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=Skunk=
Hondo
Alice
Octave Doctor
Holy Goat
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(Since August '99)
The
Action Network
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Architecture & Layout: Very cool layout to the level, and much much larger than you may first think. All the rooms are nicely connected and planned out, with only a few dead ends. You can get pretty much anywhere in the level from multiple angles, and can always find a way round to that annoying hall sniper!!! There is a few windows to smash (which, in my opinion, always adds to the feel of a map!), and doors can be shot through, which not many people realise. The locked room containing the MP5k is a neat touch, meaning you have to be quick to take out the lock before someone finds you and shoots you in the backside! The cafeteria is a nice touch but very rarely used, and hardly ever sees any action, which mostly takes place in the backrooms and the main hallway. Looks: Maybe its just me, but this map is a little too samey throughout. Don't get me wrong, it looks okay and everything, but there is hardly any variation. And, again, perhaps this is just me, but its not much like a bank in my opinion. More of an officey feel about the place. There are some nice touches: the DOOM marine on the monitor and tinited glass for instance. The use of the white texture is overdone a little. The cafeteria, my favourite part of the whole map, looks like your typical Half-Life cafe-ceramic white and black flooring, vending machines and some cupboards. Lots of tables and things to take cover behind, and it all looks nice and breaks away from the rest of the map. My only misgiving is abou the room at the back, which is bathed in darkness. Sometimes it is hard to see whats going on in here, but usually not much happens in there anyway, so I guess I can live with it ;-) Gameplay: This is truly where this map shines. The action, while mostly confined to one or two areas, is always fast and frantic. The grenades come in very handy, and the handcannon is right at home in the long corridoors. The sniping prospects arent that high, but some people try and lie flat on their backs and snipe down the hallways, which can get irritating. Nothing a well thrown grenade can't take care of though! Pistol battles are fun in this map, as most rooms have wide space for you to attempt to circle strafe and dive for cover, and other rooms have plenty of barriers, walls and partitions forming cubicles to dodge behind. These also come in handy for bandaging too! Teamplay and LMS works well on this area, with the action never slowing. Even when there are only two people left, the round doesn't drag on, as the level is so well connected despite being quite large in size that its never hard to run into someone. But God, sometimes I wish I could turn that damn stereo off!!!! Item Placement: Hmmmm.....mostly okay. Some nice touches, like the MP5k in the locked room. Not sure why the sniper is at the top of a ladder though. Other weapons are just lying on the floor which, like most maps, is a shame. More realistic item placement would have been nice to see within the level. None of the weapons are too close together, with the possible exception of the MP5k and the Sniper rifle, which are in the same stretch of corridoor. Grenades are relatively easy to find, and items pop up in random places as usual. Other: The music is really irritating after a while, but you learn to deal with it. Conclusion: Overall, an excellent map. Action is tight and fast without ever being boring, and layout is great, meaning you're never stuck for a ways about. Included with pretty much every AHL download anyways, so no need to download it here! Architecture & Layout: 8 Looks: 5 Gameplay: 8 Item Placement: 6 Overall: 8 FINAL SCORE: 3.5 stars    |
