If you are much into the Quake
community, especially deathmatch, then you should
know who Pingu is. If you haven't, maybe you
have heard of some Q1Dm levels - P3A: Domination,
Back2School, A2, Rediscovered Fantasies. Pingu
is a very accomplished deathmatch mapper and
those levels are some of the most popular levels
for Quake. He has also made a couple of single
player levels, but they really weren't that
impressive. Now, finally, comes his third attempt
at single player, and he has pulled it off spectacularly!
A3 has been a long time in the making, and quite
an eagerly awaited level. I decided to play
it in medium first, then I'd go back through
in hard (I was guessing it would be very hard).
I was wrong though - and 15 minutes later had
it completed. So I went back through in hard.
Not much different, and only 10min this time
since I knew where the monsters were. It was
still, a very fun level which everyone will
enjoy.
The design, of course, was
wonderful. It is very similar to some of his
dm maps, in a strange fantasy type castle with
those great brick textures mixed with water
and terrain. Curves were used nicely, with great
archways beaming overhead, or spiral staircases
descending. The architecture is a mix between
indoors and outdoors. There are often great
structures built into the mountains with pillars
hitting the sky. Often there is no roof.
The layout was very good, with
some backtracking and meeting new enemies on
the way. The size of the level isn't that big,
as you go forth to find a key then come back
to unlock the doors and so on until you eventually
reach the last arena.
I won't ruin it for you, but
the final battle arena was very well done and
it was great to see a unique way of having a
fight.
Although some players won't
like it (because it isn't logical), I liked
how monsters would spawn around you, or when
after you've just killed someone and think 'that
was easy', a whole new bunch spawn around you.
It made it more exciting and of course quicker.
With fighting like this you cannot use your
normal tactic of standing outside of the room
and waiting for the monsters to come to you
one-by-one.
The only complaint I have about
A3 was the length! For something in progress
for so long, I was expecting quite a large level.
It isn't, however, one of those tiny 20-30 monsters
levels. But it didn't help when I looked at
the stats and saw I still had 20 monsters to
go then suddenly it ends!
Otherwise this is a great and
unique level with a great atmosphere and enjoyable
gameplay - what more could you want?
Pingu says it is his last Quake level, and he
wants to leave a great mark. I sure hope there
are more though!
