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StoneGarden

Huge. Lots of square rooms, with floating stones i the center, and sewage pits filled with drones, linked by sewage passageways. Some cool effects, but no plot to speak of (well, stay alive long enough to see the whole thing...).

9 Minutes 37 Seconds

A 3-level solo scenario. As the author says, the plot's a little hokey, but the levels are quite well done. (I've got a pretty big gripe with the last level... if you leave the tower, you can't get back in. There's a door, but it's only one way... You've got to restart from a saved game, and I didn't have one.) Watch yourself when you're close to a goal... the baddies have a nasty habit of showing up at the last minute.

Foreign Legion 2.0

This map is the reason I got 3 maps tested this evening, instead of 20. Very pretty to look at, with a really well-thought-out story (well-written, even!), and great monster/ammo placement. This one'll keep you on your toes... The only faults I'd list are a few trapping polys (polys you can't get out of once you get in), and one set of bad doors (always keep an older saved game around-otherwise you'll do what I had to do, and start over). Definitely worth playing-this one's great.

Never Forever 1.0

It's the week for solo scenarios, I guess... Here's a four-level spinoff of the Bungie universe. Map design is quite good on all levels (there may be some problems for 040 players on level 3-too much stuff). The story progresses well for the first two levels, then seems to become a Bungie derivative (I felt like I was listening to a juvenile Durandal). It ends with a bang, though. (You are gonna get SO lost on level 2...)

Check out the digestible chunks page, for floppy-sized pieces...

The Junkyard 1.2

A ten-level solo scenario, and a net level (Lava Extreme, also available separately) Some of the levels are bigger than others, but except for the last one, you can run through the whole thing in under an hour. The story revolves around Durandal and Tycho, but they're not the Durandal and Tycho you know... Use IZD on an 040. (The last level shows what happens when you give someone All Roads Lead to Sol and DOPE and tell them, "make a level kind of like this one, but with more monsters.")

Lava Me Tender

Installment 2 in the Origin of Species series (The Goo, the Bad and the Ugly was installment 1). I'll keep this short-get this map. It's really, really hard, but really, really good. Amazing art, and amazing level design. Wow.

Wrath of the Sentinel

A large, rambling level with a lot of water tricks. An early juggernaut makes things a bit difficult, but this one's playable... a fun story goes along with the gameplay.

Descent 1.3

A 7-level descent into Hell. Visually, this is a stunning map. From the opening sequence (VERY cool doors) through the final battle, I was surprised by some of the unique touches of this map. The update has cleaned up quite a few crashes, and added terms, secrets, and battles. Also, I was wrong- no cheating necessary to get off the first level. There are still a few minor bugs, but nothing major.

Cookin' With Pfhor 1.0.1

Wow, I'm not really sure what to say about this one. It's WAY too hard, so much so that in order to see all of it, I cheated. Maybe it's possible to get through it without cheating, but I don't think I've got that kind of time... OTOH, it's a really nicely designed level, with lots of new things every time you go through an area. There are a few misaligned textures, but nothing to yell about, and sounds are used well. Just when you think you're stuck, you come across that overlooked switch, or that hidden uplinK chip... and another door opens.

Platoon

A three level scenario, but you could count it as one... the first two levels seem kind of pointless. And since you can pick up an invincibility just before leaving level 2, and not have it wear off until you finish level 3, you might consider level 3 pointless as well...

"The Goo, the Bad, and the Ugly"

A very nicely done solo level... the first of a series that will make up the first installment Marathon map ever released. Quite difficult, as are most of Tony's maps... but very satisfying. If you can't figure out what you need to do next, go back and check recently visited areas, looking for changes. Great term art (the best use of Bungie art to date, imo). As usual, dive into the melee; wield superior firepower; endure. (Just don't cheat-this one's too much fun...)

Garden

An extremely well-done 8-level solo scenario. (Well, the count's a little suspect-there are a couple of levels that probably shouldn't be counted (they're added for story continuity, but except for weapons refreshment, they don't have much on 'em), and one net level that's simply the last level, redone for netplay-but the important part is that it's a full scenario.) The story revolves around the battle for a water supply plant... and has a non-standard ending. The chapter art is inspired. Highly recommended.

Hexidecimal

4 incredibly simplistic levels. About 4 polys each... (I may be exaggerating, but not much). Some texture smearing because of room size. Whatever.

Escape!

A three level solo scenario. You're a prisoner, and your job is to escape, rescue Robert Blake, and get out. If you can finish this level on TC, consider yourself a true vidmaster. There are an absurd number of aliens here... and very limited recharging capabilities (unless I missed 'em all).

Bob Karnage V1.1

Basically, a bunch of rooms set up to waste bobs in various ways. Whatever.

Full 'O' Bobs

Two main rooms, one full of explodabobs, one mixed, plus a room full of rechargers and another with an extra pistol and some ammo. I guess the point is to see how long you can stay alive...

Constant Carnage

This map just about maxes out object limits in Marathon, and because of this is horribly slow on anything but a powermac (and even then...) Otherwise, it's a pretty straightforward map with lots and lots and lots and lots of ammo and baddies and stuff.

Knee-Deep in S'pht 1.1

The first two levels of a rather large scenario. (All the levels are there, but only the first two have polygons in them... well, the third has a pair so that you can teleport in, but...) Generally pretty difficult, but more for techical reasons than anything else. The central shaft on the first level (by which most intra-level travel occurs) is a bit tough to get the hang of. Once you've figured it out (and ignored the bad textures inside), it's pretty cool... and there's a nice trap on level two.

Prison! 1.1

A three-level solo scenario where the bobs are your enemies, and everything else (well, almost everything) is on your side. (Comes with a physics model to make it work.) Well-planned levels take advantage of situations where bobs are superior, fighting-wise... pretty difficult, even on Normal.

M'Netta Operation 2.5

This puppy's BIG. Also dark, with winding, twisting passages, and many many levels on top of each other. And bright, with open, airy areas with nice views. (Did I mention it was big?) Don't bother using your map... it's nearly useless. Engrossing, but watch the traps-you'll have to start from your last save if you get caught... Update fixes a few things that are funny, adds baddies, aligns textures... It's also not bright anymore. (It's at night.)

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