DM-Cityzen
Map Info
	File Name dm-cityzen.zip Author N3oDoc Gametype UT Deathmatch Date Added 05-28-2005 File Version 1.00 File Size 3.6 mb Player Count 2-6 Map Description An urban map :) Big thanks to hourences for his great textures hourindus and hourpitores. Special thanks also to KaMi for betatesting. Review Rating 7.5 User Rating 8.5 Overall Rating 8.5
Review
Reviewer ArcadiaVincennes Awe Score:  2.5/3 Date 06-02-2005 Build Score:  2.5/3 Review Schema Cast Score:  2.5/3 User Point:  +1 Overall Score:  8.5/10 DM-Cityzen (UT99) An urban-themed map utlitizing the brand-spanking new and excellent Hourences HourPitores_UT texture package. Unlike previous inner-city/modurban UT maps we've seen in the past, this setting harkens back to the '20's/'30's with its propaganda-themed posters (shades of Redkin perhaps?) and sandy-colored stone and brickwork blended with the occasional wood. AWE: 2.5 Making an urban-themed map beautiful and fresh is something that's fairly difficult to do as its what many of us are exposed to on a daily basis. However, switching the present for a particularly nostalgic era in the past, and with careful texturing, lighting, and architecture work, it can be done, which this map proves. The texturing here is fairly varied while remaining nicely consistent throughout the map. The floors are a nice, though sometimes haphazard mixture between cut stone paving, wood, metal, and asphalt. The walls bring home a more dated city feel consisting mostly of brick sometimes lined with cement. The walls and overhanging architecture are supported by metal beams which help delineate the forms and hold the pieces together. The posters are slapped on the walls throughout the map and help provide a sense of location as well as accentuating the time period. One problem I had was that there are a few areas using water and which are textured with floating lilypads. Although very nice looking, they seem a little inconsistent with the overall theme. I would expect the water in a city of this period to be somewhat dingy and murkey with lilypads and associated water plants confined to public fountains and private gardens. The lighting is quite nice with some fairly good hotspot/shadow contrast work. I think some areas could have used a bit higher radius hotspot work because the blue light that's used through the map combined with the light coming from the sky tends to blend together a little too well creating an impression of a little bit of ambient light rather than source-specific light. However, this impression is kept to a minimum. Some of the windows also seem to be a little inconsistent in terms of style and therefore the light color they produce but, again, this is few and far between. The architecture is a lovely blend arrivng at a spot somewhere between Hourence's Redkin, HL2's City17 (this might be a stretch for some of you) and Kami's recently released CTF-Gataka. I couldn't help but be reminded of all three of these when playing this one. But it achieves its own feel as well through the use of the curved architecture and the texture and color application. The three combine to accentuate the architecture nicely and the drama created by the taller buildings is a nice touch. One other bother for me is that it seemed like there were a few architectural pieces that functioned only to divide a play area and didn't fill any purpose or implied purpose toward the theme. In general, quite a lovely map with a bit of a fresh take on the traditional urban map. There were a few texture and lighting inconsistencies IMO, but overall it's quite a nice looking place to spend some UT time in. BUILD: 2.5 The BSP is nicely constructed and flows together well. The lifts and pathing a quite good as well. The zoning is adequate although there are some quite large zones here. I understand this is due to the open sky through much of the map, however I get the impression it could have been broken up a little more. Still framerates hold up fairly nicely in spite of this. The sound is a differnet matter. There are locational ambient sounds and they are mostly fitting their environments. However, they're spaced fairly far apart and there are no general ambient sounds filling in the space. Also lacking are triggered or item/place specific triggered sounds. There were two water splash triggers but I think more could have been used through the map. In general an very good built where the only aspect lacking is a more detailed soundscape. CAST: 2.5 The gameplay here is quite good. Concentrating mostly on varied z-axis rather than storied z-axis, the map flows well between all the levels. Due to the lack of storied z-axis, you'll find yourself fighting mostly up or down slope rather than fighting someone above or below you. In general I would have liked to have seen more of a balance between the two types of z rather than it being so heavily concentrated on slopes. The bots get around very well and although you'll learn to predict areas where they tend to concetrate I believe this is due more to the player count than either bad pathing or weapon placement. I found the weapon placement to be quite good and was never found wanting. The damage amp is placed in a relatively unique place and yes, the bots do grab it from time to time. In general the gameplay is quite nice with the only lacking aspect being a lack of storied z-axis compared to the amount of variable z-axis. Put together this is quite a good DM map. Lovely visuals, quality construction, and pretty decent gameplay all co-exist peacefully here in this urban theme. A bot more storied z-axis and some better architectural functionality and soundscaping would have completed this map. A must have for DM players, this is one the non-DM players should consider getting as well.
