| This mother of a download is the final episode in the Castle of Stroggos series, and since the previous releases where quite good, I was expecting something extra. I was not disappointed. Compared to the original id levels, this map pack isn't even Quake 2, but 2.5. The story is very similar to Aliens, or Q2 itself: de-activate something and escape in a pod. Only thing is, this one has a slightly different ending.
All of the maps in this set are very well built, and they match each other perfectly. Large rooms as well as small ducts, everything looks as you would expect it to, if you were on a large spaceship. Details have certainly not been overlooked, lots of work has been put on making everything seem real. Apart from the brush layout, the lights have been carefully placed, and fine-tuned until they have just the correct amount of brightness. Even the style of lighting varies: sometimes texture lighting has been used, and sometimes point lights, in order to make the atmosphere completely spot on.
Great consideration has been taken when it comes to item placement; this is not surprising since ten beta testers have been involved in the making of these maps. After playing through the first map, I was beginning to miss the super shotgun, but I wasn't to find it anytime soon. Unless I overlooked a secret somewhere, I think I got that particular weapon a bit late in the game, but otherwise weapons where provided OK.
No complaints about health or ammo, but enemies were a bit on the brutal side in my oppinion. On two or three occasions even unfair, unless you've got the skillz you'll probably find the hard setting very tough. Perhaps I should've searched more for every secret, but since it was so much fun I was eager to move on. But without saving the quad and a lot of cells for the end battle, I don't know how to make it through. Maybe you think I'm complaining too much, but try it and see for yourself. I'll be happy to receive any demos of the final showdown if you got them. (Now I've done it. If I get more than ten, you can stop sending them, I'll let you know)
Flow is near perfection, story and game progression could hardly have been better engineered. The author warns owners of lower end machines for slow passages in a few areas, but if you have 3D graphics (who doesn't these days) you should be fine, even on a P100 it's playable.
This set of maps and the story doesn't fit in with the original Q2, it takes it beyond it. Bound to be a true classic, this download will keep you playing for quite some time. The only downside is the two or three combat sequences that are indeed very hard. That's the only reason me giving a rating of four instead of five. Some may think that's unfair, but hey, I'm doing the review, not you. 'Nuff said, get this .zip and enjoy, you won't regret it I'm sure.
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