Comments on: Mall Brawl for Half-Life 2 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/ Finishing Half-Life is just the beginning! Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:27:17 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Hunter http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/comment-page-1/#comment-160089 Hunter Mon, 26 May 2008 19:14:42 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/#comment-160089 Thanks for the interest in the level. Haven't looked it up in years. This was a level design project for school about three years ago. I'm currently a game designer for Ghostbusters which comes out this year. I hope my skills have improved since then and I hope you guys enjoy it. -H Thanks for the interest in the level. Haven’t looked it up in years. This was a level design project for school about three years ago. I’m currently a game designer for Ghostbusters which comes out this year. I hope my skills have improved since then and I hope you guys enjoy it.

-H

]]> By: Loke http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/comment-page-1/#comment-137560 Loke Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:41:21 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/#comment-137560 Pretty "eh?" over this really, fairly decent map design but it felt so uninspiring, absolutely zero story, awful framerate when in the huge mall, extremely dull fights both with the Combine and zombies. The end fight was decent but the "find-the-rocket-launcher-and-unlimited-ammo-box" is starting to get really overdone. Where's the creativity, people? Pretty “eh?” over this really, fairly decent map design but it felt so uninspiring, absolutely zero story, awful framerate when in the huge mall, extremely dull fights both with the Combine and zombies.
The end fight was decent but the “find-the-rocket-launcher-and-unlimited-ammo-box” is starting to get really overdone. Where’s the creativity, people?
]]> By: Anonymous http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/comment-page-1/#comment-137041 Anonymous Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:54:38 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/#comment-137041 While the concept design of this map was well done with visual sequences and a short story, I felt it lacked heavily in the 'playability' aspect. I find it hard to even consider this map as a 'beta,' let alone a 'demo.' Considering that almost every 'burned down' shop in the mall was a gateway to invisible walls and jagged edges of ash, I found myself asking 'Was this map meant for release?' Some walls didn't even reach down to the floors supporting them, a lot of the combine force fields were asininely simple to sneak behind, there are structures that I can walk through for some reason, and the accidental dead ends dragged on forever. The parking structure, for example, was the biggest dead end and likely wasn't supposed to be entered at all. Why even place an entrance if it's not supposed to be entered? Strangely enough, the gameplay and design of this map reminds of some of the gameplay videos of the leaked Half-life 2 beta from yesteryear, so there is a certain amount of professionalism in the creation of this map. However, finding myself trapped on the first floor after falling off a one-way elevator is enough to make me demand that this level be more complete. All in all, this map is very linear and easy to get through. I didn't really find myself low on ammo, and I mostly used nothing but the pistol/ar2. I think it's fair to argue that when enemies are very distant and spread apart, like in this map, the collected SMG and shotgun are both very useless. Anyways, without more rambling: Five Words: Nice mall, but dead-ends stink. While the concept design of this map was well done with visual sequences and a short story, I felt it lacked heavily in the ‘playability’ aspect. I find it hard to even consider this map as a ‘beta,’ let alone a ‘demo.’

Considering that almost every ‘burned down’ shop in the mall was a gateway to invisible walls and jagged edges of ash, I found myself asking ‘Was this map meant for release?’ Some walls didn’t even reach down to the floors supporting them, a lot of the combine force fields were asininely simple to sneak behind, there are structures that I can walk through for some reason, and the accidental dead ends dragged on forever. The parking structure, for example, was the biggest dead end and likely wasn’t supposed to be entered at all. Why even place an entrance if it’s not supposed to be entered?

Strangely enough, the gameplay and design of this map reminds of some of the gameplay videos of the leaked Half-life 2 beta from yesteryear, so there is a certain amount of professionalism in the creation of this map. However, finding myself trapped on the first floor after falling off a one-way elevator is enough to make me demand that this level be more complete.

All in all, this map is very linear and easy to get through. I didn’t really find myself low on ammo, and I mostly used nothing but the pistol/ar2. I think it’s fair to argue that when enemies are very distant and spread apart, like in this map, the collected SMG and shotgun are both very useless.

Anyways, without more rambling:

Five Words: Nice mall, but dead-ends stink.

]]> By: TheRipper http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/comment-page-1/#comment-136938 TheRipper Sat, 22 Dec 2007 20:16:59 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/#comment-136938 Not enough ammunition, not enough meds and framerates are awfull. Running acroos the roof supports was nice, if you make it, that is... Not enough ammunition, not enough meds and framerates are awfull. Running acroos the roof supports was nice, if you make it, that is…
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/comment-page-1/#comment-136916 planetphillip Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:47:50 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/mall-brawl-for-half-life-2/#comment-136916 <a name="phillip" title="PlanetPhillip's Review"><img src="/images/reader-reviews/prh.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /></a> This was originally conceived as part of a larger pack called Afterlife. You start in a helicopter on your way to the mission. You receive instructions via your radio from a typical army sergeant. Once inside the shopping center you need to make your way to the roof. Looking back I wondered why I needed to get to the roof if the helicopter couldn’t just drop me, but I had to clear out the area – that’s your mission. The design and layout feel unfinished and I get the feeling that as part of the larger pack it may have been a great level. My disappointment lies in expecting more because the screenshots looked so good and the setting seems perfect for multi-level attacks and movement. It’s a shame that the designer didn’t include various ways to ascend and descend the two levels at multiple points, especially if he or she were chasing some Combine. <img src="/images/reader-reviews/prn.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /> - It lacked enough detail to make it seem real. - Not enough variety of action. - Too much use of force fields to control the player’s movement. - Starting sequence after jumping out of the chopper…Where did it go! <img src="/images/reader-reviews/prp.gif" alt="ingle Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /> - It was nice to see something completely new. - The Combine Gunship was not too hard. - Running across the roof supports. <img src="/images/reader-reviews/prs.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /> It was clearly part of a larger pack and as such it’s unfair to judge it as a stand alone map. That said it didn’t get me excited and with such a fine layout I would expect more. It would be interesting to see somebody re-position the Combine to greater effect. <a href="/posts/five-words-or-less/" title="PlanetPhillip Reader Review"><img src="/images/reader-reviews/pr5wr.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /></a> Nice to look at but… (<a href="/posts/five-words-or-less/">What’s This?</a> ) <img src="/images/reader-reviews/prr.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /></a> <a href="/posts/commenting-guidelines/"><img src="/images/reader-reviews/ufi.gif" alt="Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3" /> Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3
This was originally conceived as part of a larger pack called Afterlife. You start in a helicopter on your way to the mission. You receive instructions via your radio from a typical army sergeant.

Once inside the shopping center you need to make your way to the roof. Looking back I wondered why I needed to get to the roof if the helicopter couldn’t just drop me, but I had to clear out the area – that’s your mission.

The design and layout feel unfinished and I get the feeling that as part of the larger pack it may have been a great level. My disappointment lies in expecting more because the screenshots looked so good and the setting seems perfect for multi-level attacks and movement.

It’s a shame that the designer didn’t include various ways to ascend and descend the two levels at multiple points, especially if he or she were chasing some Combine.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3
- It lacked enough detail to make it seem real.
- Not enough variety of action.
- Too much use of force fields to control the player’s movement.
- Starting sequence after jumping out of the chopper…Where did it go!

ingle Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3
- It was nice to see something completely new.
- The Combine Gunship was not too hard.
- Running across the roof supports.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3
It was clearly part of a larger pack and as such it’s unfair to judge it as a stand alone map. That said it didn’t get me excited and with such a fine layout I would expect more. It would be interesting to see somebody re-position the Combine to greater effect.

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3
Nice to look at but…
(What’s This? )

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3

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