Mutated

Author: Yooshin Yang | Rating: 6.50 | Download: mutated.zip

Yooshin Yang’s levels always had a great way of telling the story, through the level. Mutated is no exception. Nowhere in the readme is there a mention of the story yet you learn everything you need all through gameplay. This is something I would love to see more authors implement because this is what truely makes a single player level shine.

The story here is that you are sent in to find out what the Stroggs have been doing with your captured comrades. As you search deeper within the building you find that they have been mutating the marines into, well, mutants. Quake2 mutants that is. Those lovely fiend wanna be’s that enjoy ripping you apart. No, this story isn’t novel worthy, possibly not even worth being a toilet read, but the way it unfolds is what makes the grade.

What is really strange about this level is the design. Yooshin’s previous levels have all had a unique touch to them but this one holds fast to id’s base design. In fact, parts of it maybe too close! Right at the start of the level it looks like the beginning of Quake2. The author said that he made this level for a competition and that is why he chose to stick to id’s original themes. Personally, I believe this brought the level down more than anything. There was no sense of anything new. If I want to play an id level then I’ll just play the standard game.

Mutated is small, tight, and ends quickly! The action screams throughout most of the level due to its size but I was able to mow my way through my attackers with ease. Once you locate the super shotgun, the close corridors spell doom to any incoming Strogg and even the gunners, who are positioned up high in some spots, provided little challenge.

Being an older map usually gets some slack but Yooshin Yangs previous maps showed much more detail. The gameplay was mostly fierce yet it produced little enjoyment because of the ease of the battle. The level itself is a solid playing level but nothing you won’t find in your original levels installed with Quake2. I recommend you don’t bother with this one unless for archiving purposes.

- DorKwolf