19/10/2024 - "Vodojem / The Reservoir" by Nikola -(DOG)- Genyo

[Sat42]

Map Title: Vodojem / The Reservoir
Author: Nikola -(DOG)- Genyo
From: Vodojem / The Reservoir
Filename: Vodojem2.unr




Video Playthread:


Speedrun:


Synopsis: You better take a deep breath!

Discuss!

[TigerTheGreat]

Finally Nikola's work.

Her packages are pretty big despite the amount of maps (aside from Jeges which is a three-parter and Xellos which consists of two, all are single maps) due to intense usage of custom content. It does not go to waste though, as the levels are usually big, varied and have a strong sense of location.

Vodojem is one of the more awesome maps with its array of puzzles and varied areas, on top of fantastically hectic enemy encounters. A seal of approval from me.

[Semfry]

The visuals here are decent; it's abstract but still works as a dungeon type location, and interactive aspects like the torch sconce things help it too. There's a pretty impressive scale to some of the main areas too, especially the large spiral at the end. The use of the Tomb Raider "event" music when you turn on the lights in one big room works initially but becomes kind of silly because it's made to only play once but keeps repeating as you go through that part of the map. I guess this is one of the few other maps to use the 7 Bullets Vandora passage textures, and it does that well, which makes it feel a bit fresh thematically.

The progression is a bit awkward throughout the map; while you technically just have to step on a certain part of the floor, I was completely stuck at the start and had to look in the editor to work out what to do (I guess it's something that goes smoother in Co-op where it's likely to happen by accident). Past that, a lot of the switches aren't clear about what they do and you kind of have to guess what actually opens when you use one. At least the overall layout is relatively linear despite some backtracking so there's not too much to check. How you get in the final water tube is also a bit odd (to the point it also feels like a glitch) but I kind of stumbled across it by accident. The puzzle elements work well enough (although the torches also suffer from no real feedback when you correctly use a flare), although, since they're needed to progress, it seems you could run out of flares? Unless more can spawn. I think the symbols for story messages and hints work here, since it's more focused on action than immersion. A lot of areas are low gravity, which feels kind of random, but given the water theme I guess it does make dry ground feel a bit like water too...

The combat is pretty varied and provides some decent arenas, although the scale kind of works against the AI a bit and means you can snipe a lot of stuff, but the dark corners and similar means there are plenty of chances to be ambushed. The couple of moments with giant Skaarj with normal health pools were also odd, but I guess it doesn't change much beyond making them easier to hit. Given the style of the map the lack of a boss does stand out though. The Nali at the end of the map actually conveys a minor bit of story, although it's easy to miss and there's not much else to it in the level. Despite some strange aspects it's a decent map and one of the stronger of Nikola's releases.

[Sat42]

This map is indeed among the better ones made by Nikola. I think Wasserburg Eusebius - Fall is ever so slightly better, but most of what I had to say about that one would apply to Vodojem / The Reservoir as well:-

At the risk of repeating myself, this is another good example of a "coop first, SP second" map: it still manages to be enjoyable in SP and hence worth playing, while also illustrating just how different the coop mentality is compared to SP. I still feel like those huge halls would fare better with the EXU2 gametype...

We get another cool custom ambient track here, which helps elevate the atmosphere along with the visual set pieces. That first giant hallway with the canal (top-left screenshot) is memorable enough, and the large spiral towards the end with the central water tower flanked by statues (bottom-right screenie) does convey a good amount of awe in a somewhat abstract fantasy way (due to the lack of meaning assigned to the place). Nikola really enjoys using Deus Ex art assets

The narrative is next to nonexistent.

Gameplay-wise, aside from the usual run-and-gun, the puzzle aspect surprised me, and while I enjoyed lighting up the fire pits, I agree with Semfry on the awkward side of the progression, and it was my turn to open the editor to figure out what I was supposed to do after turning on the lights in that big room (it transpired that I was just supposed to light up yet another fire pit, though the lights were already on). It's indeed a shame that there's no real feedback from correctly using a flare, when the author demonstrates time and again that she is more than capable of making something rather more complicated than that. I think you could technically run out of flares but that's unlikely to happen, unless everyone in a coop session is running around drunk as a skunk.

A lot of areas are low gravity, which feels kind of random, but given the water theme I guess it does make dry ground feel a bit like water too...

I'm just highlighting this because I think that's a very nice way of looking at it

And indeed, a boss fight at the end would have helped. Wasserburg Eusebius - Fall did that to its credit.

I still hope that one day Nikola will focus on making a more SP-centric experience!

[Masterkent]

How to watch the Semfry's walkthrough video:
1. set the playback timestamp to 14:45
2. set the playback speed to 2x
3. PROFIT

[TigerTheGreat]

Not really. That would mean skipping the majority of the level. And in my review I've given enough reasons against it.

[Sat42]

Masterkent is just taking the piss

By the way, I recently saw a post by Nikola on the OldUnreal Discord. I don't know if she's aware of MOTW (or even of UnrealSP in general), but if you're in touch, Delacroix, do let her know about it, she'd obviously be welcome to chime in with whatever thoughts she may have.

[ebd]

Very cryptic hallways packed with enemies just standing around, and it's honestly less hassle to run past the enemies in many places than to spend time fighting them. Puzzles were a nice approach but some of the hints weren't very helpful. Not much story. It's also possible to get over the wall with the jump boots at the start.

I am not sure I'll have a lot of commentary for the video, so I'll try to actually have a video this week, and on time hopefully!

edit: how could I have neglected to mention the spiral staircases

edit 2: video is edited and rendered, upload to youtube is taking a while so I am going to bed.

edit 3:

[Masterkent]

That would mean skipping the majority of the level. And in my review I've given enough reasons against it.

Okay

[Sat42]

[...]
video is edited and rendered, upload to youtube is taking a while so I am going to bed.

Awesome, looking forward to it!
Oh, and what did you want to say about the spiral staircase? that it's long-winded? Masterkent may have a solution:

Okay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3W3COcghi0

I never speedrun myself, but this is really good! I knew there had to be a trick or two in order to pull this off in less than 2 and a half minutes...

[Semfry]

That reminds me that it's odd how there's so many Jumpboots at the start, because there isn't much to find high up and it's kind of a red herring when the answer is in the ground. Plus there's that stealth+jumpboots pyramid item lying around as well (was that re-added cut content or something, because I've seen it in various newer levels? A Friend in Need has it as a secret too).

Also you can apparently enter the central pillar at the staircase even without the switch at the top so now I'm kind of wondering what it actually does...

[Sat42]

Thanks for sharing your video, ebd!

[...]
Also you can apparently enter the central pillar at the staircase even without the switch at the top so now I'm kind of wondering what it actually does...

I'm not sure about the stealth+jumpboots "pyramid" item (which can indeed also be found in A Friend In Need), but regarding the way Masterkent was able to access the water tower without even climbing to the top, I'm leaning towards that being just an oversight/bug...

[Masterkent]

Cloaking device is a powerup from Return to Na Pali deathmatch maps and UPak DM-based game types. It's funny that against real players this device is useful mainly as increasing the owner's jump height and air control, while the owner commonly remains well visible to other players.

The water tower on the map is probably supposed to be accessed through the tunnel at the bottom of it. The entrance to the tunnel is initially closed by a hatch which you can open by the lever at the top.

[Semfry]

Looking at the map now I see the tunnel, so I guess I never actually found the intended way and just bugged it by accident lol.

I guess the Cloak being from RTNP explains why it shows up as a thing.