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Tuesday 6th February 2001:

Jjspq3: "Strength. Service. Honour."
(Size: 1.1 meg. Alternate download: Jjspq3)


A medium size industrial level, clad in a cool, distinctive texture scheme, with a checked floor, brick or rusty metal walls, heavy rivetted metal trim and urban / political posters. The map is very consistently themed with both it's textures and architectural style, which consists of heavy, dominating structures with plenty of stylish angles. Perhaps it's too consistent as some more design variety would be nice. The layout consists of several open, grass floored areas connected by broad corridors, all with crates casually scattered around. The best architecture is outdoors, with thick wall buttresses and ominous towers forming a impressive castellated skyline against a blood red sky. Inside the omnipresent angles, as well as nice vents, doors, and lighting details, keep the map looking all good. The lighting itself is richly contrasting, and the overall effect is a map style that's very original but still totally Quake. A couple of flaws are a rather crude rock texture, and a lift that disappears from some angles. The layout is simplistic enough to prevent exploration, the map as a whole is fairly quick to play through.

There is at least one secret (the number is obscured by the map name), which I didn't manage to open. Gameplay is quite distinctive though not necessarily in a good way. Combats are set up quite normally, initially against base enemy, with some tougher medieval monster providing a bigger finale. Generally the fighting is straightforward and fun, a mixture of sniping enemy from a distance and facing some lurking enemy up close, with a few tricky, trappy ambushes that are more challenging. Weapons are in good supply for the enemy you face. Health however, is extremely limited, with a grand total of 70% health for 70 monsters on Hard (and a Green Armour). Thus avoiding damage is most important, though the map design does allow easy dodging and hiding. Skill settings give a bit more health and slightly changed monsters, but I suspect the balance could frustrate some players. Also, the cool ending section isn't used for combat which is a waste. Overall, however, the great style and designs, with reasonable combat setups, make this well worth playing.

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