Yay this sucks ;P j/k
Well, Fs strikes again with some nifty CTF levels. One, Termite Haven, which was entered in BlurredD’s contest. Also, one strangely funny thing is the music an-path (filename) was the same music I wasted time downloading from ModPlug just a few hours ago, and here it appears. Strange….Anywyas, back to the review:
Termite Haven:
The name is very creative, when I first heard it on the forums in BlurredD’s CTF contest winners post i thought this would use some new custom tileset or something. But it actually uses the beach set….The music fits the name and level, great choice. The eyecandy, although people may complain that it confuses the foreground a bit, is awesome. Never have I seen a level using the beach set be similar to this. Great work FS, the eyecandy amazed me in ways I cannot explain. It looked exactly like a nest for termites! All that wood and stuff, the eyecandy is certainly at/near its best! The tileset use is also great, maybe one or two things I thought could of been improved more, but nevertheless it is definately above average showing what you can do w/the beach set. Ammo placement was ok, not great or anything, but it was fine for the level. Though i may reccomend you to ‘mix’ the ammo a bit, because u usually have toaster ammo all together in a pattern, or RF ammo in a pattern all together, but never seeker AND RF in a pattern together, get what I mean. Although this wont drastically change your mark, it will add a bit more creativity to the ammo placement in the level. Gameplay was ok, in the previous version I remember there being a warp which annoyed me a bit, but i cant seem to find it and I think its been switched with a combination of a oneway or a spring. The gameplay was a little bumpy in some places, but it was fine. There was also another warp, the one near the RF, which i didnt like. Some people may not know that the warp is there, and may accidentally hit it before getting the RF powerup they wanted. And, the warp leads to a sector near the seeker powerup (very near), so the player can gain 2 powerups almost at once (if he/she is equipped with an electroblaster at the time). Other than that, i dont have much more to mention about gameplay. Layout was fine, no comment.
Pros(+): Great eyecandy, practically everything above average
Cons(-): Some things annoyed me a bit, eyecandy may confuse, ammo could be better.
Rating for level: I’d rate this level an 8.2, since the eyecadny is near 10, ammo is around 7, gameplay is too and music is good, the level is fun to play and great to look at.
Jungle’s Edge:
The name is also creative, the music is a bit strange, but its ok. I have seen this level hosted by the name of something like Demented Jungle or something. Anyways, the backround really impressed me, I havent seen a backround like it I think. Its almost as good as Termite Haven, it might even be better. All im sure is that the eyecandy in this level definately deserves top marks. Great foreground, amazing backround etc. Tileset use is once again great, I havent a problem with it, except for those strange and partially ugly leaves floating in midair for no reason. Those big ones. The placement of stuff is ok, carrot placed well. Ammo has the same problem as the previous level, needs a bit more creativity. Gameplay is ok, there isnt much to be said about it. some springs needed to be changed into ones that bounce you a bit higher, and i found out that if youre travelling under the log under your own base holding the opposite flag, u score a point. This makes it hard to defend the base, since players will have to cover both inside the log and around the base. Im sure this wasnt done intentionally, but it could have. Layout is ok, some places roomier than others, but there isnt any one tiled passages or stuff(if there was, it didnt bother me) and everything is fine with layout.
Pros(+): Creativity in eyecandy, great backround, layout good, has the material to be a great level.
Cons(-): Ammo lacks more ‘mixing’, some minor problems.
rating for level: probably 8, since the level has great eyecandy and tile use, above average gameplay and layout and average ammo placement. I liked it a bit less than the previous one though, so an 8.
FINAL RATING FOR UPLOADED FILE: 8.2, since these are some of the best levels around and they should be downloaded by people. Great work FS, these are some nifty levels.
Final comments: These levels completely rock, good music, fun to play. They might even make itin Anniversary Bash 5 CTF, who knows. Good job, these levels are a work of art! Definately deserves a strong download reccomendation!