Layout - Score 8

Mancis Freeway is a simple, yet ingenious layout and not your typical boxed city. It does not provide for the best flow when engaged in a round on this map. The map is divided into four distinct areas, all of which are connected by the city street. First, there is the area near the building under construction and casino, a very wide open area with very few objects. The building is three stories high, all of which can be accessed. There is an open room at the end of the block, between the building and the casino. You are able to enter the casino, are unable to go anywhere. Basically an 'L' shaped dead end, usually leading to your death because nowhere to run. You can see a boarded up area, which has a long corridor and a door, which is inaccessible. The next area is actually an intersection with connects the areas together. This seems to be where most of the action takes place. At the end of this street is a enclosed brick area, protected by a swinging gate. Walking up the hill, you area surround by open windows on three side from high above. A prime killing field. All rooms are possible to get to, depending on your skills. The brick building has two levels and two separate rooms on the top floor. At the top of the hill, it opens into another dead end street, which is wide open and offers nothing as protection. Lines of fire are very wide open on the entire map. Just be wary of your position and your enemy.

Textures & Sky - Score 8

The night sky is great, brushed with a partially cloudy sky and shining stars. The sky definitely helps to set the overall tone of the map, adding to it a bluish hue cast by the night time sky. There is a small assortment of textures used on the buildings throughout the city, from red brick to rusted metal. The combination of building textures is excellent. Not much detail inside the buildings you have access too. Although a little more attention could have been paid to the closed windows, which seem to all have the same brushed glare (Duke 3D) on them. Not very original.

Prefabs - Score 6

Not much in the way of prefabs used. The street corners have simple lampposts. The interior rooms are filled with tables, chairs and book cases, all of with provide nothing more then eye candy. There is also a dumpster in the enclosed gated area.

Sounds - Score

N/A

Lighting - Score 7

The majority of the city area is dark, set under a bluish tint, seemingly given off by the night sky and full moon. The use of exterior street lighting is well used in conjunction with the setting. Street lights are positioned throughout the city, most of which provide a small circular cascade of light onto the ground. The interior lighting is just the opposite and very bright, help to create that nighttime ambience.

Playability - Score 7

All the files are zipped correctly and unzip into the correct directories. The r_speeds are good, averaging between 300-400 in most all of the city areas. There was one minor spot at the top of the street which reached 500, but this will be of no consequence.

Teamplay - Score 7

This map flows very well, even in crowded games with as many as 7 per side. It also plays well for both the sniper types and the heavy hitters who roll up on you with the big weapons, such as the MP4, shotgun or machine gun. Both will get there share of kills. Most of the action and kills will take place around the intersection at the bottom of the hill. Snipers love to nest on top and bottom of the structure at the construction site and pick of those willing to stick the head around the corner. There will also be much action in the two buildings at the top of the street, where teams will fight to control the map. If a game gets too big, frags pile up quickly and the streets become more and more bloodied. It is well balanced for a solid teamplay map. Teamplay usually ends in very bloody fire fights, where the player with the best vantage point does not always come out victorious. This being the sniper on top of the building under construction.

DM - Score

N/A

Originality - Score 7

Yes, this is another city, but it definitely has a different feel to it then say the urban series. This all goes back to the layout and structure of the map, not being the standard 'city block' map like urban or blood for example. The only area I feel cheated by are the darkened window which all have the same glare reflecting on them. There is a hidden room included on this map. Find it, if you can. It would have been to the mappers advantage to give further access in a few of the buildings, as it would have aided in giving Mancis Freeway a better, overall flow when playing engrossed in a round.

General Feel - Score 8

This map definitely deserves to be in most rotations. It can become a bit small with too many players on it, but I have yet to get bored, playing this map for a few hours at a time. In most games, I usually snipe from the top of the construction site, waiting for my target to appear. With a few changes and additions of hallways to some of the buildings, this could be an outstanding map which suites both styles of play even better. Take the time and do the download!

Final Rating - Score 7.2 (58/8)