Particullary impressive is the amount of effort put into non-playable areas. Not in terms of it's 'awe' but more in terms of its scope. Completely inaccessible yet crucial in aiding the map to feel embedded somewhere. Unfortunately barely noticed if one is not looking for it, if one does take time to notice it, one will probably be impressed by the amount of depth and scale it gives - especially considering the space inside is so 'tight' in comparison. Finally, I would have liked to have seen the vegetation appear in other places other than the one area it was in solely for consistency of design.
Overall one can tell the author was rushing a little as indicated in the readme. The textures are mildly unaligned in many places and trim is occasionally missing. The lighting although of a good quality, is lacking polish. I believe the author would have polished these aspects up if he had not felt rushed. The architecture is the map's best aspect and although nothing's really new, it's all well conceived and executed.
BUILD: 2.0
The BSP work is good, complicated, and obviously competantly effected. Not an HOM to be found and even the BSP work outside the play area got the same amount of attention as the play areas. The lift works fine as do the triggered smoke emitters. There are two problems, however. I'm not sure if this is because of my video card, but on this machine, the water where the shield belt is would sometimes only be half-present, depending on the angle of view. Hard to explain but it was a bit off-putting. The other build item missing was the lack of ambient sounds. Not one sound actor in the map, the only noises you'll hear are lift and water-related. It's unfortunate these were missed.
CAST: 2.5
The gameplay is the map's best aspect. The variable z-axis, the twists and turns, all add up to a very good DM experience. I found the layout a bit tight in a few areas, but this was balanced by the open areas fairly well. The flow was good as I was attacked by the bots throughout the map and I didn't neglect any locations. There were tight areas, as mentioned for flak, more open areas for rockets, and some longer distances for hitscan weapons. I do think the weapon layout is a little iffy in some aspects. I think the ripper and sniper rifle are a bit too close together, and the flak and rockets are also a tad too close, although I will say that their equal proximity to the shield belt give a good risk/reward balance to picking it up, as does the noise of splashy feet when grabbing it. However, none of the placement issues is going to drag down the gameplay very much at all. It's a small map for 2 to 4 players and I acutally think 4 would be bordering on too much. This could easily be a one on one map if the ammo and health vials were scattered a little more conservatively.
In any event, despite the gameplay quirks, it's got a health dose of DM fun.
To un-raze the map and put everything in perspective, the map was a bit of a rush job, as the author indicates, but this is really only apparent in the details. Some more polish and there would be little to complain about. The texturing and lighting are good, the architecture's better, the build is solid, and the gameplay's better than all of the above. Perhaps a little lacking for hardcore players, it's definately a reccomended download for just about everyone.
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| | | | Map Comments |
| Lok
05-28-2005 07:51 PM MDT | Rating: 8.5 | | Excellent thing we've got here again!
I like particulary the ambiance and the lightning of your map ... This map worth the download for everybody who want a real good DM Experience IMO...anyway Everybody should download it!
| N3oDoc
05-28-2005 08:40 PM MDT | | Great map, i like very much the lighting on your map looks very realistic. Also the flow is very good.
| KaMi
05-28-2005 08:59 PM MDT | | Hey great map dude, maybe you could convert it to 2k4 too.
Lighting is really nice on this one :)
| Denny
05-28-2005 09:52 PM MDT | Rating: 8 | | Another great map, uses Hourences new texture pack (which also rocks). Great flow, bot support, architecture and everything else. Don't hesitate, download and have fun.
| EvilSwanky
05-29-2005 06:39 AM MDT | Rating: 6 | | Overall: Nice looking map with serious Gameplay problems.
The map looks great, from nice shapes used to the area seen through windows, the lighting, everything. The map reeks of atmosphere, not only because of the music track (which I found a bit nonfitting at first, but later it was ok for the map), but also through looks and sounds.
Layout is ok, plenty of Z-Axis here.
Yet I didn't found this map playing well.
Why?
- because of the botplay, it was ok for the most time, but they didn't use the lift right and got stuck until I blew em up with the rocket launcher
- because of the Itemplacement.
