http://www.filefront.com/17271110/asb_blocke_alonev1.zip/

As mentioned above if you like airboat battles than this is alot of fun, I had one crash issue just prior to taking on the armored vehicle, if i hung back and shot at it from a distance then tried to proceed forward it crashed on me. solved the issue by just speeding straight at it and taking it out from close range.
I have been working my way through the older HL2 maps lately that i never played and this is a good one.

edit: never mind.. didnt read all posts. there already was mention about this level.

With that out of the way, your mission starts with the airboat while at the same time receiving ingame text messages outlining your goal. The story, for what it’s worth, does not really need mentioning. Just go and make hay with that water buggy gun.

The waterway layouts are well constructed with plenty of room to maneuver being designed to make the ride interesting with sweeps and jumps all situated below high rising rock faces on either side. I am not completely convinced with the quality and detail of the terrain’s architecture since much of the surrounding landscape appears lumpy with textures flat and having a slightly unrealistic look. For examples see PlanetPhillip’s posting of the mappack depicting screen shots of the terrain in question.

The interior design and what little there is of it, seems unimpressive being very basic and sparsely furnished giving an empty feel to the surroundings. However, this is predominately an open-air advantage that excels among the canal ways.

The waterway formation is similar to the original HL2 game, with stretches of power rides and stops to locate and operate lock-gates to progress. At these junctions, well constructed combat sequence have been plotted allowing effective use of the buggy gun. I just love that gun!

One mid-game Combine encounter is a very intense battle supported with enemy hardware that includes dropship, gunship, and rocket firing armored vehicles all combined in bolstering the strategy positioned troops. These engagements are well balanced affording the player ample health and ammo for the challenge at hand.

Another memorable encounter takes place against a helicopter gunship where the full power of the airboat gun comes into play. This fast and hectic sequence has great replay value and I guarantee you will want to play through again. Elsewhere, scattered throughout the mapppack we come up against zombies in different forms and headcrabs but this is the extent of various foe encountered within the game.

There is not much in the way of puzzle solving nor is there much scope for them apart from finding wheels to operate lock-gates and a few out of the way stores. Other than that, it’s very much a matter of nagivating your buggy to the next encounter.

Overall, this is a game designed around and along the waterways interspersed with admirably designed action sequences. Apart from these major elements, the mappack does not aspire to great heights in terms of gameplay, architecture, textures and incidental content with most of the building structures appearing bland both externally and internally.

Negative Points
- Only a part of an unfinished game
- Limited in design and environmental surrounds
- Gameplay is a bit restricted

Positive Points
- Plenty of ride sequences for those who like them
- Some well staged combat
- Great Gunship encounters

Conclusion
Being released some two years ago, this mappack would appear to be part of an unfinished game. Some doubt still remains as to whether this is part 1 or 2 of the complete story. Certainly it’s not the planned ending with nothing remotely resembling a Strider let alone their base appearing.

The way the level starts with Freeman facing the airboat and weapons already in hand, you can’t help but wonder if there was, or is a previous level to the game. Furthermore, the author refers to the mappack as level 2 in the readme file. So maybe there is a previous level and who knows maybe even subsequent levels leading to those striders and their base.

All that aside, I enjoyed the ride finding it challenging in parts and fun throughout. Not a classic but maybe a top twenty candidate with a few memorable sequences. However, unless you don’t like buggy rides, I see no reason why you should not ‘go play now’.

http://www.jennifern.net/levels.html
Map Pack: Assault on the Strider Base
Level: Rosa – Sewers

Too difficult? Well, the default difficulty setting is hard. I found it played just right on normal setting.

You really should specify that its not complete.