Review of Single Player Quake Levels v1.5. NOV 2 1996

(C) 1996 Michael Wise. All Rights Reserved.
Quake is a trademark of Id Software, Inc.
Levels are usually copyrighted by their author. Respect the copyright.

Write me at: mikewise.ddd@juno.com
Int'l PC Gaming Echo (Fido) to Michael Wise
id Software/DOOM Echo (Fido) to Michael Wise.

I review Single Player levels for Quake. I created a data chart 
to show how they ranked. Rankings were based on 4 categories:

---
Overall is simply the average of the below 4 categories.

---
(1) Smooth-o-meter. This checks how smoothly the level performed on
a P83 with 12 megs of RAM. This computer has onboard graphics, which
perform close to or above VESA video cards. (Quake was played in DOS)
This is a valid premise because I have seen some REALLY poorly designed
levels, resulting in low speed.

---
(2) Fun. Was this level FUN to play? Did I fall asleep? Did I quit
because there 30 shamblers in one room? Was the level well balanced
and varied? Was there a chance to beat the level?

---
(3) Graphics. This checks to see if they chose appropiate graphics
for their level. It also checks if they made good use of Quake's
lighting and true 3D. I also check for graphics' glitches.

---
(4) Creativity. This checks to see if the level was very unique and
intriguing, or if it was a dime-a-dozen.

I DO NOT CALCULATE CHALLENGE. THIS IS FOR >YOU< TO DECIDE!

---
Other:

(E) Number of enemies. This isn't used in calculation.

The levels are ranked from highest to lowest, respectively,
with Overall being the determining factor in placement.

I rounded to the nearest percent when calculating the Overall score.

** = New review     
                                     The Categories

Title of Level       Overall    (1)    (2)    (3)    (4)    (E)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fear Castle            99%      85%    100%   110%!  100%   29
(frcastle.zip)
Armageddon 2           99%      95%    100%   100%   100%   29
(arma2.zip)
Notlob's Residence     96%      95%    95%    100%   95%    40
(sgc4.zip)
Liquid Despair         96%      90%    100%   95%    100%   61
(despair.zip)
E.T.'s World           96%      90%    100%   100%   95%    32
(etworld.zip)
Bubbah's Slate         95%      80%    100%   100%   100%   26
(bub2.zip)
Slime Ground           95%      85%    100%   95%    100%   42
(tef_sg.zip)
TightRope              95%      95%    100%   90%    95%    18
(titerope.zip)
** Snakepit            94%      95%    90%    100%   90%    41
(snakepit.zip)!!
** The tomb of Ra      94%      95%    85%    100%   95%    12
(ra.zip)
Forsaken Citadel       94%      95%    100%   90%    90%    31
(fc.zip)
** Cubus               93%      85%    95%    100%   90%    11
(cubus.zip)
House of Traps         93%      90%    90%    100%   90%    16/34/43++
(houstrps.zip)
Cult                   93%      95%    90%    95%    90%    18
(cult.zip)
Altar of Pain          93%      80%    100%   90%    100%   60
(tef_aop.zip)
Drakopf (1&2 comb.)    91%      85%    95%    85%    100%   46/77++
(drakopf.zip)
Potpourri              90%      80%    90%    90%    100%   33
(pop.zip)
The Climb              90%      90%    95%    90%    85%    18
(climb.zip)
EldenCross             90%      90%    85%    90%    95%    23+
(elden1.zip)
The Crucible           89%      85%    90%    85%    95%    31/43/52++
(crucible.zip)
ET's Level of Hell     89%      80%    85%    95%    95%     6
(ethell.zip)
Bubbah's Lair          89%      85%    85%    80%    95%    21
(bubbah.zip)
House of Desolution    86%      75%    85%    95%    90%    29
(deso.zip)
Mini                   85%      85%    90%    85%    80%    11
(mini.zip)
Close Quarters         85%      95%    80%    85%    80%     8
(close.zip)
Axeme                  85%      90%    80%    95%    75%    26
(axeme7.zip)
Entryway ][ - Quaked   84%      80%    90%    85%    80%    45
(kysenty2.zip)
Palace of Shadows      84%      75%    80%    80%    100%   50
(ps.zip)
Tower of Death         83%      85%    90%    85%    70%    21
(tod.zip)
Pagan Temple           83%      70%    85%    85%    90%    27
(pagan.zip)
Basic Castle           81%      55%*   85%    90%    95%    76
(bc.zip)
CrossRoad              80%      70%    90%    80%    80%    12
(crosroad.zip)
Erkle's Domain         80%      80%    70%    75%    90%    21
(erkle.zip)
The Ledge              80%      75%    85%    80%    80%     7
(theledge.zip)
Magnet                 75%      80%    70%    50%#   100%   18
(magnet.zip)
Dave's Graves          63%      60%    70%    35%#   85%    36 
(dgrave.zip)
Black Majik*+          58%      75%    60%    50%    50%     9
(blackmaj.zip)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Total: 37

