This is a simple map that gets quite a bit right. While the textures are rather dull, the architecture is very striking, adding to the impression of a great hall or structure, with great heights combined with small changes in the heights of the floor, which breaks up any monotony. The size of the map is accentuated by the great heights, giving a more grand feel than its actual size.

Gameplay-wise this map is solid. Weapons and powerups are spread out both on the lower and upper levels, with a balance to not lead gameplay into a race to control a specific area of item on the map.

Having played thousands of maps over the past 25+ years this one still stands up well and deserves gameplay.

the architecture is superb. the texturing is awful. with some odds and ends, more small details, better shadowplay and some nicer textures it would be a good arena. not my style , but the architecture is good for 2001. it looks more like a showoff map than a game map, but with really bland texturing. it's not going in my old school map rotation, but i'll archive it anyway.

Two words to describe the aesthetic: Massive architecture.

Two words to describe the gameplay: Very flat.

The layout is impressive in scale, but this hurts the gameplay. The rooms have little variation beyond big and open, with a ramp or two alongside; the Quake 3 engine can't handle much more than that so it's understandable (my system was already complaining) but as I've said in other threads that's a design choice.

It's probably worth grabbing just for the looks, but don't expect too much out of the gameplay. Long distancing rail and/or plasmaguns are the order of the day in most of the map, while the few enclosed spaces (and they are very enclosed, hardly any inbetweens) demand rockets and shotguns. Blandish gameplay, awe-insipiringish (perhaps that a bit exaggerated, the textures aren't very unique) architecture.

-Octovus

P.S. 8 from me.