Before starting this short level-by-level review I want to thank my beloved Mr. Ðeathmask for making this possible. He proved that he is the last Blood level designer survived on the planet, and as I witnessed, he produces stuff which doesn’t fall into a category ‘standard usermade shit’.
You said, ÐÐ, that you can be a bastard when it comes to criticizing something, so, I guess, now it’s time for me to be a bitch
The Plot Sickens.
Since the very beginning of the level(game) I understood that I’m playing Blood. Pure Blood, baby! From the first sight there’s no a single sector with zero meaning in it. Everything has its own place: every sprite, every texture, every enemy. Alright, I’m coming out of the building and… whoa! Everybody has seen a plane bombing civilians out of the window in E3M2, but to see it SO close! And a plane dropping cultists. You’re really good at coding events, the thing I’ll never understand. This ‘events’ thing still remains a mysterious miracle to me.
The city street. It was a surprise that I could enter every door of every building. Not if there were that much buildings, but no fake doors and faceless buildings makes it really pleasant. I was impressed by a … bookshop doorbell. Yeah, by how it rings when not only you, but enemies pass through the door. I only wish that you’ve done the gun shoppe more, let’s say, detailed. And this shooting range, you know, I want a prize after I hit the target!
A little ‘storage’ mission. A really clever enemies placement: no one disturbs no one, but everybody disturb me! This box-jump almost killed me, let’s say, it was easier to jump on a street lamp than on these damn boxes.
It was kinda strange to discover this ‘headquarters’ thing. I firstly thought it’s a train station and stuff… But, whatever, it’s alright as well.
The next street looked kind out of the place. A plane dropping gargoyles was okay, but a lonely crowd of zombies standing in the corner… what’s that for? I don’t get it. Messed up ending.
Hall of the Dreaming God.
It has a lot from E1’s temples theme. Well, all these halls and passages didn’t impress me. Thing I liked the most in this level was an outside cemetery(‘Graverobbers!’). This place was so cute and nice, not like the rest of the level. ÐÐ, do you really live in such a dump?
(Just kidding…) This level is huge and monstrous. This, how to say, church, was fine. But the underwater labyrinth… It’s unnecessary. It contains too much fish in it. To kill the fish costs more ammo than you can pick in the corners. I totally disliked it. Though the maze with the priest was a real trial. Well, it has more meaning in it showing that Old Tchernie has another challenge for our anti-hero…
Meeting Tchernobog in a final fight was fun as well. All these… walls… I can’t imagine how much time you’ve spent on ‘em.
But funniest of all was the stone gargoyles fight on the strange moving… symbols(?). A real pain in ass even if the symbols (?) won’t move.
In the whole, this level has less possible logic in it.
Well, again, I’m afraid, this place is a dump, and I don’t feel like living there as the Goddess.
Sky Rage.
It feels like several levels were skipped and I magically moved from the Dreaming God’s apartment into the… sky. But the first feeling was: Whoo-hoo! I can fly! Then comes understanding of a fact that me not made for flying, me made for jumping. Yeah, but seriously, the feeling of flight is so REAL! All planes seemed like freely flying in the sky, while the wind added the feeling of velocity and height.
The first two little planes were so cute! I wish I could control them though this isn’t another cheesy plane-simulator
And then I entered the first big ship. My first intention was… to call Mr. Ðeathmask a copycat for literal copying Bloodlines’ plane. You see, even this caged dog in the cargo bay
But, I won’t call you so, Mr. Ðeathmask, because you not copied it, you upgraded it. And upgraded A LOT! Once again, this ‘flying plane’ stuff was a way much realistic. Awesome work!But… the last vessel spoiled the whole party… Cabal Airship, isn’t it? It’s very huge. So huge that they even have a (obviously unnecessary) Tchernobog’s statue in the hall. Such interior doesn’t look like the one of the airship. Two big rooms are tooo big! No tiny cute details – bad.
By the way, I’m not intended to fight two beastie pilots, it’s easier, in ammo and health saving purposes, just to skip ‘em to the ending switch.
Chateau Darkfrost.
Sounds like a wine label… Let me taste it.
This plane crushing looked very naturally. This upside-down plane can be compared only to the drown submarine from Duke’s 1st episode.
We landed on the water? Why not. There’re stairs in the rocks? Why not. But after seeing this maze I wanted to call Mr. Ðeathmask copycat for a second time. And for a second time I won’t do so. This spiral (or rose) shaped maze was kinda harder to ‘solve’. Very clever.
I solved the maze, I opened a door and… I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was literally stunned by the opened scene! No words. It’s beautiful. It’s superb. It made me believe there’s snow in the air. I’m still impressed by this snowy mansion… It’s perfect from every side. I love the main entrance, the little graveyard, the terrace with a bottle of wine on a table(like it stands here since summer). I love how you’ve done some parts of the ground clear from snow – very natural.
I entered the mansion, and I was no lesser impressed. Sound of the steps and then a door closing right before me. It really scared me, I believe that there ‘was’ someone! I walked into the hallway and heard these child’s cries. And then… BAM! A crowd of ‘crudux cruo’s spoiling the whole atmosphere. I don’t say, it is bad, but… fighting a pack of cultists isn’t what I expected to find in these hallways. Bedrooms in the right wing were just fine. Especially this one with Freddy. Kitchen, dining hall, library – I liked the interior. Of course, I’ve discovered every corner of the mansion but… one point: there’re rooms with no necessity to enter them.
*predictable clock secret*
Well, I also noticed one thing(or maybe it’s just my imagination): when I first saw the mansion there was a fog filter simulating the snowy weather. But when I picked up the first key and looked outside again there seemed to be a…. starting blizzard.! (Once again, maybe this is my mind playing tricks on me).
The central (and final) hall once again spoiled all. It’s like I entered another dimension. I thought there’ll be another floor or anything else since very much space left unused inside the mansion. But almost empty hall with columns? Boring, even I’d have to fight two bosses here.
Conclusion: You’re definitely doing the professional work. Keep it up! But you need me, i.e. Hellen, to correct you at the right moment. I told ya, I’m fond of sitting beside and giving advice
It was a pleasure to play your campaign.
