The Guys have done it again!
I didn't think it was possible to improve Castle Overload, but then I was playing it and getting used to the annoying bits where I would become stuck on a ladder or something!
But the guys started totally from scratch and built it new, sorting out the errors as they occurred, making sure everything aligned, improving the frame rates, adding a few new secrets, adding some elegance and new features (doesn't it sound simple) and here it is - the best map ever (I.M.H.O.)
I still sometimes find the game a little jerky but this is the fault of my ISP and if I look at my latency it can be anywhere up to 500!
However, most of the time I play at 200 and it's not bad. This map is certainly miles better for me than the old Castle Overload.
The map play is now quite different, I have noticed that people are using more of the map so the flow has improved too.
It is good now when you have a full server and no matter where you go - you will find a victim!
The Garden looks great and there are some super sniping spots from up here. You need to be handy with the cross-bow for this area.
The jumps in the garden are a good idea too allowing the runners (like me) to get away and recover before fighting again.
The bridge in the main courtyard can now be played from inside or on top and if you are clever you will quickly learn how to slip off of the top of the bridge to the inside.
This map, like Castle Overload is full of secrets, all of the old secrets are still there but now there are new ones too. You will also find that the entrances to some secrets have changed.
The stairs are really good and the secret entrances are much less sticky. I love the new secrets, they have joined up some areas that needed something.
I have found that some of the shots that I used to make no longer work in this version, so be aware of that. However, I now have a whole load of new shots to make!
What used to be known as the Osama room is now the Wallace and Gromit room and here you will find Electric Warrior and Captain Hornet's models (from HL1) and sprays.
For me this map flows much better, I love the rounded corners, the turrets give it a sort of fairy tale quality - ha ha, you wouldn't think I was talking about a killing game!!!
Never take anything for granted on this map - if it looks solid and you are temporarily safe, try walking through it - you may be surprised! Use your imagination in this map, the creators have and you need to, to find your way around.
This is definitely a map to learn.
COLOURS/TEXTURES/FEEL
The textures and colours on the main area are different and give the map a much cleaner feel.
The stonework is very natural looking and I really like what they have done to the roof areas with the rounded roofs.
In general, the map is much smoother and feels good to play in. The curves that have been introduced make it much more natural.
There are plenty of new images throughout to keep you interested as well.
The Sanctuary UK is the clan and the website address is:
http://www.thesanctuaryuk.co.uk
Electric Warrior and Captain Hornet added a Granny Annexe too! I have been trying to get everyone to play the map with the Granny Annexe being a safe haven for people wanting to take a brief break for whatever reason. So far, this idea has worked but it means we have to tell people - so spread the word - let's make the Granny Annexe the Sanctuary within.
The photographs in the Granny Annexe have been taken by myself and [S-UK] Photomanic.
[S-UK] Photomanic's picture of Bodium Castle is superb and makes me want to visit.
One of my pictures is taken at a harbour in the small Scottish village of Keiss, the other was taken on the island of Jura off the west coast of Scotland.
I have a little idea of the work that went into this - I think it would be fair to say that "Blood, sweat and tears" probably went into the making of this and I can't praise these guys enough. They are great map makers, they have wonderfully sneaky minds and a very intuitive skill with game flow and strategies.
- There are 2,417 individual brushes which were built from scratch, not copied and pasted from original map.
- This map was compiled more than 350 times during the making of it.
- Compiling the map was taking nearly 9 minutes - that's at least 52 hours of compiling alone!
- The main computer used for making this map crashed only about 5 times during the making of the map - I think I need one like that!
- Secrets? This map is full of them. It is sometimes hard to define what a secret is, if it has two doors is that 2 secrets? There are probably 50 secrets if you don't double the doors!
- There are 35 teleports in the map.
- There are 212 cubemaps.
- You can spawn in 17 different points.
THANK YOU Electric Warrior and Captain Hornet. Another Great Map.
