Date Created: 1/6/2003
Filename: DXMP_Smuggles2_Revisited
Authors: JohnnyBravo[TCNdk]/RoadRunner[TCNdk]
Reviewers: CoMpUdOc DerianX Trystero Monoxide
CoMpUdOc: ok, LETS GO
Trystero: The Zero-G N/A tea party.
DerianX: lol
Trystero: With a DEA guest.
CoMpUdOc: I wanna watch my new DVD
Monoxide: o_O
Trystero: Which movie? Showgirls?
DerianX: What's wrong with the old one?
Monoxide: mmm showgirls
DerianX: Scary!
CoMpUdOc: Star Wars: EP1 !!!
DerianX: heh
Trystero: Back-to-Back remastered episodes of "Fraggle Rock"...oh.
DerianX: Gina Gershon...
CoMpUdOc: Blah, ok...Let us begin.
Textures
DerianX: The doors...
Monoxide: no
Trystero: Metal. Dark, stone and metal.
Monoxide: the doors are one
DerianX: All the same undoorlike texture
Monoxide: that hallway out of the spawn room I showed you with the bsp error had some very badly aligned textures
CoMpUdOc: I feel the textures were proper for the map's setting. However...those doors, bleh.
DerianX: Again, the character plaques were cool (like in the original)
Trystero: I suppose that most of the textures look appropriate for whatever place that is supposed to be...some sort of cartoon dungeon.
Monoxide: Agreed. I liked the plaques. The signs...with the pink corners
Trystero: ...Were very attractive and gave a feminine touch to the place.
DerianX: LOL!
CoMpUdOc: Area51Bunker has same bug
Monoxide: I don't get it. I thought pink was supposed to be transparent on textures
DerianX: I feel the floors should have a different texture than the walls
Monoxide: maybe it's the wrong shade of pink or something
DerianX: But that's opinion...Although, There was a lot more variety.
Monoxide: yeah
CoMpUdOc: The textures on the crates in that Bomb room...hmmmm. Done incorrectly on top
Monoxide: hmmm
Trystero: The warhead room...the textures seemed a bit out of place there.
CoMpUdOc: oh, and those pipes...With the ladder texture
DerianX: Yeah. That ladder texture in the water area.
Monoxide: yup
CoMpUdOc: yes
Monoxide: Do you think that may have been intentional?
DerianX: Maybe, but I doubt it.
Monoxide: Cause in real life you'd be able to climb the pipes
CoMpUdOc: I think so, at least in the bomb room
DerianX: I think it was used for texture consistency.
Monoxide: hmmm
CoMpUdOc: Perhaps
DerianX: The ones in the rocket area yes.
Monoxide: at the same time....there were those smaller pipes in one of the main areas. You couldn't climb those
DerianX: Different texture.
Monoxide: yeah
DerianX: Nevertheless.
Monoxide: so maybe it wasn't intentional
DerianX: I feel there was still a lack of variety in the areas outside of the big rooms.
Monoxide: yeah
DerianX: All the halls looked alike.
Trystero: The rooms could have been "themed". That would have been nice.
DerianX: A bit.
CoMpUdOc: For the most part fine, a few miss-alignments...and some poor choice for some areas. 5.5
DerianX: I give textures a 6.
Monoxide: 6
Trystero: 6 The ratings of the beast.
DerianX: slicer?
...
DerianX: DOH!
CoMpUdOc: He's not here, man.
Monoxide: slicer bot doesn't have a calculator handy
CoMpUdOc: Damn.
DerianX: slicerbot! ;)
Trystero: We need to make a bot and name it slicer.
CoMpUdOc: I will
DerianX: hehe
Monoxide: hehe
CoMpUdOc: Next week, if I remember
DerianX: 5.875 I think
Architecture
Monoxide: very creative IMO
DerianX: The architecture was MUCH improved over the original Smuggles.
CoMpUdOc: Yes, damn well done.
Monoxide: although some parts were a little weird, just the angles
DerianX: Yeah. There was some creative geometry
Monoxide: Yeah. Some of the smaller hallways especially
DerianX: And the pipes everywhere. Kinda cool.
