ASHASSIN on 2/12/2008 at 16:16
This mission is A class! Engaging story, beautiful texturing, smart pathfinding, scary in places (that ghost in the tower attic freaked me out big time), awesome ambient sounds and a hint of sadness (the fate of the two previous cell occupants).
excellent!
ghost_in_the_shell on 2/12/2008 at 18:25
Just finished playing it. Didn't find any secrets, but it's not most important. The mission is brilliant. I have to admitt that I started it yesterday and somehow I didn't like it. But when I came back to it today my attitude changed. It is very well designed, it have interesting plot (including sub-plots like the readables telling us about the ring lost in the basement, and at least one bonus objective), special effects are great, but the author used them with balance, saving them for most important moments. Ambients improves atmosphere too. Author did much to keep the story going comfortably for the player: keys are labeled with info about their destination - that's the neverending conflict between realism (how does Garrett know what is the key for?) and gameplay. But in case of this quite large mission (but still inside contest boundaries!) smooth gameplay was a priority in my opinion. Some keys dissappears after use which decreases the mess in the inventory. Design adds much to gameplay - there is lot of places that you can't access to at the beginning but you can guess how to get to them from other points, so you don't feel lost and stucked. I stucked several times anyway, but probably that's because of my low playing skill. Mission have a map - it don't have many details, but is nicely prepared - and it have the picture in the starting screen.
Summing it up: it's done very profesional, I would be very surprised if it is entry of some unknown and inexperienced debutant ;)
Only issues I noticed where that when gameplay starts Garrett seems to fall from inside the ceiling (strange visual effect appeared for a moment), and also I didn't like that nearby guards were alerted by Garrett's starting fall to the ground.
Besides of those minor issues this mission is great. It's a gem.
I still have some more TAC missions to play so I can't judge if The Tower is the best in my opinion, but between other TAC FMs I already played this one was best.
Congratulations and thanks for the author for such a great creation!
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Question
Is the balcony where I can hear snoring person (to the right from the tower - when looking at it's entrance) accessible? I couldn't mantle it, nor I succeed at slipping/jumping from the rope attached to high wooden beam.
Nightwalker on 2/12/2008 at 19:15
The fuss at the beginning has nothing to do with you making any noise. It's the guy who's been hired to get Ruskin out of the tower, trying to go just that. Gave me quite a start the first time I played the mission. :cheeky:
To get onto the balcony where you can hear the snoring person, jump from near the bottom of the rope to the windowsill of the room opposite the balcony. From there it's an easy jump over.
SlyFoxx on 2/12/2008 at 21:19
A+
I love "how do I get there from here" gameplay. This puppy had it in spades. Very well done. You couldn't pack more gameplay in such a small space. Sly is impressed!:thumb:
Oh yeah...@Linda
You're welcome I'm sure.
:sly:
ghost_in_the_shell on 2/12/2008 at 21:20
Thank you Nightwalker, I finally visited Lady Wilhelmina, she isn't snoring anymore :cheeky:
Nameless Voice on 2/12/2008 at 21:49
A very nice little mission; well-designed architecture, good use of ambients, and a lot of gameplay packed into such a small space.
There were quite a few small annoyances and nitpicks, but considering the extremely limited time that the contestants had to work on these missions, I can't blame the author.
Definitely one of the best contest entries I've played so far!
bikerdude on 2/12/2008 at 22:43
Quote Posted by SlyFoxx
A+ Sly is impressed!:thumb:
Awesome :cheeky:
The Elusive One on 3/12/2008 at 08:50
Loved this mission, incredible how much has been crammed into such a small space.
Anyway i can finish the mission but there is one area that i just can't figure out how to get into. A single locked door at street level in the southeast corner. I simply can't find the key anywhere or any other means to get in there.
Anyone who can spoil me, please?
Tannar on 3/12/2008 at 10:18
The key to that door is in that room but there is another way in from up above. You can use the key to let yourself out once you get in. Go to the room just west of that one and climb the ladder in what looks like a fireplace. Cross the room at the top of the ladder, take a right and there will be a small metal door/hatch on your right. Go through that and cross that room to another door/hatch. That will get you into the room you want.
The Elusive One on 3/12/2008 at 19:02
Quote Posted by Tannar
The key to that door is
in that room but there is another way in from up above. You can use the key to let yourself out once you get in. Go to the room just west of that one and climb the ladder in what looks like a fireplace. Cross the room at the top of the ladder, take a right and there will be a small metal door/hatch on your right. Go through that and cross that room to another door/hatch. That will get you into the room you want.Thanks, i don't know how i missed that.