Another release from the prolific map maker Kona, this one is a smallish pack featuring 2 small/medium sized levels [plus a tiny start map].

 

gun: Guncotton The map layout here is the *trademarked and patented* [Kona] two level winding maze/pathway through various open areas and indoor sections. Its a relatively small map [43 enemy count] and shouldn't take too long to find your way through. The Architecture in terms of both style and texturing is very good, a fairly unique look. The textures are particularly original, a kind of metallic/machine/industrial mix, colored in muted browns/green/blue. There are some nice door designs, door textures and detailing on the walls. The brushes tend to be anything but rectangular, everything kind of has dents in it, or consists of pillars and buttresses of angular design, to give the architecture a consistently angular, solid and chunky feel and look. Lighting is decent as well, and there is a greenish custom skybox. Gameplay is more straightforward, the enemies consisting almost entirely of custom/modified grunts and enforcers. The modified enemies have custom skins (good, they fit in well with the map) and include red-skinned nail shooting grunts which can be tricky to deal with. There are also some grenade grunts as well. These modifications are good and add some much needed challenge and variety to the standard base enemy. I still found the map quite easy to play through on hard skill, more challenging gameplay might have helped here, although having said that, armor/health is quite well-balanced.

 
 

gun2: Guncotton A better map than the first, slightly more ambitious architecture, but more significantly much better gameplay. Again, the actual map size is small, here we have 2 or 3 medium sized complex areas, typically consisting of a low rocky floor, surrounded by the metallic/stone walkway/path. Lighting is again good and expertly done, the darkness in certain spots adding to the atmosphere. The room designs are imaginative as well. Gameplay is better, because it is harder, essentially. Enemies often spawn in to surprise you, and are strategically well placed on the high pathways to attack you. Wisely no Rocket launcher is immediately given to the player, instead you get a Grenade launcher and a super nail gun. Ammo is well balanced. As the map progresses you encounter more and more of the nail shooting grunts, then grenade grunts and finally rocket shooting grunts, they combine to form a real challenge in the final area, which is good fun as a result. Overall this is a good Pak, deliberately small in scale and scope, but featuring great custom textures and imaginative, fairly unique architecture. The gameplay is also good after a slightly slow start. In these respects the pack reminded me *slightly* (although its not as big) of a previous Kona release, Necrobrood.

 

Overall Score: 16/20