CoMpUdOc: Indeed. I think those missiles were hand-made
Monoxide: yeah I liked those
Trystero: It's Toys-R-Us meets US Army Surplus. In a GOOD way. :)
Monoxide: :)
DerianX: My only complaint is again against the hallways.
Monoxide: Same here, that's my only one.
DerianX: Hmmm...I'll say... 7.5
Monoxide: 8 fur me
CoMpUdOc: 8
Trystero: 8.5 - The insanity of it all is very appealing.
Monoxide: o_O
DerianX: 8 Average
* Monoxide keeps a close eye on Trystero's insanity level
CoMpUdOc: It's already off the chart. Best just not think about it
DerianX: Yep.
* Trystero grins at Mono...revealing his wildly painted dentures.
* Monoxide grabs the dentures and runs
Lighting
DerianX: Hmmm
Monoxide: oh my
Trystero: STROBE in the Self-Destruction lab!
CoMpUdOc: er, well...some nice colors..
Monoxide: lol
DerianX: Too much unsourced light.
Monoxide: yup
CoMpUdOc: Yes
Trystero: More of the glowing phosphorous from the original Smuggles?
DerianX: The atmosphere created by the lighting was good, but where is the light coming from?
Monoxide: exactly
CoMpUdOc: Indeed
DerianX: A little too much pink for my liking too.
CoMpUdOc: oooo pink
Monoxide: in some spots it was a bit overdone
DerianX: Yeah. And that back door..
Monoxide: !
DerianX: BSP error though.
Trystero: Very much like Devil's Backbone...every major building or structure is equipped with neon pink track lighting.
DerianX: lol
CoMpUdOc: It's the latest craze in 2053, ya know
DerianX: I've seen worse but it could have been better.
Monoxide: it wasn't all that distracting
DerianX: Damnation Ally had better lighting.
Trystero: We'll still be playing DXMP in 2053.
CoMpUdOc: Sadly, yes
Monoxide: not me! ...
DerianX: The lighting didn't feel real.
Trystero: The entire setting didn't feel REAL, Derian. It was just the lack of sources that bothers everyone.
CoMpUdOc: Yeah.
Monoxide: hmmm
DerianX: I'll give it a 4.5
CoMpUdOc: 4.5
Monoxide: 4
Trystero: 5 because I don't have enough PINK in my life.
DerianX: lol
* Monoxide grins with Trystero's dentures hanging out of his mouth
CoMpUdOc: Who doesn't?
DerianX: 4.5 average.
* Trystero stuffs his teeth back in his mouth.
* Monoxide steals them again and takes off running with them in his underwear
Trystero: How coy.
Sounds & music
DerianX: You put his teeth in your underwear?
CoMpUdOc: ewww
Monoxide: lol
DerianX: Same music as the first wasn't it?
Monoxide: yup
CoMpUdOc: Yeah
DerianX: UNATCOHQ
CoMpUdOc: I didn't think it suit this map well. Didn't quite fit.
DerianX: Hmmm
Monoxide: needs something toonish
DerianX: heh
CoMpUdOc: there ya go
DerianX: I dunno
CoMpUdOc: Hmm...What song though
Monoxide: Dunno
Trystero: Some very dramatic classical.
DerianX: I'm kinda used the song as the Smuggles theme.
CoMpUdOc: Looney Toons?
Monoxide: looney toons!!!
DerianX: I noticed a few sound effects this time.
CoMpUdOc: Daaaaaaa da da da da da da da da, da da da....nm
Trystero: Or they could just have JB blow his lungs out on a harmonica and loop it.
DerianX: lol
Monoxide: bahahahaha
CoMpUdOc: "cough"
DerianX: Still not enough sounds though.
CoMpUdOc: yeah
Monoxide: agreed, not enough
Trystero: Sounds effects seemed a bit too deliberate. It's a big level...so we need cave "air rushing" and LOTS of machine FX.
CoMpUdOc: Yeah, I'd agree...Hmmm
DerianX: There was water effects by the water. Makes sense to me.
Monoxide: yup
DerianX: hmmm, Tough call.
Monoxide: very
DerianX: I'm on the fence.
CoMpUdOc: Hrm, indeed
DerianX: Therefore, a nice even 5.
