First Impressions Of The Maps!
BigD
[OldF] Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1596Members
[OldF] Join Date: 2002-10-25 Member: 1596Members
<div class="IPBDescription">In summary: 2 thumbs up!</div> <ul>
<li> Nothing - While I like the layout changes, I don't like the lighting changes. It's too bright and tooooo contrasting. The plain, flat ceiling of PS never bothered me before because it was darker or something. The bottomless pits are too bright down low, not fading into blackness anymore although foreboding antechamber is still okay. (Compare it to other holes like in the Marine start) Doesn't feel as much like a derelict spacestation anymore or something. But that's all the atmosphere. I make a point of this because it was my personal favorite map for that reason before. The gameplay gives a good first impression and it's good to see. In fact the game played so well, I didn't notice the different atmosphere as much as when I did a walk around. (We did a cargo rush anyway, old habits I guess! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->)
<li>Veil - Didn't get to play it, but it looks clean and sharp after a walk around.
<li>Eclipse - Again can't comment on gameplay, but it looks great. Love the eclipse command investation hanging down. Feels like a whole new map.
<li>Origin - I had fun on this one. Lost the game but, it really has the old NS feel to it.
<li>Mineshaft - So much detail. Nice gritty look to it. Would never know it was halflife engine. Seemed to play well. Gonna take a while to remember it.
<li>Lost - The name is incredibly appropriate. I had an old version from when it was first released, and I've played it one other time before. The changes are great and make it well polished.
<li>Hera - New changes are great. It was my second favorite map before (again only one strategy being played made it a bummer) but the changes are great. Hope to play it some more!
<li>Caged - Just did a walkaround... but wow... love the new vent style (unique!) and not altogether dramatically altered. Serveral times I walked in and thought... oh hey he didn't change this... oh wait... this is very different! Nice work!
</ul>
General comments:
The new maps seem "larger". And I think they are when I look at the maps. (Could be all in my head.) They are all distinctively second generation. Cool.
What I have noticed with the old maps? While nicely refreshed... Tanith, eclipse and some others have fewer doors and lifts! This is to get the entity count down I know (needed for some), but such as in the case of tanith I don't think it was needed. Opening doors is great for atmosphere because you just don't know what's on the other side. You know what I mean? Taniths were fine before. Eclipse... well they were ugly and noisy but it was cool hearing them around the corner and wondering what the heck was coming your way... They sure gave the MS character too! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I am sure getting lost in the new maps. What a great feeling. But surprisingly, I'm even getting turned right around in some of the updated old maps! That's just peachy!
Anyway, great work you guys and thanks to everyone for the hard work!
BTW, Cap'n Crunch will take any map, and make it THAT much better! <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
<li> Nothing - While I like the layout changes, I don't like the lighting changes. It's too bright and tooooo contrasting. The plain, flat ceiling of PS never bothered me before because it was darker or something. The bottomless pits are too bright down low, not fading into blackness anymore although foreboding antechamber is still okay. (Compare it to other holes like in the Marine start) Doesn't feel as much like a derelict spacestation anymore or something. But that's all the atmosphere. I make a point of this because it was my personal favorite map for that reason before. The gameplay gives a good first impression and it's good to see. In fact the game played so well, I didn't notice the different atmosphere as much as when I did a walk around. (We did a cargo rush anyway, old habits I guess! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->)
<li>Veil - Didn't get to play it, but it looks clean and sharp after a walk around.
<li>Eclipse - Again can't comment on gameplay, but it looks great. Love the eclipse command investation hanging down. Feels like a whole new map.
<li>Origin - I had fun on this one. Lost the game but, it really has the old NS feel to it.
<li>Mineshaft - So much detail. Nice gritty look to it. Would never know it was halflife engine. Seemed to play well. Gonna take a while to remember it.
<li>Lost - The name is incredibly appropriate. I had an old version from when it was first released, and I've played it one other time before. The changes are great and make it well polished.
<li>Hera - New changes are great. It was my second favorite map before (again only one strategy being played made it a bummer) but the changes are great. Hope to play it some more!
<li>Caged - Just did a walkaround... but wow... love the new vent style (unique!) and not altogether dramatically altered. Serveral times I walked in and thought... oh hey he didn't change this... oh wait... this is very different! Nice work!
</ul>
General comments:
The new maps seem "larger". And I think they are when I look at the maps. (Could be all in my head.) They are all distinctively second generation. Cool.
What I have noticed with the old maps? While nicely refreshed... Tanith, eclipse and some others have fewer doors and lifts! This is to get the entity count down I know (needed for some), but such as in the case of tanith I don't think it was needed. Opening doors is great for atmosphere because you just don't know what's on the other side. You know what I mean? Taniths were fine before. Eclipse... well they were ugly and noisy but it was cool hearing them around the corner and wondering what the heck was coming your way... They sure gave the MS character too! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
I am sure getting lost in the new maps. What a great feeling. But surprisingly, I'm even getting turned right around in some of the updated old maps! That's just peachy!
Anyway, great work you guys and thanks to everyone for the hard work!
BTW, Cap'n Crunch will take any map, and make it THAT much better! <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->