The search for wulfhere for Quake2

***NEW!!!***

Level name: The search for wulfhere

Author: mats holm

Release date: 29 August 1998

Size: 702 ko

Number of maps: 1

website: None

download: at deacons tomb


Story:

save your best friend wulfhere not to be a zombie,
then kill general egon. (to save the world)

Review :

when you read the txt you have some doubt about this one beeing a single player experience and indeed it's well interconnected and design to propose a real good frags arround. It also come with a surpsising single player experience with quite good looking design layout.

Design even if first dedicated to deathmatch is quite well done an above average in a symetric layout oriented on a impressive egyptian theme (regarding several detail and the only use of regular texture) It's a quite small map but provide some huge architecture not only in term of brush but also regarding atmosferic size of several location and especially the end battle place...but remember it's at first a deathmatch map so it's a quite limited and repetitive design especially in term of hallways and intercoonection.

Gameplay is simply oriented on the pyramid key qwest and the final battle (really challenging regarding your weapons) the amount of enemies is limited like things you may grab...so it's just a short experience that mixes all... a little above average.

Inconclusion: short, surprising, enjoyable.


Playtime: 15 minutes

Rating: A B C D E (78%)

E.T.F. for Half-Life

***New***

Level name: E.T.F.

Author: Jan 'Fresco 'Ripper

Release date: 24 December 2007

Size: 5 018 ko

Number of maps: 3


website: author's website

download: at author's page

Author's note

E.T.F. is a short mappack for Half-Life 1 containing three action-packed maps. The story is yet another What-if-scenario that takes place in good old Black Mesa. Initially it was created for a single player contest at thewall.de.
Since I had to finish this one very quickly I re-used a lot of old stuff. Some of you will probably recognize some parts of the maps from my Lost source maps package.
The contest project however has never been completed, so I decided to release E.T.F. as a standalone episode. For more information, please refer to the included readme.txt!

Review :

This is the second release from Jan and even if a short and not as good as it's first release it's certainly an enjoyable one. It take part in black Mesa 12 hours after the accident and you only aim is to find a way to escape...it's challenging in some part and well put together to motivate your qwest.

Design is like in the previous release from Jan, well put together, your progression is quite obvious with a lot of trigering element but not that much puzzles, the author puts a lot of attention in adding a huge amount of detail like the sandwich on the table customized posters and so on even toilet has it's own quite up to date design. This mission is only taking place, except the last cut scene, indoor . The general layout really take in advance all quality of HL engine and add a lot of visual effect to immerse you into this small mission..it's certainly not perfect and limited too much to the way you progress with lots of closed door but it's enjoyable...

Gameplay is straight forward with no complicated surprise except the ones dedicated to the fightings...but this make this mission certainly enjoyable by adding some difficulty. all stuffs are well balance except perhaps the ending that close this mission just when it's starts to be enjoyable.

In conclusion: Time of trouble was an enjoyable mission and for me even if this one was not that much immersing you, especially because it was too short it certainly lets you a good filling after you finish it and that is for me the most important.

Playtime: 20 minutes

Rating: A B C D E (77%)

Space Lasercore for Half-Life

***New***

Level name: Space Lasercore

Author: Tommy "Tlax" Pettersson

Release date: 27 August 2004

Size: 1 052 ko

Number of maps: 1


website: author's page not updated since 2005



download:



Story

You are Gordon Freeman and you are now a soldier in the administrators MR.G-man army.You base is on a space station, A attack on one of the earth installations send you on a mission.

Review :

Tlax came up to half-Life community with a impressive release in 2004 called Timefall (check is website) after no other major release was done but a lot of small put together things especially for the TWHL competition were done, they were always short but really impressive, with a mix between puzzles, cutscenes and well put together archtitecture, this one is certainly not an exception, I'm especially impressed by the map size...regarding all what it contains.

Design is perfectly using the feature of Half-life, starting with a small cutscenes and after a mission briefing before you jumps into action with the help/protection of barney, the architecture is the grunt base theme but imaginative with as major highlight the laser core. the attention to detail and layout makes your progression enjoyable with help of allies and some (tricky) puzzle.

Gameplay is quite hard but weapons and ammo are there to make you rush through this map trying to protect Barney even if puzzle are not that evident it certainly add some intesting thing on what to do next, use of custom and original content give a good fluidity to this somewhere short release.