Map Comments
Denny 05-28-2005 09:30 PM MDT Rating: 8   I like this map. It's a nice arena with good texturing, lighting, flow, bot support, you name it. It's good to see the author uploaded it to Nalicity, i downloaded it off Unreal Playground. In any case, i recommend you give her a try. Lok 05-28-2005 07:48 PM MDT Rating: 9   Good flow and atmosphere This map is really awesome ... like the 2 others from these excellent mappers... Thats good to see a bunch of good map comes out today... Texture is awesome This maps is excellent , i cant complain about something...really, the theme is very realist... Must DOWNLOAD kurtloeffler 05-28-2005 08:03 PM MDT Rating: 9   Awsome, i love the old city theme, nice use of the new Hourences textures :) neoduck 05-28-2005 10:50 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   holy crap that is just.... frigging awesome. i love it. beautiful. Edit: w00t! can't wait to see the UT2004 version!! N3oDoc 06-02-2005 12:12 PM MDT   Thanks for the comments :) Glad you like the map!, i will make the 2k4 version :D EDIT: Thanks for the review Arcadia :) darth_weasel 05-28-2005 08:34 PM MDT   nice, i like how you're always looking up to see more detail streatching out above you, makes it feel bigger and more epic EvilSwanky 05-29-2005 11:26 AM MDT Rating: 7.5   Visually good map, like its appearance. I also found the gameplay of the map forced a bit too much into the area with the body armor (which the bots didn't grab :/) and the rl. Bots didn't grab the Damage Amp as well, maybe because of Transloc set to OFF, but I got it with impact hammer, so the bots should be able to get it as well. At least the bots gave a pretty good match in a pretty good map (with an unfitting music track IMO). 7.5 EDIT: KK I only played two matches and they didn't grab any. Will play further and then change things here. CyberChrist 05-29-2005 01:24 PM MDT Rating: 8   This is really something... I’m looking forward to the UT2k4 version, by the way. cAm 05-29-2005 11:44 PM MDT   wow, just glancing over the screenshots, i thought it Was a 2k4 map. can't wait to see the Real 2k4 version. Arch-E-Tech 06-02-2005 06:38 AM MDT Rating: 10   Oh yeah this one deserves some serious recognition. Fianlly a map with enough axis and enough room to move around in. Awe: 3 Build: 3 Cast: 3 User Point: 1 Score: 10 Ed: Bots grabbed body armor and amp :) Hehehe 7.5 on the review seems a bit low (for once), probably the best map ive ever played for ut99. Cant believe no 3/3 on awe :) FraGnBraG 06-02-2005 05:38 PM MDT   sweet map! great looks and gameplay - another great demo of the excellent hourences textures! scirmast 06-03-2005 04:53 PM MDT Rating: 8   Good aspects: +Unique layout +Fresh looking and beautiful +Clever AMP secret Bad aspects: -Bot Support (I normally lose to masterful) -Lacks a bit of Z-axis (this is just my problem - I'm a Z freak :) Sorry, too tired to write full sentences. Just got back home and I am dead tired. Don 06-06-2005 02:50 PM MDT Rating: 8.5   nice work Manticore 02-21-2006 03:53 AM MST Rating: 8   Nice map. Decent layout and visuals....