The next map in my series of reviews focuses on DM_Mine. This is a personal favourite of mine out of the maps included in the v1.0 release. The main appeal being the fantastic rendering and textures of the walls, along with the sheer size of some of the caverns. The echo sound as you move around the map adds realism to the surroundings and creates the feeling that you are actually there. It really is a highly polished map and another of Loki's successes.

Now to the contents. The map has all of the weapons the game offers with 2 rocket Launchers at either end of the map. Both Silver and Gold armours are available along with MegaHealth in the Weapon Modifier cavern. All 3 powerups are also present with the Immunity powerup being hidden sneakily away in one of the caverns.

The map is played over a single layer with some upper walkways providing height to the battles. Nicely rendered wooden and marble textures add interest to these upper levels with the odd jump pad thrown in for fast elevation whilst bunnyhopping through the chambers.

The map is very suited to 3v3 or 4v4 team games with a multitude of chambers to occupy and spawn within. As the right hand side of the map contains the 2 armour positions, this will be the main choice of residence for any team. The opposing team will have to settle for powerup attacks with the Electrodriver and Rocket Launcher but will be heavily constrained by the narrow entrances to the Immunity chamber, Silver Armour chamber and the Well.

The Lava makes a welcome return (unless you fall into it heehee) and although not deep, will singe your legs until that precious health and Armour has evaporated along with your torso. It's a shame its not as deep as the lava in Quakeworld as many a laugh could be had whilst trying to watch your enemy rocket jump fruitlessly out of the burning fluid.

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I feel that the teleport position hasn't been used to the full here. The teleport into the Electrodriver room although providing an avenue for quick movement down the map, doesn't really strike me as providing a tactical advantage. Perhaps having the player teleport into the Immunity chamber may provide more avenues for attack for a team trying to over run an entrenched enemy. I await a full team game to validate my thoughts here.

The map does allow for a level of skill to be employed to move quickly around the map in certain areas. Doorways in the chambers are teasingly just out of reach for normal jumps and hence require small rocketjumps to get to them. Beating a player to the silver armour via a rocketjump will provide much more satisfaction than merely jumping up the stairs as fast as possible. And the Immunity powerup as always with Loki maps is a pain to reach easily. Rocket Jump skills required here to snatch it before the opposing player blows you away.

All in all, this is a great map and I'm sure it will be fun to play either in team games or large FFA/Voosh game modes. Some tweaks to add more ammo, and perhaps move the teleport output to a different location may benefit the map in the long run. For me, it's certainly the map with the most potential for 4v4 Team DeathMatch games. Time will tell… Enjoy.

Game Guide