NightFright
Mini-Member
Posts: 64
Registered: 08-10 |
OK, here is my smackdown of "Ground Control" (E1M3):
Technical stuff:
I noticed some texture alignment problems, from what I could tell at least on the door in the secret room with the yellow keycard and on the exit sign. Also, I would put the sign for the secret exit a bit more towards the center of the room ceiling, maybe even to the wall opposite of the door. You can't look up if you don't use mouselook (like I do), so you see this sign really late otherwise.
Style:
What I really like about your level, but also your style in general is how you use secrets. They are cleverly placed, rewarding and fun to chase after. I haven't seen it for quite a while that I was actually eager to find every possible secret there was just to see how to find it and what can be found there. The hidden areas seem to be a specialty of yours, my suggestion is you stick to that!
Architecture in general:
This level flows. You have many options where to go to, but in the end it leads you where you need to be. You don't get lost, but there are lots of opportunities to explore and try stuff. The design of the map feels original and breathes the atmosphere of id's first episode. The center area with the open ceiling and the columns (with the secret chaingun) looks great.
The real highlight of the level is the secret exit. It's challenging, but still very possible to find it without using automap cheats or whatever. Getting to it is a rewarding task, and I just hope the level it will lead to can hold up to my expectations after knowing how to reach it. :)
Difficulty:
I was playing on HNTR and wasn't encountering ANY shotgun guy (and there were 50+ enemies) or Pinkies, maybe that's a bit too easy for the third level of your episode. Maybe you intended it to be this way, though. Can't say much about higher difficulties, but I am sure others can fill that gap.
Verdict:
Besides of the texture alignments mentioned (maybe there are more I didn't see) and possibly the lack of some shotgun guys (on lower difficulties), this is a remarkably well-designed map which stays true to the style you initiated with the first level already. Design is excellent, secrets are rewarding, atmosphere is very Doom-like. This episode NEEDS to be finished. If not a whole megawad.
Last edited by NightFright on 02-22-12 at 20:23
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02-12-12 21:02 
