12/03/2007 @15:04:44 ^16:20:57

10 Sep 2002 Revival

So I was reading my diary for 10th September, 2002, and found a list of six small maps. First, two maps by Ed Cripps:

Reunion 1 A small episode 1 style base map running on E1M1. The theme is all right but it's a bit dull. Needs to have more interconnection. It's also very easy, there's never that much to shoot at.
Reunion 2 Sequel to previous, but also replaces E1M1 so you can't load them both at once. A little better, but still nothing to write home about. Slightly harder too. The ending suggests there will be a third map to follow, but it doesn't seem to have been made.

Now some of Pablo Dictter's Ultra-Detailed Corridors:

A Lonely Place To Die This replaces E2M2 and its theme is very much episode 2; destroyed, abandoned, hell-corrupted techbase. It's literally flat - the floor height changes only very rarely. It looks like it shouldn't be hard but you can easily mess up your ammunition and run out.
...and death came along The same author's next creation. Techbase style, runs on E4M1. It differs from the previous by not being so flat, although it's still basically corridors. Some extra interest and replayability - you can take one of two routes to the exit, and two blue keys to facilitate this. One route is easier than the other - my advice is when you have the red key, go back to the door you already passed. Lots of hard-to-find secrets, some inside other secrets. The first room of this map is vicious.

More Dictter, but he seems to have learned maps are more interesting when you can see into other areas of the map.

Pretty Hate Marine: Entryway A small map, replacing E4M1. Highly detailed, very cramped techbase. Lots of interconnection, windows etc. Secrets which are mostly just tiny rooms behind miscoloured wall textures.
Pretty Hate Marine: Starfuckers Inc. Sequel to previous and, if you liked it, more of the same! Replaces E4M2, in fact you can load both wads at once and carry ammunition forward, although I suspect that would make it too easy. Same kind of secrets that are obviously "there" but hard to get into.

Summary: all of these maps are worth playing once, so get going.