Descent

Content - Quake - Quake Conversions - Quake Partial Conversions

Author: Hellscrag | Rating: 6.75 | Download: descent.zip

Descent is a 9 map episode, with a start map, final map and secret map.
The style of these maps are mostly id themes, starting with the traditional base level, then onto 4 medieval levels, 2 metal levels, and ending up in a boss level. This being Hellscrag’s first ( to my knowledge ) release, level design is plain, with a lot of repetition and symmetry. However, the level design improves as you play.

New code is evident in this episode, most noticeably the new monsters and weapons. For new weapons you get :

• Steel Perferator - Super Nailgun with yellow stripe on it, shoots 10 nails at once, at about the speed of a double barreled shotgun. Pretty fun to use, but it’s not as efficient as the super nailgun.
• LaserBolt - Thunderbolt with yellow markings, shoots plasma that kind of looks like rocket trails, very useful against the final boss, but you only can get it in the final level.

New monsters include:

• Shadow Scrag - Reskinned scrag that has a black skin, shoot purple spit at you now, and takes 3 times as much damage as a normal scrag. Surprisingly tough.
• Black Knight - Reskinned Death Knight with a black skin, in shoots purple fire at you now, and is slightly tougher. Would have been worthwhile if it was tougher, it’s pretty much the same thing as a normal death knight.
• Queen Vore - Final boss, takes a lot of firepower to take down. Not that hard if you play smart.

Other new things are a cool intro demo, new level demos, and new effects such as breakable statues, exploding architecture and a new powerup, which I didn’t find. These new attractions dwell within the episode’s 9 levels, which I shall review.

Slip Zone - 51 monsters, 4 secrets
The first map after the start, following the standard for an episode, is a base map. It’s a mostly id base level, with some hipnotic base texes thrown in, under the black zerstorer sky. The entrance to the base looks pretty cool, and the final room with the slipgate exit does too, but other than that things are relatively plain. This fact is not helped by a symmetrical layout. Game play is okay though, it’s easy with base enemy the only opposition, but fun.

The Lost Fortress - 81 monsters, 3 secrets
Onto the first of a few medieval maps, this one is adorned in brown stone blocks…and that’s pretty much it. The main hub looks pretty good, with curved alcoves, and multilevel design, but it’s plain. Worse than that, it’s symmetrical again. This is probably the worst offender in the pack in this regard. Underwater areas do attempt to break up things, but it doesn’t help much. Game play is, however, somewhat entertaining. Mostly you fight knights and ogres, and rotfish underwater. Somewhat easy, but more challenging than before.

House of the Undead - 71 monsters, 2 secrets
Green map, done up in green stone blocks, with a lot of green underground rock sections. Although some of the natural designs are not that convincing, such as the beginning, later on in the level twisting caverns are done quite nice. And besides that, there is a neat building
front, which every level seems to have. Layout is the strongest yet, the winding tunnels break up the monotony of symmetry. As expected, there’s a lot of zombies, as well as knight, ogres and fiends.

The Graven Stronghold - 77 monsters, 3 secrets
Blue stone medieval map, similar in style to e2m4 ( The Ebon Fortress ), except that it doesn’t look as good. The castle front looks cool, as usual, and the fireplaces look nice, but other than that it’s weak. Large, plain areas, and a boring underground maze come to mind as examples. Layout is fiercely symmetrical once again, with mazes similar to r2m7 ( The Last Bastion ) of the Dissolution of Eternity mission pack, except that looked nice, this does not. Game play is okay, with the large room size it’s easy to weave around the monsters and fire at your leisure. This level holds the exit to a good secret map, pity it’s hard to find.

The Fallen Place - 75 monsters, 5 secrets
Blue medieval map, with green stone caverns. This map looks pretty good, with an original underground congregation, good looking outdoor areas, and the obligatory good building front. Some indoor sections are notably parallel to e2m6 ( The Wizard’s Manse ), except plainer, but besides that it’s fine. Layout is up and down, some symmetrical parts, but then again there’s some great underwater exploration in the secrets. Game play is typical medieval monsters, not too hard at all. One nice touch to this map is that the final room is done in the metal style, a preview of what’s to come.

The Portal to Erebus - 69 monsters, 5 secrets
The first ( besides the secret one ) map that consistently looks good. This metal level uses a fair bit of detailing, with the runic symbols and grates being put to good use. Nothing really outstanding in the level, but everything is consistently well built. Lava is used as a decoration, not a hazard, which is nice. Layout is also good, with hardly any symmetry, and high interconnectivity. This level sees the introduction of the shadow scrag, which makes things interesting. This is the first map that actually challenged me.

Realm of the Lava God - 61 monsters, 4 secrets
Continuing the metal style, this map is just as good as the last. Every detail that was used in the last one, was used in this, along with nice curved staircases, with nice ceiling supports, and good looking walkways over lava, as well as curved bridges. Layout is pretty good, I got confused where to go a couple of times, but teleporting monsters put you on the right track. Game play is good, with the new scrags and knights very prominent, as well as the normal monsters. This map has a good climax, a fairly easy fight against Chthon.

The Cathedral - 65 monsters, 2 secrets
The final map is a mix of the Rogue sandstone textures and gray stone. The caverns look great as usual, as well as the room that you fight the boss it. Keep your eyes open for the Plasmabolt, seeing as this is the only level it’s found in. Layout is good, twisting tunnels, culminating in the queen vore’s church. It’s a fun fight, which I found somewhat easy. But still a worthy ending to the episode.

Even though I have not exactly praised the build quality, the good game play and new extras make it more than worth the download

- Edgecrusher