It's been a while since we saw a single-player map reviewed here as Level of the Week. Well, I'm here to give you the good news - Satyr fills this gap with style. Kona has produced a variety of maps for all three Quakes, and his design experience clearly shows in this frantic level that pits you against nearly 200 Strogg in a Norse/Medieval setting.

The background story explains that, "Human civilisation did not begin on Earth. It began in another world, named Satyr...But after the humans left, the world did not die. It lived on with a new race of hostile creatures." As part of an archaeology team that discovered a lost portal back to Satyr, you find yourself transported to a fortress in your ancient homeworld, in a no-holds-barred battle for survival.

Kona uses some lovely custom textures to build a heavy-set fortress of stone and wood, lying under a hellish sky. The ambience of this old land is well evoked, resulting in a definite sense of place which adds nicely to the playing experience. The castle is generally well-lit, with pools of gloom here and there to provide some contrast. The overall feeling is very reminiscent of a brooding Quake 1 level, due in no small part to Kona's unique architectural style.

04/02/02: Satyr

you don't have to be a goat-legged companion of the gods to fight here, but it helps

The player is led on an essentially linear route through the level, but the path winds its way round and back so much that this never feels restrictive. Earlier areas are revisited often as you progress, usually through previously closed doors or along ledges and floors that you have passed under before. This is a tried-and-tested mapping technique, and Kona makes clever use of it here to control the pacing of gameplay with peaks of intense action amid moments of calm.

Each new section brings waves of fresh monsters to fight, pouring forth from hidden alcoves, around corners, and swarming in from the angry sky. And there are a *lot* of the buggers to bring down, that's for sure. The experience is best described as an orgy of combat - it's the pure, hedonistic glee of wading through hordes of Strogg that I loved most about this level.

Running, jumping, ducking, dodging and firing - always firing - you need to blend all of these into one smooth, deadly action as you blaze your way through to the end. Even on the hardest skill setting, there's enough ammo scattered around that you don't need to worry too much about running out; just concentrate on survival. As you're brought back to the earlier areas, you're awarded a welcome respite - that is, unless you happen upon a couple of medics undoing your previous hard work. Then it's time to take a deep breath and leap back into the fray.

The final showdown includes 5 gladiators, 3 tank commanders, a supertank and 2 flying bosses, one group straight after another. This takes place in a split-level arena from which the only escape, of course, is to be the last one standing. Enough cover (and health) is provided to make the battle survivable...just. For those who have discovered the secret Invulnerability along the way, save it for now. It was towards the end of this epic mêlée that my contact lenses dried up because I hadn't dared to blink. I felt almost battered myself as the final enemy crashed down, and I walked out of Satyr with just 2 health points left.

Warm up your trigger finger, strap on your best pair of cloven hooves, and prepare to go freestyle.