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Matt H
Dark Trooper Phase 1
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
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 Posted: Apr 19, 2004 15:28 Post subject: The Dark Tide II (* * * * *) |
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The Dark Tide: Episode II - Nightfall by Patrick Haslow and Matt Hallaron (* * * * *)
TACC: 96%
Katarns: 94%
Hall of Fame
Download
Barry Brien wrote:
Fantastic mission.
Jackson wrote:
Also, a great deal of commentary on this level can be found on the DT2 RELEASE! thread.
I agree (of course), it's a very, VERY excellent level. Such fabulous work inspires the dreamers... like me!
Sheldon wrote:
The technical perfection here is seen rarely, very rarely. Perhaps such mastery I have seen in Harkov, but hardly elsewhere. Of course, stupid Sheldon hasn't finished the level yet, but that's OK. I remember it took me over a year to finish the second level of DF96 without cheating. But back to the main point - the music, the cut scenes, the architecture, the special effects, all mastery. This is what Dark Forces is all about - creative mastery.
Barry Brien wrote:
You haven't finished it yet? What an ending!
Jeff 42 wrote:
This is an absolutely wonderful level, but I did have one kind of significant problem with it. When I was in the aquarium for some reason I could only move around at speeds in the vicinity of perhaps two meters per minute. The first time I got there I drowned repeatedly while I was trying to figure out what to do and got game over. The next time I used laimlame and lantfh to get through the aquarium alive. Anyone else experience anything like this? I wonder what the problem was. 
Barry Brien wrote:
It's the slippery ice effect. On newer machines it sometimes slows you right down. You can use your mouse to speed yourself up again.
Geoffrey Simpson wrote:
The only thing about the level which I didn't like was the comparative lack of detail in the Imperial Center themed sections of Talmont's rooms. It just seemed a little bare in that bit. But that's just nitpicking. And the level contains my favourite effect ever: the talking Xizor viewscreen. How long must it have taken to get that to work perfectly?
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--I'm only wearing black until they make something darker.--
Barry Brien wrote:
I agree with Geoffrey. That one area could have looked a bit better, but it's really only a small thing. Also sometimes the level crashes when I get to the end, or if it doesnt crash only half the shuttle will fly off.
Geoffrey Simpson wrote:
BTW, "Halloran"?
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--I'm only wearing black until they make something darker.--
Matt H wrote:
Geoffrey Simpson wrote:
BTW, "Halloran"?
Ah well, a common mispelling. It happens -- no biggie. I won't give my friend, Barry Brian, too hard a time.
Barry Brien wrote:
Touché Matt. 
Yeah, I've done that before. See I went to School with a guy called Halloran. Anyway, I know how annoying it ios when people get your name wrong. It happens me every day.
Barry O'Brien; Brian Barry; Barry Breen; Barry Byrne; Barry Browne....
I could fix it, but it'd mean deleting the 2 DT topics.
Geoffrey Simpson wrote:
You wouldn't believe how often people pronounce/write my name incorrectly. Jeffrey, Geffrey, Geoffery etc. At swimming competitions or with new teachers it's inevitably pronounced like 'Shofrey'. Nutters.
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--I'm only wearing black until they make something darker.--
Matt H wrote:
Well, it really doesn't bother me too much. "Halloran" is the much more common way to spell it, and it's not that different. Heck, I've got a coffee mug and t-shirt with the Hallaron/Halloran coat of arms on it spelled "Halloran". That's what's out there for merchandise for the descendants of O'hAllmhuráin. In fact, in my particular case, the reason it's not "Halloran" is because my great-great(-great?)-grandfather got into a big fight with his family and because of it decided to change the spelling of the surname. (At least that's my understanding.)
The ones I find more annoying are when they aren't even close, like "Halerin" (which is phonetically about how I pronounce it.)
Geoffrey Simpson wrote:
It's just annoying when you're getting ready to race and you're announced incorrectly.
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--I'm only wearing black until they make something darker.--
Barry Brien wrote:
I can imagine that would really put you off.
Anyway, back on topic please!
Taylor Carr wrote:
I liked DT2 much better than the first. These kind of short, but detailed and fun levels with good plotlines are what I love best. The longer levels are cool, too, but I don't usually like to spend an hour or more on a level. Listen to me, I say this after creating Under Fire! I'd recommend a level or two per day to stay under that hour limit!
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"When a Man Lies He Murders
Some Part of the World
These Are the Pale Deaths Which
Men Miscall Their Lives
All this I Cannot Bear
to Witness Any Longer
Cannot the Kingdom of Salvation
Take Me Home
"
-Metallica, To Live is to Die
http://www.angelfire.com/biz3/TJ13
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Apr 22, 2004 05:38 Post subject: |
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An astounding level: quite possibly my absolute favorite of all custom levels. I still feel mildly embarrased that I hadn't played it when HoF round 7 came along, and as a result I voted for BG2 (nothing against that excelent piece of work; it just wasn't as excelent as this).