In conclusion: I didn' t find any trace of this one even not on the author site it's defenetly a 'Hall of Fame' one at least for me .

Playtime: 30 minutes

Rating: A B C D E (92%)

Small Pile of Gibs for Quake2

***NEW!!!***

Level name: Small Pile of Gibs

Author: William 'Spog' Joseph

Release date: 20 August 1998

Size: 2 076ko

Number of maps: 1

website: here

download: at 3dgamers edge


Description:

*Mission background*
A long range scan from a TCM battlestation has discovered a newlybuilt Strogg installation hidden in the mountains to the east ofCerberon. Further surveillance reveals that the Strogg are usingit as a resource for their war effort, and taking advantage of the natural geological features: Essentially they are pumping uplava from deep within Stroggos' crust, and using it to melt thetip of a glacier that is creeping towards the installation. Thiswater is then pumped out into the natural streams and rivers,where it flows down to Ceberon and provides an invaluable supplyfor munitions and vehicle factories.Obviously removal of the installation would help the TCM attackforce, but a defence system around the mountains prohibits anaerial attack, and the dangerous terrain prevents ground forcesmoving in. Thus we are using subterfuge and taking advantage ofa brief maintenance period, when the installation is less activeand minimally guarded. We have encoded two data CDs with a hugelydestructive computer virus, which when used on the installationcomputers, will annhilate the operating systems. This allows usto shut down the installation, without the need for a wastefulphysical assault.You will be sent in via a drop pod, targeted at the upper areaof the installation, very close to the control computers. Toprevent the Data CDs being revealed if you are captured(unlikely as the installation should be almost deserted), theyhave been dropped to nearby ledges surrounding the top of theinstallation. Thus you may have to do a small amount of searchingto find the CDs and apply them to the installation computers.Once this is accomplished, you should return to your drop podand activate a homing beam that will trigger a teleport fromthe nearest TCM battlestation - the drop pod has just enough powerreserves for this, so don't waste any juice once you land.I would wish you luck marine, but the simplicity of this missiondoesn't really warrant it, as there is very little that couldgo wrong - easy in, easy out!!

Review :

I won't be different about any other review done on this one, This is THE LEVEL for Quake2 even perhaps the best sp level ever, there is nothing that impressive in it and if you look to some part, building or the whole montain, it's quite classic but when you will finish this one the only word is a WOUAW. It's difficult to explain bu when you make a map you have some idea to put in and on a certain point you won't be able to push you idea futher due to the limitation of the engine or the complication you may enconter. For this one the author knew exactly what he could do and manage to do it in the perfect respect of mixing all argument needed to build a map, he wasn't good to do several things but the whole thing like all of us dream to make some release was made...

Design is perfectly put on the industrial base design that is so good for Quake 2 experience with a complex castle/base designed into the montain with water, caverns, buildings and so on it's so huge and immersing that if at any moment you fall down or doesn't find what's next you may turn arround for quite a while, area after area your only mains objective will get on your nerves...but when will i be able to finish...and when you find an item or a solution it's only to a small step forward, all this was done with only original featured with is another remarkable touch

Gameplay is also brilliant with over 200 stroggs the challenge is everywhere without any hords attack but respawning and enemy placement was also perfectly manage, like weapons items and health given you at the best moment it can, In addition to this map you can also sneak for 8 secrets zone well worth to find and add with the perfect realism touch. Finally this huge and tremendous work come also with a technical perfect fitting balance you won't experience any slowdown, attention to perfectly fitting view will encourage you in you qwest and will release the 'conceptual grandness' of this one while you progress. Exept for the map done by Billy boy for duke nukem i never saw something comparable in a one simple unit.

In conclusion: William have produce what a lot of mapper never did before the nearly perfect map: it's huge, complex, enjoyable and so good looking that it's certainly the one you should never miss.

Playtime: 1 hour

Rating: A B C D E (98%)

Help Wanted for Half-Life

***Previously reviewed on my french blog***

Level name: Half-Life : Help Wanted

Author: Bryan 'Zouave' Dillow

Release date: 31 October 2000

Size: 9 768 ko

Number of maps: 10


website: author's page not updated since 2001



download: At author's page

Story

according the author's page the mission just started as you apply for a job just after you recieve you degree. The offer follows:

Sanitation Engineer
Immediate Openings for full time position in laboratory setting. Ideal candidate must be able to handle vigorous work schedule, possible overtime, and pass drug screening and background check. Hazardous Environment Suit to be provided to you on site. Please apply to the Human Resources Department, Black Mesa Research Facility.

and so, It's your first day at work. The job is simple enough, put on your HEV suit and head over to Sector C. If somebody spills something, clean it up. What could be easier?

