Map Name - Mancis Freeway / Author - CryptR / Map Filename - actcity2.zip

Reviewed by Oswald - January 30, 1999

 

Layout - Score 8

I like how the map was laid out, not your typical boxed city. There are many excellent vantage points for all types of players. You are able to enter a few of the buildings, such as the casino and hotel, which will aid in your defense when under fire. I was a bit upset when I opened up the casino and found out I was 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, but is inaccessible. A corridor leading to another portion of the map could have worked out well here. The same can be said about Hotel Mancis, just a small lobby area with an 'out of service' elevator, which would have worked out if it operated to a second story floor. And finally, there are a few stray doors, which are unable to be opened. Let us open them and go somewhere! There is now access onto the roof area near the building under construction and also between the buildings off of Gaming Blvd. Overall, an excellent layout.

Textures & Sky - Score 8

No new detail added to actcity2. 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.

Prefabs - Score 6

This map really is a a real beauty! 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. The use of exterior lighting is wonderful. Used on corner lampposts, and building underpasses. These effects only help to set the tone of the map, giving it a nighttime setting with the brightness of a full moon.

Sounds - Score

N/A

Lighting - Score 7

The use of exterior lighting is wonderful. A few of the street lights flicker under the night sky which help to cast shadows. Such lights are used on corner street posts, and building underpasses. These effects only help to set the tone of the map, giving it a nighttime setting with the brightness of a full moon.

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 in the screenshots above. The snipers love to nest on top 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. This a favorite map of the NT Clan as we spend many hours on this maps. If a game gets too big, frags pile up quick and the streets become more and more crowded. But is 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 7

As I stated previously, this map does lend itself to all types of players. In DM, the weapons are scattered throughout the entire map, with ample ammo available. With the addition of a few steel beams, it is now easier to gain access to the hand cannon and machine jump. No more do you have to try to jump from the window to the light post.

Originality - Score 6

The original map started out with blistering promise, but there is a major letdown on this, the second version. There are changes, but not enough to really make this a new map. The changes are minor and do not really add to the overall game play. I still hold to my original feeling that there needs to be more access to either the casino and/or casino, up to a second level. One new fix was the way the doors on the casino open. They now slide open which should lessen the chance on getting stuck in the door.

General Feel - Score 8

Acticty2 is a second attempt to improve on the map. Not much improvement which makes you say, "wow." There was the addition of a few new areas, but nothing the interior access is still lacking. This updated map still 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. I do believe this version of actcity is dead, since actcity3 is completely different. Enjoy your game play on here, this is a beautiful map. Take the time and do the download!

Final Rating - Score 7.1 (64/9)