Notes:

* = This level is _VERY_ LARGE. Thus, slowdown is inevitable. However,
if you have a fast computer...get this level! It is COOL!
*+ = Black Majik is mainly meant for deathmatch. However, it had 
a single player mode. (which really isn't any good.)
+ = Level says there is 28 enemies, but there really is only 23.
++ = Level has different skill levels to choose from.
(filename.ext) = Name of file you will find at the download site.
# = Too many "grayouts" appeared in the level. It sometimes made
the level difficult and unfun to play. Thus, the low marks. 
! = You MUST check this level's graphics out. They are REALLY GREAT!
!! = Requires the Snakeman QuakeC patch. Available at ftp.cdrom.com
in the \pub\quake\quakec\monsters\ as snakeman.zip

CAPSULE REVIEWS (OF NEW LEVELS FOR NOW):

Snakepit --

    A new level for the Snakeman QuakeC patch.  Created by the
fairly solid level creator Bubbah. This level has (in my
opinion) WAY too many enemies in proportion to the ammo. (as
warned in the .txt file) That DID detract from the fun. The
level has great graphics. There was good use of shadowing. 
Even with a few large areas, there was very little slowdown. 
The level could have been more creative...but all and all 
it's pretty good.

STRONGEST ENEMY: Shambler (3 of them, actually...sheesh)
GRADE: 94% A-

The Tomb of Ra --

    A fairly small level. Has plenty of ammo, if you conserve it.
No graphics problems. Is a tad on the boring side... It does
have a variety of areas to look at.

STRONGEST ENEMY: Knight
GRADE: 94% A-

Cubus --

    This is a small level with mainly vertical action. It doesn't
have many powerups, so use your ammo wisely. It has good graphics
with a rather light graphics slowdown. It is sort of challenging
to reach the top, if you are of hurrying, anyway. :)

STRONGEST ENEMY: Enforcer/Scrag
GRADE: 93% A- 

Where to get the reviewed files:

FTP: ftp.cdrom.com \pub\quake\levels. Choose the appropiate sub
directory to find the level(s) you want.
     
     The latest version of these reviews may be obtained at:

FTP: ftp.cdrom.com \pub\quake\levels\reviews as SPLEVxx.ZIP
                   (xx is version number)

WWW: >HOMEPAGE COMING SOON!< This review won't be on it, but
     there will long reviews and screen shots
     of the new levels....look for a Web address in a 
     future release of this review.

FIDONET: NO LONGER AVAILABLE ON FIDONET.
         
FOR NOW, THESE REVIEWS ARE RELEASED ONCE A WEEK.

History:
1.0 First Public Release. (FIDOnet) 11 OCT 1996
1.1 3 new revs. Fixed Tower of Death entry. 16 OCT 1996
1.2 2 new revs. 24 OCT 1996                            
1.3 3 new revs. 25 OCT 1996
1.4 3 new revs. Changed Fear Castle's ratings. FTP release. 27 OCT 1996
1.5 Explained the "!" of Fear Castle. Introduced capsule 
    reviews. Added 3 new reviews. 2 NOV 1996