Review :

Black mesa... never heard about? this mission is then what you are looking for to travel to complex that become similar through one of the most popular game from the last decade...Your new position is a sanitation engineer, so put on your suit and jump into your first day a labor everything is running well for you first day sadly for you just on the moment you are close to the experience zone something went wrong and so the accident happens.

Design is a lot inspired by black mesa, perhaps a little to much and lovers of this theme will cetainly appreciate it while other will just complain about 'another black mesa' experience... The design is well manage there are a a lot of detail really enjoyable (but you could easily be lost through the extension of detail that makes you take the wrong way) and will really catch you attention through your progression, this really give some good remembering the author also add some custom content through texture and skybox ( a bunch of them are available on his website).

Gameplay will directly immerse you with the original intro scene, after a good mix between search and puzzle, that can easily orient you gameplay if you didn't find the pied de biche (perhaps it is no available), if this is the case you only way to survive the first part is to run... after the challenge will increase with you progression but never with frustration, everything is well balance and will make you progress to the outdoor area that just stop your progression with future possibility since the project was abandonned

In conclusion: Even if it's not completed it's cerainly an enjoyable experience to play through and a recommanded experience for all half-Life fans.

Playtime: 50 minutes

Rating: A B C D E (82%)

Ubilitus for Quake 4

***NEW!!!***

Level name:Ubilitus

Author: Victor 'EFX' Lundberg

Release date: 07 July 2006

Size: 43 952 ko

Number of maps: 2


website: here but dead?

download: at map factory


Description:
None mentioned, it's a classic mission with two main objectives: first regroup with the rest of you team and take the elevator, second shut down the power and escape through the transport bay

Review :

This is the second experience from EFX with mapping after a map made for doom3 that was quite a good suprise. Ubility is something more consistant with not simply mapping but also some coding and scripting to let the player be immersed in a well put together experience.

Design start slowly with a basic design and layout in a linear way that is quite crafted and limited in term of environment to the way you progress, after the design become more complex and fitting with more inteconnectivity, the progression make some backtracking, the bad suprise are here and there arround the corner, the internal lighting and the perfect colored touch Quake 4 can provide shine through those new areas and so the player got better and better immersed while he is progressing. The use of elevators is this map add something that was for me only well used in some Half-Life modifications, the squad experience is also something that let you progress with a better feeling. The author add here and there some extras below a ladder behind a corner like in all those old FPS where the quest for secret places add a interesting touch, some autosave and cutscenes are also present to better prepare the player for what comes next...sadly you will only see the outdoor through several view at the end but will never be able to make some outdoor battle.

Gameplay is mostly base on the shooter aspect there are no puzzle to solve here and only a few activating button that make you travel form place to place...it's mostly a battle from you (and you squad in the second map) against the evil forces. health and weapon are well placed to make it challenging but never to complicated and this until the end battle a little bit thaugh but not that difficult. The interaction with you squad is really a good point because it can support better challenge through more enemies present at the end it's perhaps a little too classic but it's still fearly enjoyable for arround an hour of intense immersion

In conclusion: For a second release of the author it was certainly a success perhaps too oriented to combat and limited only to indoor environment but regarding the playtime it was really enjoyable and well worth to play.



Playtime: 1 hour 15


Rating: A B C D E (92%)

First Poll : What's your favorite Science-Fi FPS Serie

the title was:

What's you favorite Science-Fi FPS serie from all time


here are the result :

I would really like to thanks all the people (20) who participate to this first one and hope they enjoy sharing their opinion with me.

there was no real suprise for me and just put in evidence that through the viewer of this blog, Half-Life serie is the most liked...I wouldn't really expect it to be so dominant...

for the second poll I will take this first one to orient the coverage of this blog that is not only dedicated to Half-Life serie (even if both make the most covered maps & mods) but also to other FPS game.

For the second Poll I will Just ask you to make a (multiple choice) on other game you would like to see reviewed more often (duration of this poll will be two months

Sadly I'm limited in choice sothat I could add Build game that I may cover in the future if people ask for so the third Poll will be dedicated the the Build Engine games ;)

Please if you choose other just post a comment to tell me which one(s)