L-Fire CTF Map Pack
Content - Quake2 - Quake2 Levels - Quake2 Multiplayer |
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L-Fire is a CTF mod for Q2, that has support for features such as match support, RA overtime, high score lists, and a lot more. This review isn’t over the mod, but just a map pack that was made for use with the mod.
Neurotica (lfctf1) by geezer
Neurotica is a decent sized map that you can easily play a game of 4v4 or even 5v5 in. I’d even be willing to bet that 6v6 would be comfortable in this map. As in most CTF maps, Neurotica is a symmetrical map. The flag rooms are your typical big square room, and has 4 pillars, each one near the corners. This is where I start to nitpick. The map lacks originality, its the same textures you always see, and a sort of generic feeling architecture/layout. From the flag room you can grapple up to the upper level of the map, and up there you’ll find a quad, and some weaponry. Now moving out in the the middle of the map, on the upper level you have a bridge going across the upper level with a railgun on it. On the lower level you have a path split up, wrapping around a pool of water in the middle. Inside the water you’ll find a full armor suit near the top. Moving further down the pool, I became a bit confused. The further down you go, the less important items you’ll find. You’ll find a machinegun, then if you go all the way to the bottom and go up into the underwater building you’ll grab yourself a power suit, and some cells. Inside the room is also two portals that will take you to the very top of the center room where you’ll find various ammo. Also in the middle area is an elevator to take you up to the area where the portal leads. I felt there should have been two elevators to this area, and maybe the elevator should have moved a little bit faster. As it is now if someone’s up there and hears that elevator kick in, you’ll be eating pineapples.
Now that I’m done nitpicking, I’ll get onto the good stuff. Regardless of what I said earlier, Neurotica still manages to provide excellent game play. After training some Eraser bots on the level, I loaded up enough to make it a 6v6 game and had a blast. The weapon layout for the most part is pretty good, and you’ll never find yourself searching for a weapon. As far as items I’m still a bit curious as to why the MH and Quad were so incredibly easy to reach. I mean I understand them being somewhat easy to get, but they were both just as easy to grab as any other normal item. Not too mention that there’s a MH and Quad in each base. This didn’t really effect game play too much though. While the map may have its quirks, may not look so incredible, but it’s still provides an amazing good time! (Kinda like Zoop’s mom).
A Farewell to Kings (lfctf2) by TomiKazi
As far as layout and architecture go, this map in my opinion tops the other two included in this pack. You have a ton of room to run around, lots of tightly knit corridors weaving around to your various weapons. There’s two main ways into each base, with two ways into each flag room. This provides excellent variety so flag campers will find themselves being caught off guard quite a bit. There’s plenty of ammo spaced out all throughout the level, with near perfect weapon placement. All the weapons are placed in just the right spots, so when you pick up a weapon you’re ready for the current situation. The Quad’s placed dead center in the middle of the map, which makes it difficult to control. Mega health’s are placed in each base in a small compartment behind a door, so going for its a risk. If anyone should see you sneak in there for the MH, you won’t be dodging their rocket. This map just flows extremely well with your typical high and low roads into each bases. You’ll have plenty of room to throw in up to 10 people.
The only problem I had run into with this level is it just utterly confuses the hell out of bots. They’re perfectly fine until they grab the flag, then their brain fries up and they hide underneath the stairs. I spent a good hour trying to get them to stop this, but for the life of me I couldn’t get both teams to run the flags. I’d get one team to run the flags, but then the other team wouldn’t. So if you can get the bots to work properly then you’ll spend a ton of time with this map. Perhaps you can find a server running the maps out there, I’d assume this one would definitely get some play time.
Counterparts (lfctf3) by geezer
The first few times I played around with Counterparts, I was a bit disappointed, but as I played it more and more, it grew on me. I don’t normally run across maps like this, usually I play them a few times, and notice more errors, or problems as I play through them. I think what might have turned me off at first was the item/weapon layout. It’s not your typical layout that you might be used to. Generally, you’ll find armor, and a big gun or two in your base. You won’t find that in this map, in fact the main armor you’ll run into is the Body armor, which is pretty easy to get to, and located in both bases. The Mega Health is easy to reach, but everyone will know you’re going for it since its placed in a shallow pool of water in the middle of a small room. You’ll find most of your usual weapons throughout the map, placed in the obvious situations, such as the railgun placed at the top of each base near a few prime snipe windows. The quad is found in the middle of the map underneath the bridge, which makes it quite difficult to keep control of, without getting either sniped or finding a pineapple waiting there for you. Overall the layout works really well for the map.
The other thing in this map that will start off as a turn off will be the connectivity of the map. At first it felt like it didn’t really connect well, and was easy to get lost in the bases. After a few minutes you’ll find yourself easily navigating throughout the tight knit hallway, grabbing all your weapons and ammo. If you’re using Eraser bots, you’ll be glad to know they’ll learn this map with quite a bit of ease. I even caught them grappling from railgun to railgun across the relatively small midfield. You won’t find a whole lot of action going on in the midfield though. It’s just a bit too small to warrant any serious action. You’ll find most of your action in the tight rooms and hallways, so grab those Super Shotguns and Chainguns, you’re going to need them. Definitely throw this map in your list, it may not seem spectacular at first, but give it time, it rocks!
- f4nt
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