Rubicon 2

By metlslime & czg, Released 11th February 2011

February 2011 brought with it the long-awaited Rubicon 2, some previously unfinished business for the talented mapper metlslime, featuring also a map by CZG. Fans of the originator's work, and indeed, the prequel to this mini Quake episode likely had high expectations for this material. The original Rubicon brought with it's own custom texture set, created by the author, which have been used in many other Quake mapper's maps since. I for one was not dissapointed.

The new episode continues with the trend of being set in a sort of rusty industrial base setting. Like we have seen in games such as Half-Life, the maps are an actual functional location, seemingly a hydro-electric powerstation. There is lots of water running through and around the various parts, waterfalls and cliffs surround each section. Inside areas vary from dark and dusty storage areas full of crates, to crampt tunnels full of pipes, to large circular atruims.

Using custom progs, there have been some environmental effects added to the standard Quake feature set, including steam ansd sparks, and there are some very finely built interactive mechanical features. Also featuring in the map are plenty of vents to explore, and ladders taking you through the bowels and upper-reaches of the map. Explorers will be rewarded with lots of clever secrets. A couple of new monsters have been added to the bestiary for this outing. There are two new types of Enforcers, both a flying variety and a slightly bigger and meaner version of the Pyro varient, seen before in the Quoth mod. There is also a crazy new robot called Floyd. Dr Who fans will instantaneously compare this monster to the infamous Darlec race. All three monsters are used to great effect in the maps, each monster has a unique gameplay style.

I personally love these maps. The geometry and architecture of each of the maps is fantastic. There is a very well-built dam in one part of a map, and another map is built around a cylindrical chamber, with straight boxey corridors replaced by slow curving walk-through pipes. You can tell just by looking at them that they were made by fans of the original Quake, the gameplay in parts is very similar to that of the original game. There are characteristic cramped corridors and small rooms where you never know what could be lurking in the shadows. As much as you try not to get spotted by a monster until you have seen him first, you are constantly caught out by a well positioned foe that you just hadn't seen. The gameplay is an excellent showcase for good pacing, you are engaging in close combat one minute, then exploring an area, then you will find a puzzle, and so on.

The lighting in the maps is also very nice, and along with the environmetal effects and custom sounds this makes for a very authentic experience. There is a consistent and effective theme running right through to the excellent choice of type-face used on some of the textures. This reminded me heavily of Aliens and Alien 3.

Click [Here]to see RickyT23's attempt at a nightmare speedrun 0_0

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