CoMpUdOc: 5 here also
Monoxide: I'm gonna throw down a 6
Trystero: 4. The music needs improvement. More FX.
CoMpUdOc: 5 Average
*** Monoxide is now known as SlicerBot
SlicerBot: 5
*** SlicerBot is now known as Monoxide
DerianX: Lol
Monoxide: Had to do it once. Only cause I knew what it was
DerianX: I remember #N/A last time.
Monoxide: lol. I remember carone in #dxediting
CoMpUdOc: Yes...so do I
DerianX: I don't. Who is he? :P
Layout & design
DerianX: I like the layout.
Monoxide: me too
Trystero: Too much space in hallways and crawlspaces.
CoMpUdOc: The five-mile hike through a maze to find my way out of the spawnpoints became a tad...annoying
DerianX: I didn't care for it in the beta stages, but the little side paths that were added really improved it for me.
Monoxide: True dat. Other than the spawn areas, I was happy with it
DerianX: Yeah, spawn routes a bit meh.
CoMpUdOc: It flowed well otherwise
DerianX: Yes. There were no real dead ends.
Monoxide: that was really nice
Trystero: I like blind corners and dead ends. I'm a knifer.
CoMpUdOc: I'm not
Trystero: SO!?!?
Monoxide: I like blind corners and dead ends, I'm a gepper
DerianX: It has good balance
Monoxide: 8
DerianX: High ceilings in the open spots for speeders.
CoMpUdOc: 8 - Damned spawnpoints
Trystero: 8. It plays well...with more people.
DerianX: 8
Trystero: And the average is...
*** Monoxide is now known as SlicerBot
SlicerBot: 8
*** SlicerBot is now known as Monoxide
DerianX: You sure?
Monoxide: :/
Item placement
DerianX: Item placement was actually decent.
CoMpUdOc: Well, a fair amount of Free Bio...
Monoxide: was there any HE in that map?
CoMpUdOc: plus a free LAM or two
DerianX: A few too many freebees though.
Monoxide: I never made it all the way through the cabinets
Trystero: TWO free LAMs. Unacceptable. Did you find a LAW, CoMp?
DerianX: The one on the rocket is too easy.
CoMpUdOc: Sadly, no
Trystero: Good.
DerianX: :P
Monoxide: I liked the biocells though. Just enough IMO
CoMpUdOc: Biocells are good
DerianX: Hmmm
CoMpUdOc: I like Biocells
Trystero: The biocells make up for a certain factor to be brought up later.
DerianX: Good bot placement.
CoMpUdOc: Yes.
DerianX: Decent turret placement.
Trystero: Ammo crate placement was fairly good.
Monoxide: I disagree on the bot placement, well for one bot at least. The one over the water
DerianX: Ah, hard to hack
Monoxide: extremely, even while standing there on my own I wasted a tool on it
Trystero: Very strange computer placement.
Monoxide: agreed
DerianX: Yes
CoMpUdOc: yeah
DerianX: I couldn't find half of them.
Monoxide: I only saw two lol
DerianX: And did anyone else notice that they were both the "autoturret"
Monoxide: yes I was gonna bring that up
CoMpUdOc: ugh, hate that
DerianX: Well TOO LATE bub! :P
Monoxide: !
* DerianX huggles Mono.
* Monoxide throws Trystero's dentures at DerianX
DerianX: :o
Monoxide: ;)
DerianX: ok...Item placement. 8 Flowed well for me.
CoMpUdOc: 7.5
Trystero: 6. Too much free stuff.
Monoxide: 7.5 Turret and one bot brought it down
DerianX: Just too many freebees.
Monoxide: what's the number?
DerianX: 7.375?
*** Monoxide is now known as SlicerBot
SlicerBot: 7.375
*** SlicerBot is now known as Monoxide
Monoxide: sounds good
DerianX: ok
Playability
Trystero: For some reason, this map cramped my strats. It was kinda frustrating.
Monoxide: I thought it played surprisingly well
DerianX: While I like all the pipes, they do cause a lowered FPS.
Monoxide: however, if I used my old strat I would have had problems
CoMpUdOc: My FPS was through the floor, as always
Trystero: ???