1) There are far two many items used, especially health vials. Staying alive is relativly easy here.
2)The RL / Flak / Shieldbelt + healthvial combo is way too strong, giving easy dominance about the others. You can grab all in nearly 10 seconds or less, depending on the gamestyle you play. I had a domination spree twice in a 50 TDM with 3 bots in adept, which is my normal difficulty setting.
- because you can get stuck easily on the lights in the tunnels in the lower part of the map. I found myself got stuck there often during firefights.
Overall score -> 6 (solid map with couple of flaws)
| Arch-E-Tech
06-02-2005 04:50 AM MDT | Rating: 8.5 | | Really nice looking map with adequate gameplay. The lights were way too bright :(
Awe: 3
Build: 3
Cast: 2
User Point: .5
Score: 8.5
Edit: played it a few more times and quite enjoyed it :)
| FraGnBraG
06-02-2005 05:44 PM MDT | | nice map - very good work dw :) i thought teh gameplay was decent, i never saw the stuck bot (yet) maybe i was too busy fragging, lol! nice lighting plan, pretty different than the other two maps in the pack - certainly shows off the textures in a different light (sic =P altogether a nice texture/mappack to download for fresh ideas in UT99 - u all rock!
| madscientist327
06-24-2005 12:52 AM MDT | Rating: 8.5 | | Nice map and textures :) By the way, could DM-7B-Sanguine be released seperately? I want to try it but I don't want to download 7Bullets right now. Please? I implore you. :)
EDIT: Thanks for responding darth_weasel, but I already downloaded and installed 7Bullets so I don't need it now. Thanks anyway. :)
| darth_weasel
06-23-2005 11:45 PM MDT | | Thanks for the review and comments people. a UT2004 version is underway. madscientist, you'd have to get in contact.
| Rakiayn
06-27-2005 08:37 AM MDT | Rating: 8.5 | | nice map,i really liked the architekture and the lighting
fighting on this map is really fun,
but there was one thing i missed, sounds,to bad you didnt used those
| ThaKillaTwinz
07-02-2005 12:24 AM MDT | Rating: 9 | | If they ever made volume 2 of the ORM mappack this would be perfect for it. It runs pretty smooth on my ancient rig too.
| redfist
07-02-2005 03:11 AM MDT | Rating: 8.5 | | I wish I could have rough edges like that on my maps hehe.
Right size for playing a good match too.
| scirmast
07-03-2005 08:39 AM MDT | Rating: 7.5 | | Good map, though maybe the connectivity is too good? :) I noticed that in some hard fights the FPS seemed to drop. Maybe the lack of potimizing, but with a 1700mhz with GF3 there should be no problems like these. Anyway, all in all a good map.
| Charon
11-16-2005 03:40 AM MST | Rating: 9 | | I loved this map at the first sight:) Even if it has no ambient sounds, and coronas are a little to big and affecting gameplay, cause it is hard to see enemies at some places.
Overall, lovely small map with very good gameplay and visuals. Playing it = pure pleasure. My actual fav.
| milb
02-10-2006 09:57 AM MST | Rating: 7 | | Hm, looks good so far, but some of the doorframes and pillars don't fit the theme. For example the pillars near the biorifle. May the fit to a skaarj theme...
Lighting is ok, i like it. The red is bit anoying but nothing wrong with the rest.
It's worth a donwload, but expected more after seeing the screenies.
| nELs0n
01-14-2006 07:09 PM MST | Rating: 8 | | very nice map.
even though it's an industrial map it's really cool.
i was able to see through the bot pathing in this map really fast and could predict the way bots would take which is what i didn't like too much about this one.
but the layout is definitely nice and in lan it just plays so well - especially with instagib on imo.
can't wait for the ut2k4 version :D
great!
| AMmayhem
02-09-2006 09:25 PM MST | Rating: 6 | | It does feel rushed. It's a bit smaller than I like, but I'm not knocking it for that. Weapon placements are too close together, in some spots giving you 2 weapons within a second or two of running. Looks nice, but the gameplay is lacking.
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