DM-Frank's Bedroom

Author : Jurz
Version : 224
Release Date : 7/27/99

Map-DM-Frank's Bedroom . . . Author Jurz . . .   Review by Xavious

One thing has to be said about 'mouse maps': They are d**ned hard to make. Without very careful planning, they come out bland and uninteresting. You would think that a trip round your own house/flat/bin would give anyone all the inspiration they need to make the best 'mouse map' ever. The difficulties come with positioning things in your room so that:  
 
1) There are no huge flat areas of nothing-ness.
2) Traveling from one part of the map to another is quick and efficient.
3) There are 4 or 5 places where you have a good vantage point over the rest of the map.
 
DmFranks_Bedroom fails on all three...The first thing I noticed when opening the map was the vast areas of just one texture: The carpet, the bed, the chests of drawers. The second thing I noticed was the stereo: the highlight of the map. Two huge speakers, and 5 levels of equipment. From a distance, this looks great...
 
As you come closer to it (as you invariably will, it is the most interesting thing in the map) you hear 'welcome To The Jungle' by Guns 'n Roses. I like the song, but I don't think it is used right in the map. The only place you can actually hear it is next to the stereo. Climbing up the stereo entails a boots-jump up to the floor border, and then a climb up a few sloped walkways. On the 4th level you can find a rifle in a particularly good vantage point. From here, all you can see is the rest of the bland map...What is strange is that the topmost level of the stereo has no reward except for a long climb back down...
 
While most places in the room are inaccessible without some searching, you will find that they offer very little reward anyway. They are dotted around on the tops of the drawers, and on the window and cupboard frames.
 
A 'mouse map' really needs more in it...there are so many different things that could have been put into this map, for example, a television, a computer, a desk with a lamp and paper...Strange also that all the playerstarts would appear to be on the bed...would that not make spawn killing very easy?
 
The use of actors is also not so good...If you are going to have decorations like books and dice in a map, try to make them out of proper geometry rather than actors...
 
textures: The stereo is good, but it does not make up for the rest of the map...4/10
game play: Since the map gets none of the 3 things aforementioned right...the higher jump on the bed just scrapes this map an extra point...2/10
bots: N/A (easier routes from area to area in the map would have been needed for bots anyway)
lighting: Just plain laziness...1/10
 
verdict: The best example of how a 'mouse map' Shouldn't be done...Some could learn from how the stereo is textured, however...
 
Score: 2/10

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