DerianX: The turrets can be an inconvenience since the terminal for the one is a mile away.
CoMpUdOc: I wasn't playing well today, and none of my old strats worked all that well
Monoxide: the turrets made me angry
Trystero: It's a great tank map...and a good camper map.
DerianX: The flow made it more playable in my opinion.
Monoxide: yeah. I like the different angles and stuff in the rooms. Great for lam tossin
DerianX: Although, the ladder textures on the horizontal pipes can be abused (ladder bug).
Monoxide: yes
CoMpUdOc: Yeah. Very bad
DerianX: I managed to hide up in the big ceiling fan for a bit.
Monoxide: I liked being able to jump up to the catwalks with ease
DerianX: The vertical pipes were good for it, but the horizontal ones caused a problem.
Trystero: Some of the wider areas made sniping possible...but not easy.
DerianX: No. But much better sniping than the original.
Monoxide: 8 - ladder bug, turret consoles
DerianX: 7.5
CoMpUdOc: 7 - Fairly playable
Trystero: 7 there was no "flow" for yours truly.
Fun factor
DerianX: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Monoxide: actually one of the most fun custom maps I've played
Trystero: There was no VIP LAW lounge. No more fun crate stacking. They came pre-stacked.
CoMpUdOc: That Button-o-death was fun as hell.
Monoxide: lol
DerianX: I had good fun.
Trystero: The Self-Destruction lab was the only fun I had.
Monoxide: ACME: Button-O-Death
DerianX: Didn't have to look very long for an enemy.
CoMpUdOc: Yeah.
DerianX: I quite enjoyed it.
Trystero: :/
CoMpUdOc: Though, my strats for the map sucked, and therefore...I didn't have much fun, sadly.
Monoxide: :(
DerianX: More fun than Carpark was though.
CoMpUdOc: If I had tanked, I would have prolly had more fun
Trystero: I didn't feel there was any competition in our particular game...but others might fare better.
CoMpUdOc: That's another small beef for me...
DerianX: I would look forward to playing it again though.
Monoxide: same here
CoMpUdOc: Those Death Buttons are neat and all, but for actual gameplay..They kinda cheapen the thing
DerianX: True
Trystero: You want a LAW...but you detract from a button like that?
CoMpUdOc: Just my opinion
Trystero: It would have the same effect in an enclosed space.
DerianX: The button doesn't earn any kills. It just makes the victim die. No points for pressing it.
Trystero: It's still satisfying in my opinion.
DerianX: Hehe
CoMpUdOc: yeah. 6
DerianX: I give it a big, fat, juicy 8.
Trystero: 5
Monoxide: phun for me is an 8.5
DerianX: Then again, I always have fun reviewing.
Monoxide: I always have fun geppin you noobs
DerianX: :P
Final Thoughts
DerianX: Hmmm
Trystero: A big, interesting map. And a big improvement on the first Smuggles.
CoMpUdOc: Indeed.
DerianX: A good map, the doors are a distraction and the spawnpoints protection is a bit overboard. Good flow and good fun for me though.
CoMpUdOc: Very large improvements...However, still a little off..Maybe it was those door textures, I can't be sure.
DerianX: I hated the doors.
Monoxide: Final Thought: Definitely one of the better user made MP maps I've played. I enjoyed the theme, and thought the map played very well. I would like to see improvement in turret/console placement in relation to each other..
CoMpUdOc: Yeah. I'd agree.
DerianX: Makes me want to map again.
CoMpUdOc: me too. I think I may
DerianX: Motor Inn 2002...
CoMpUdOc: Yessss!
Trystero: You'll have enough time to advertise LATER, Derian.
CoMpUdOc: Yes derian, DO not cheapen the review with ads about YOUR UPCOMING MAPS
DerianX: Ok...PLAY TITANIUM! (It's not upcoming :P )
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CoMpUdOc
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DerianX
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Trystero
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Monoxide
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Textures
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Architecture
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Lighting
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Sounds & Music
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Layout & Design
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Item Placement
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Playability
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Fun Factor
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Total
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63.5
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71
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56.5
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73
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Final Score: 66%
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