Like Orphes said, connectivity is great. Big open spaces to jump around and good use of vertical viewpoints. I like the little "secret" areas and hidden items, they give it what I consider the "HL feel", a sense of exploration

Texturing is well done but it's true that the Source engine is capable of more detail without any major loss in FPS. More borders for walls and especially doorways would have been nice. The lighting is great. Just the ceilings are too bright. Maybe spotlights could have been used instead of pointlights in places for more contrast.

I liked dog making an appearance. The stalker was a bit too much, though. A little gag but it somehow destroys the feeling of a real place. Also the statue has no connection to the rest of the map. I felt it being irritating because of the theme change. I know what it's supposed to be but maybe it could be a little more subtle. The statue just stands there.

The rocks near the train could use some displacements. The brush-based pipes look out of place in HL2 and should be models. The wooden structure in one of the rooms has a mis-aligned plank texture on the side and could be thinner.

I give it an 8, very good map. Don't be disappointed if a new release gets an 8 from me too, though. The theme is a bit old/HL1ish and that's probably my main complaint. Otherwise a very nice map.

Connectivity is great.
Ladders still malfunction but, are serviceable.
Items are heavy. I think to heavy but I know some who like it so.
My only complaint. The lighting doesn't have enough variation to create an atmosphere. No dim spooky areas. Everything, is uniform.

Overall, a decent map. It needed another critique... Not from me but another before release.

sighs deeply and puts on fatherly charm

Master Hench, its never wise to release a map without a readme text, or in such a text to forget those who got you to this glorious stage in your career.

/me looks at map now.

beta 2 is done : http://www.henchmansion.com/Henchmapsion/hl2maps/dm_subculture_b2.zip

i would love to hear some gameplay feedback !

grtz, Henchie

Spruce

Look for anything that means to make pretty/nice/enhanced.

its clear that you have mapping skills so i`m sure :one day there will be a hl2 map of you for me to rate :smile: (btw do like i do: dont put in toilets to throw i dont like that myself...noobish gameplay :sad: )

k, and now im gonna spruce ? my map up its time for a release soon!!!

(btw spruce ... ?!? im dutch(no my name is not Van Buren :smile: ) so that is a new word to me :smile: , never to old to learn hehehe)

Not really. Its actually against the rules.

Glad to have helped none the less. Go spruce your map up a bit. :smile:

i was sick this week (no s**t !) btw when i`m gonna rate your mappies , then it will be screenshot ratings (i dont have HL1 installed) does they count too?

/edit : mmm just wanted to give double trouble an 8 (nice piccy) then i noticed : do not rate this map unless you have actually played it!

what now ? :smile:

Dude, I have so many ideas for a map that its amazing, even to myself but..

I just got in from a 5 day series of runs. I am so tired its sickening but, this is the busy time and I must contend. Also, being on 56k has disheartened me to the point to where making a map, but never being able to play it to test even its construction aspects is sad.

Lastly, HL2 got boring with the 4,000th or perhaps the 5,000th toilet toss in my face.

I have however been giving thought to making something. A map named Killbox_Canyon. It would combine my worse idea for maps "Killboxes" with my hardest making idea, "Rocks"

The idea of a box canyon intrigues me. It might encourage me to do it. Also, the idea of making a map theme I hate, just to prove that a box can be pretty, is also a motivation.

Orpheus said:
Where is my map rating?

Not to derail the thread, (Nice critique there btw, love the web album thingy, and all valid remarks), but how about a hl2DM map from you now Orph. You seem ready. (perhaps a new thread in general section to address this?)