I do enjoy the very unique design that these levels have which certainly adds to the gameplay, and, not something you see in older Marathon Maps. Maybe one issue is similarities some levels have like the corner areas (for lack of a better term)of Paradigm Shift and Oculus Ex Inferni. The Downfall Of Paradise, I think is the best one.
I am a huge fan of the chaotic nature of the battles and architecture of the first part of the game. It seems unscripted, and I like the cramped style of combat. It prevents the ridiculous "Run in circles around the enemies and let them kill each other" technique, which is common in large battles.
I ended up taking the timeline where you get infected, and I was having a good time with those levels, though they are somewhat less fun than the ones where you cooperate with humans. I got stuck on the lava level Jjaro Jjaro Revolution. I ran through it about 30 times, getting farther each time, but I lost hope after a while. It's just way to hard, and minutes of focused killing can be obliterated because you just got knocked off into the lava. I'm okay with long stretches without a save terminal, but that was too long.
So to summarize, the first few levels were amazingly refreshing, and reminded me how I used to feel playing the original games oh so many years ago. It loses that charm towards the middle of the game, though continues to be very good.
I don't see anything in the description that says why you did this. Why don't you make something original?
Too late to be reviewing this thing, but I did want to say that this is the most kickass scenario out there. The maps are beautiful and immensely complicated, but at the same time, I found it easy to move from place to place and complete the objectives.
The combat really shines here. There are hordes of powerful enemies, but the arsenal is far more powerful (and more satisfying) than the standard Infinity weapons. There is always enough ammo, and usually enough maneuvering room, health, and saves to slaughter the hordes without being too frustrated. I've been more frustrated with other scenarios with far fewer and less powerful enemies.
Also, a great scenario to increase your skills in solo play. I first played it through several months ago on Normal. I'm now in the middle of a playthrough in TC, and it's even more fun than before.
This scenario has amazingly designed levels. They are the main reason I stuck it through to the end. There is some beautiful architecture in this map set, the lava level (forgot the title) comes to mind. The combat is very hard, and you basically have to save after every encounter. One problem is the massive over use of red defenders. They are not quite as much fun to fight as their ubiquity would suggest. The weapons are generally impotent, which you get used to after a bit. The energy katar invincibility totally changes the gameplay once it comes out. It's a nice addition and makes the following levels more manageable, though makes the final boss battle somewhat trivial. Finally, the terminal texts are boring. I stopped reading them after about the 2nd level.
The skulls were a fun touch. I managed to get 31 at the end.
All in all a great scenario, very solid. Could use a rewriting of the terminals, and perhaps a reduction of the amount of red defenders.
Excellent, very challenging but kept my attention the whole way through. I dislike the author's habit of putting in many doors that never open, but that can be forgiven in the light of the all round excellence of this scenario. I've played it through several times and kept going back to it because some of the levels are such fun to play. The Face of Modern Gaming is almost an epic on its own and Roquefortress is another favorite.
I'll further render S7's review system utterly meaningless by rating this a "5" just for putting lazy shitposters in their place.
Also, there were actually a couple very cool (if impractical in multiplayer) ideas executed here.
Great work, brillster! Did a solo run through the two new maps and looks like it will be fun, great work on the sounds too!
The hill adjustment on The Pharos was the best thing you did. That level is very fun now with KOTH.
Congratulations in advance on 1,000 downloads. (It's at 933 at the time of this review, but I'm sure it's due to happen soon.)
Make some single player maps. Then it won't feel like your detailing skills are being wasted when most people won't notice them in a EMFH game.
Oh yeah, the maps. Your two new entries are fantastic. And they aren't arena maps, so I'd give you a 6 if possible for actually taking the more difficult route.
I've actually played several games on several of these maps, and never made any serious comments.
They're really good! I can see a lot of growth as I go down the list; A Warm Feeling and Hide and Seek are two really visually/geometrically mature maps that use a lot of good texture choices to make it work.
The maps all seem mechanically sound, too; nothing stands out as really bad, except for maybe the map Weight of the World, which I am pretty sure was the first map, and it shows. It's to the point that you might want to make a new pack, because you're going to start veering away from the styles of your original efforts.
Differential shading still needs work, and on the whole the pack is too reliant on arena-style maps, but it's still a very good effort on the whole.
My favorite levels, honestly were Vae Victis and Words Which I Command. Because the thing about the guy dreaming, it's excellency. Epic scenario.
This is as much a review of Survival.lua (I presume this is what you're supposed to use with this map) as it is this map.
It's reasonable fun even if you play this solo on TC. Because of the huge amounts of regenerating ammo, it encourages one to experiment with different weapons and techniques. I've used it to try to get better at using the SMG and shotguns, with some amounts of success. But I still suck to some degree.
Only thing I would recommend is more SMG ammo.
First encountered this map in my short time on networked play, and had excellent fun working with the other players to keep back the hordes of Enforcers, Fighters, and especially those annoying Compilers (good thing for invisibility, eh?) Got shot in the back a few times, but hey, what's a rocket in the rear among friends? ;)
I really want to play this game. It looks hella cool... But every time I teleport from the first level, the game crashes and quits! Why!? I'm sure the game deserves 5 starts but I can't play it!
I like the addition of the health and oxygen overlay at the top of the screen. Reading the bottom of the screen is too much work.
Good overall quality. Last level is my favorite. I think Alex nailed the aesthetics on that one. It is a pity you do not get to see it in the screenshots :)
fun
ryokotk as ventriloquist throwing his voice into the mouth of a durandal dummy
ryokotk as xipe totec wearing the flayed skin of our computer friend, contorting its digital lips to form strange syllables
ryokotk as master of encounter design, toning it down from the attritional excess of phoenix
ryokotk as maker of a set of maps both fun to explore and questionably named
kindred spirits: plugging up the hole in our collective heart when all my children was cancelled
Six skulls - Ryoko's getting more devious with his hiding places.
Kindred Spirits provides substantial combats, including what may be a bolstered version of the cyborg. The drones are back too. The levels show off with intricate architecture that bolsters the gameplay. 'Dr. Tycho's Castle' comes off particularly strongly.
Kindred Spirits uses the dull Infinity textures but that's mostly a matter of opinion. Durandal hits us with a side of his personality we haven't seen before, specifically the "I'm thrilled to see you but I would never admit it." At any rate, he doesn't sound quite the way he does in other scenarios.
Another great pack!
I've tried it on all Marathons and it does not work. The screen flashes and glitches on Infinity and M1 but on Durandal it crashes it. ???????