Darth Oosha Trandoshan
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
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Posted: May 15, 2008 00:28 Post subject: Uploaded: CMOTR1a.zip |
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Old "beta"/demo release of the since-cancelled project by Aaron Saraco, aka LemmHead. Apparently originally released in August 1999 (sources: DF99 news, project page), but since lost, since that was before we had a Demo Shed. I've played it for a few minutes, but otherwise haven't tested it.
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Sir Lemming Dianoga
Joined: 06 Jun 2008
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Posted: Jun 16, 2008 18:56 Post subject: |
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I suppose there's no better time than now for me to come out of lurking and reacquaint myself with the Dark Forces community. I'm sure no one's begging for this post to be made, but you might find some of this information useful. There are several caveats to this unfinished, untested level.
The name's Sir Lemming, formerly known as LemmHead here and in other parts of the internet. Over the years I've often had brief flirtations with level design for whatever game I was into at the moment, usually planning a whole lot but rarely finishing more than one almost-level. I can't knock my effort, though.
This level here, "Gala for the Emperor", is also known as Covert Misions of the Rebellion part 1, level 1. (Planning not one, but SEVERAL add-on packs before you've ever even completed one level is a sure sign that you don't know what you're getting into.) It features a pretty large, multi-part level design and a strangely high amount of unnecessary attempts at humor. It also includes a "new" WAX, the dancing stormtrooper, who is portrayed as a pansy, but he uses a Gammorrean Guard's AI so he's actually pretty threatening. Of course, I give you a concussion rifle pretty much right away, so taking out crowds of dancing troopers isn't too hard as long as you don't turn your back to any of them. They do make slicing sounds and somehow bleed profusely when you kill them, even though no other enemy does. Also, a horribly out-of-proportion photo of Stone Cold Steve Austin is working the ticket booth. Again, I just don't know why. It made sense at the time.
My retrospective evaluation of this level would be that it's kind of fun if you overlook some nonsensical plot elements and enemy placement, and the ill-conceived jumping puzzles. In fact, I may even recommend that you play it with invincibility turned on. I can't say for sure now what my mindset was when I was 13 years old, but I'm guessing I focused a lot more on level design here than on the actual gameplay involved in fighting all these enemies. And when it comes to the level design, architecturally, I think I can say it is "not embarrassing". In fact, there are still a few parts I like quite a bit. I like how I did the interconnected vents, even though they're the most overdone thing in FPS history. On a similar note, I like the use of windows to see other parts of the level. There are also one or two decent uses of 3DO platforms, and I don't think there are any HOMs or blatant texturing issues. Of course, I'm about 90% sure the ending of the level is broken, if you're bothered by that kind of thing.
Other things that may bother you: I'm not sure, but I think there are several parts of the outdoor area where you are required to perform a run/crouch/jump. I know it was possible somehow. But you're free to use LAPOGO instead, because I can barely even figure out how to do it now.
Speaking of cheats, you may also find it mildly interesting to teleport yourself into the Coruscant area seen beyond the invisible wall (yeah, there are a few of those, when I couldn't think of a better way to constrain the level) at the beginning. It was designed to be part of a later level in the series where you would actually be in Coruscant, but of course I never got to that. I did get about 1/3 of the way through designing level 2 in the series, whose plot is even more implausible than this one's. But mostly, I moved on to other things, like doing well in high school. And I think I got into Final Fantasy around that time, so I started thinking more about RPGs and stuff. And Unreal Tournament. And I remember making very small progress on creating a Jedi Knight level.
Anyway, if anyone plays this I hope they enjoy it for what it is, because I think there is some enjoyment in it... somewhere. At the very least, it should be a "unique" experience. Meanwhile, I'll be looking forward to DarkXL!
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