05/04/2010 - "Xerania's Fall" by EZKeel

[Buff Skeleton]

Slamming real life propaganda of any sort into mods is VERY objectionable.

I wouldn't say that. If it's done tastefully, it can be a great vehicle to deliver a message. It just has to be subtle (usually).

Games aren't just for entertainment; that would be like saying books, music, and movies are meant solely for entertainment. Games can be a good communication medium all the same if they are treated appropriately (i.e. the person making the message, for one thing, considers their audience, and doesn't focus on the message so much as making a good game first, etc).

Then again, you DID say "propaganda" which is a lot different from just trying to making a point of some kind.... I do agree that propaganda has little place in a game unless it's satirical

[Flunders]

This map got me into editing! EZkeel inspired me, he helped me a lot in the beginning!

Amazing map, loved it when i played it.

[zbreaker]

A very cool map/project. The author was no master of composition using todays standards by any means, but he demonstrated a gift with the editor which inspired many after him at the time.

A very enjoyable experience fairly early in Unreal history

[ThickAsABrick]

I always liked this one.
EZKeel was always one of my favourite mappers back in the early days of Unreal. I always thought that Invasion and Strange World (DavidM) were among the most innovative and original mappacks around.
Xerania's fall might look a bit dated and basic compared to newer masterpieces, but it gave many of us a great gaming experience in a slightly psychedelic version of the Unreal universe.

[Hellscrag]

Heyyyyyy, TAAB!

[Buff Skeleton]

Wow, I haven't seen Banana Gunner in a while!

[ThickAsABrick]

The Banana gunner comes by every week. Playing everything that gets released, and reading most posts.

[zbreaker]

Slamming real life propaganda of any sort into mods is VERY objectionable.

Agreed,,,but this is a REALLY subjective criteria.

I think in retrospect that people should really not "sweat the small stuff"

[DavidM]

ezkeel always made maps look awesome

[Semfry]

I just realised the load I did from getting stuck coincidentally exactly matches the point where the second part starts.

It's somewhat ironic that one of Ezkeel's first maps is one of his most grand and detailed (albeit still pretty simple). It's a pretty massive map with quite a bit in it, although the whole "alternative worlds" concept seems a bit half-baked and seems to suffer from Ezkeel not really having the skill to pull it off, the water world in particular has very little identity at all. Plus progression is kind of vague at times (and easily breakable in the Krall world's case). Combat gameplay is pretty simple, but some of the Brute clusterfucks are quite well done (actually, this is probably one of the few maps that does Brutes some justice). I'm not actually sure I've played the (much superior) V3 version before, as I always remember having a lot of trouble with the lift.

[Twisted]

Easter egg in Pic 4 reminds me of the one from Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2.

[UB_]

Easter egg in Pic 4 reminds me of the one from Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2.

It reminds me of religion.