Great maps!

I just played The Box Factory (sm40zwei), Zwiffle's contribution, which Vondur judged as the runner up (of the two maps submitted to this competition). Wow. It's a beautifully constructed and very atmospheric base, with well-judged progressive difficulty. Really nice, and should arguably have had a release of its own. Four stars for that map; rating for the pack to follow after I've played the other map.

I played The Slipgate Complex (fmb_sm40.bsp), a level which arguably has a name lacking in originality. Marvellous -- beautiful, chunky brushwork that you don't get caught on, nicely escalating difficulty, and lovely atmospheric use of darkness and mist. If I were to criticise it at all, it would be on the grounds that it's too easy (on hard). Even finding only two secrets, and not using one of them, it was easy to finish with loads of spare health, armour and ammo.

Still, it's a clear 4/5, which means that the pack as a whole also merits that score.

Do I agree with Vondur's judgement? Hard to say. The Slipgate Complex is the more beautiful and atmospheric of the two maps, but The Box Factory plays better. I make it an honourable draw.