Anyway, After playing the excessively bloated DT I (The whole things was almost as friggin' big as the original DF, for one level!), I wondered why DT II was smaller. Of course, it is still the second-largest file size for any DF level, so the decrease isn't saying much. Fortunately, the size decrease had no negative impact on the experience at all.
Starting the level itself, I was impressed to see a good deal of original work, instead of DT I using music stolen from SW:ANH. the artwork is absolutely fantastic, with virtually every texture being original and professional in quality. Numerous tricks were employed to make it seem far more 3D than DF gets, which made many parts look like the best parts of DF and JK spliced, and many of the scenes bested even JO/JA! I often stopped just to gaze at the scenery for a few minutes. The entire level is simply eye-candy... Or is it?
Nah.
DT II goes far beyond providing an amazing visual experience; it is incredibly immersive. More than any other DF level, it actually felt like the Star Wars universe, as if I truly was on Tatooine. The visuals are merely a means to that end. The sunset effect was rather spectacular. A working AT-ST and AT-AT were unprecidented in DF (I think). The garrison provided excelent gameplay, while still retaining the design one would expect for a generic Imperial Base. Plus, I'd like to have my house be something like Talmont's quarters... The aquarium is simply amazing; I shall have to have one installed in my house someday...
The plot, of course, equaled the rest of the level. The Dark Tide I piled a thick plot upon the player, and DT II delivered as well. The ending is also a great twist, which would possibly DF's second best level ending.
As for flaws, this level does happen to have numerous texturing alignment errors (primarily the ceilings and/or floors of many areas), but they are fairly easy to ingore, and are overwhelmed by the level's advantages.
To all of those who have a copy of DF (legitimately or not), and have not played this level, quit reading this now. Go to the top of the thread. Click "download", and soon your journey toward the Dark Tide will be complete. (well, if you don't have a fast connection, it won't be as soon  )- Quality: 98%
- Atmosphere: 101%
- Innovation: 100%
- Gameplay: 99%
- OVERALL: 100%
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Darth Oosha
Trandoshan
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 01, 2004 06:18 Post subject: |
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I really liked this level, and it deserves to be in the place it is, but there was something in it that just irked me...
Oh well...
There was a lot that I really liked though, like the briefing between the commander and Prince Xizor. That totally blew my mind. I also thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium with the cool 3DO fish and the detailing itself was great. The shuttle taking off with Jan was something interesting as well. A lot shines about this level, but there really was something missing....
Maybe it was those annoying speeder bikes with the BF logic....
Or maybe it's just me. 9.7 of 10.
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Patrick Haslow
Trandoshan
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 02, 2004 04:56 Post subject: |
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Huh?
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Darth Oosha
Trandoshan
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 02, 2004 05:02 Post subject: |
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For the betterment of gaming, I hope you figure out the answer eventually.
Maybe the DF->DF4 team will make it possible to experience the story as it could have happened in a Star Wars movie, where you can fight/dodge actual speeder bikes on partrol routes. And maybe even drive one....
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 19, 2004 05:10 Post subject: |
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Yeah, it's just me. 
I think the problem was the inability to hear the music on a mac. Something should be done to fix that if possible. I'll bring my rating up a notch though because I played it not too long ago and was yet again amazed.
9.9 of 10
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 19, 2004 22:38 Post subject: |
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Burning Gundam wrote:
Yeah, it's just me.
I think the problem was the inability to hear the music on a mac. Something should be done to fix that if possible. I'll bring my rating up a notch though because I played it not too long ago and was yet again amazed.
9.9 of 10
I agree that not being able to hear the music would be a major blow... I think the music created (and found) for the level is some of the finest MIDI-type music ever created.
Also, DT II is the only serious level to be spoofed... I particularly liked the "secret" ending cutscene in that levvel...
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 20, 2004 06:05 Post subject: |
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"Secret" ending? Please explain, I'm very interested now.
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Tom Manning
Trandoshan
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 20, 2004 23:50 Post subject: |
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what level spoofed this one?
_________________
Tom Manning
For all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you, Stand, Men of the West!
Aragorn: Return of the King |
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Patrick Haslow
Trandoshan
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 21, 2004 18:46 Post subject: |
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Huh?
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 21, 2004 20:30 Post subject: |
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Stop screwing with peoples minds, Nottheking!
_________________
I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: May 21, 2004 20:38 Post subject: |
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Patrick Haslow wrote:
Huh?
I'm not sure what part confused you, but perhaps you'll find the answer below...
Burning Gundam wrote:
Stop screwing with peoples minds, Nottheking!
But it's fun! 
...Oh, all right. Anyway, I think I might clear a few things up...
Tom Manning wrote:
what level spoofed this one?
Operation Cakewalk, of course. If you pay attention, the are multiple references to DT II, though not all of them made it into the latest demo.
Burning Gundam wrote:
"Secret" ending? Please explain, I'm very interested now.
You didn't know about it? It's not terribly "secret", only slightly moreso than the McDarth's advertisement at the end of Condition Red... Play through the credits for Operation Cakewalk (the second, more complete demo), and then hit the spacebar. The next cutscene is just ludicrous, and and quite well done, having no noticable errors in even the timing.
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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