UnrealSP.org

Ruins by Geno.Cide
Review tagline: 'One huge mistake.'

Main review:

Some maps are like B-class movies. Despite obvious flaws in either storyline or construction they do have a certain charm that makes them enjoyable nonetheless. However, not all of them are like that. There are creations that aren't 'so bad they're good'. Instead, they sink to such depths that after playing through them, the player feels relieved that the nightmare is already over.



Ruins (SP-Ruines) by German mapper Geno.Cide is that kind of map. Storyline is inexistent: you don't know who you are and it doesn't matter. Your objective is to leave your ship, venture into the nearby ruins and kill 15 Skaarj troopers. That's all. True, we've all seen worse cases where there was no story or objective whatsoever but that doesn't make this level any better. It looks just as bad ingame as it sounds: exit the ship, go down a lift, grab all guns and pickups (not much), cross the plank bridge, kill everything that moves and double-back. And that's it.



Construction is just as flawed. Architecture looks like a sick joke: the only thing standing out are irregular holes in the walls which make the constructions look ruined. The plateau both constructs are placed on is strangely regular and absolutely flat. What's worse, the texture looks horribly stretched which makes the grass look like one big blur. If you are looking for good visuals, stay away from this level.



If you think it's just your eyes that'll be subjected to immense pain, then no. The Ruins contain no ambient sounds whatsoever and the only things you hear are Skaarj grunts and grawls plus two very badly voiced lines spoken by some sort of announcer. The only good thing you hear is the 'Go Down' track which is used in the map but quite frankly, it doesn't fit the theme at all.

Summary:

This level is one huge mistake. It was created as an example for the SinglePlayer4UT mod which is nothing but a cheap workaround allowing to play SP maps under Unreal Tournament (Oldskool is way superior than it, by the way) and the author himself acknowledges that the map is ugly. Truth be told - and I never thought I'd say this - Geno.Cide made a mistake by releasing it. It's that kind of level that is best kept in a private stash as a memory of the first mapping lesson instead of a public release. Steer clear from it unless you're a masochist.

Score:

Architecture: 1
Texturing: 0
Lighting: 0
Sound: 0
Technical Execution: 0

Conceptual Grandness: 0
Story Construction: 0
Story Implementation: 0
Gameplay Awe: 0
Gameplay Balance: 0

Total Score: 1%

Downloads:

SP-RuinesEN.zip - 570 kb - KlanKAOS
SP-RuinesEN.zip - 570 kb - Dropbox

I'm glad to see a level like this reviewed!
Good work, even if the the total score is a bit low. Good work!
Edit:
[spoiler]Geno.Cide made a mistake by releasing it. It's that kind of level that is best kept in a private stash as a memory of the first mapping lesson instead of a public release. Steer clear from it unless you're a masochist.
Why? I thought you are some kind of collector and even a fanatic!
It's better to see one more maps than one more less.[/spoiler]

just wondering, why are the reviews being posted here rather than on the main page?

Played through, and wasn't that bad at all.

Man I do remember this, "thing", coming with SP 4UT (I was checking mods). Those custom sounds were horrible.

This "'thing" is even better than Cryssis 3 xD
Sounds..Agreed.

Sie sprechen Deutsch? Ich töte alle Skaarj. Alle Skaarj sind tot. Kehre nun zum Deadwing zurück.

The custom sounds are awesome. The map deserves at least another point for those great sounds.

wait, this got 1? surely even those shots make it worthy of something more than the tragedy (same with final worlds.)

does make me wonder though. What you'd have to do to get a 0% rating here

You'll soon find out when UBerserker writes his next review.

What exactly is the point of reviewing such terrible maps?

Uh, to warn people? IDK. My job here is to review maps, good or bad, doesn't make a difference. Albeit reviewing good ones certainly means a pleasant playthrough...

You can't only have good maps I guess. Still, the SP gametype generally has the luxury of quality mappers, and there are precious few examples of levels completely devoid of merit. I'm not sure I totally agree with giving zeros for individual sections of the score (1 to 10 should be sufficient, otherwise the reviewer could be accused of making an example of someone's map. That's not a practice we ought to promote) but then again my opinion on not having scores in the first place has been dismissed by both Mike and Sana's administration and by users at large, so what do I know?

Delacroix wrote:Uh, to warn people? IDK.

Literally. I saw them on servers too. Disgusting.

Mister_Prophet wrote:(1 to 10 should be sufficient, otherwise the reviewer could be accused of making an example of someone's map. That's not a practice we ought to promote)

This is my main concern. Just dogpiling on an obvious Babby's First Unreal Map sort of thing just seems tacky to me if the author wasn't specifically looking for critical feedback.