Here's a set of
sourceport-deathmatch levels you don't run into everyday! I've never played
anything like these before and I probably never will. They're so different
from what you normally encounter yet so plain and ordinary that you feel
like you've played it before. That's the keywords for DoomArenas.
Namely Arenas is to be taken
literally because not one of these look anything like the other; they've all
got different themes and takes place in the most weird and fantastic
surroundings. It really works and gives DoomArenas an atmosphere which no
other DM levels can. This is also due to the new textures and objects that
really elevates the levels distinctiveness to a higher level. I really
enjoyed playing the much Q3A inspired space map. Yes, it has some flaws and
is at times the most annoying level in the pack, but mostly it's great fun
and best of all; you really feel like you're running around in outer space
slaying your pals, and; there's no place to hide! Apropos hiding: That's no
problem in the other levels! And why not? They curve, twist, wind and makes
hunting the center of the match.
But then we have the question of
design, and this is where DA fails. There's too many misaligned and
un-pegged textures. There's also an excessive lack of variation in texture
choice. Hereby I mean, that often does e.g. long hallways only consist
of one texture repeated. Apart from that I've never seen such an innovative
and unique way of combining textures and flats. I wouldn't be mistaken if I
say that this a distinctive Jason Sloan style. It's very special and not
like anything you've ever seen. However, there's also a great number of
lights and other details scattered around the levels. Again they're not
ordinary, but very exceptionally designed.
I must admit that I was disappointed
when I discovered that some nuke floors didn't cause me any damage! That's a
sad relic from the old-school-designing days, which I thought had been
terminated for good.
They play really well and there's
plenty of fun in them. They would have been something truly out of the
ordinary had they not been so marked with patent "errors" and
flaws. I'm looking forward to DA2, that's for sure!
