The Author

  Benoit "Bal" Stordeur, is the French Quake1-mapper you've all heard so much
about. With a history of 8 previously-released levels, most of which are excellent
pieces of work. Bal has now put together a very inspirational Quake3-level, which
goes back to a theme he started in his early Quake1 maps, Baldm1 & 3


Architectural Design

  Ash Rain is a large factory area built into a mountain side. It looks like it
could actually stand up in real life, & that's what counts right? It's built from
concrete-walls & metal-supports. The supports seem to be everywhere, keeping
the map from falling down while at the same time, looking mighty pretty.

  Bal has implemented an amount of curves in this map, as most other Q3A-levels
have. But he's been very conservative with them, so as to keep the frame-rate up.
When he does use them, they blend well into the rest of the architecture.


Atmosphere & Lighting

  The lighting in Ash works well to create a somewhat 'midnight-technoland' theme.
Its midnight sky casts a mild light over everything while the base itself is
highlighted by doubled up base_light/spot1 textures. There are also ceiling-lights
with a small bit of mist under them, which suggests a somewhat desolate and
untouched feeling. A bluish-green color radiates from the acidic water under the
bottom floor. The entire level feels like an abandoned factory left to rust while
its workers leave behind their homicidal security-measures.

  The only suggestion I have for Bal in the future is that the sky cast somewhat of a
dull-white light. The map might have been better enhanced by a light-blue instead.


Style & Textures

  Ash Rain has been carefully constructed with concrete-walls & metal-supports.
The ceiling consists of electrical wires & a sort of metal implanted in a
rough-concrete pour. All the textures meld together with each other & fit their
purpose with the utmost precision. Everything is trimmed out by red & black
cautionary-strips. Bal has stuck together a very original set here & yet, the map
seems very reminiscent of baldm3, an excellent Quake1 map incorporating those
fine IKbase-textures.


Weapons, Ammo, & Items

  One grenade-launcher, one shotgun, one railgun, one lightning-gun, & two
rocket-launchers.

  What a great weapon layout... enough said. The weapons all sit in highly-effective
placements. One RL exists in the middle of all the action with the rail above it.
The lightning-gun overlooks the railgun, & the single grenade-launcher is on top
of all the action. The second RL is placed to one side of the atrium as a way to
re-arm anyone who has just been fragged. Enough ammo has been provided so
you aren't running with the gauntlet very much at all.

  A Megahealth, two suits of yellow-armor, & one red-armor have been provided for
your protection while fragging the board. A haste powerup has also been placed
in a semi-hidden area to speed things up.


Balance & Gameplay

  The title 'Ash Rain' must make reference to way the level plays. Everyone has
explosives & sling them at each other all over this great 4-level design.
Grenades rain down & rockets are coming from all sides imaginable. All of a
sudden, a slug rips out of nowhere through the smoke & blood & pops your
sorry-ass. If that doesn't explain what Ash Rain is like playing, then let me
tell you about the layout. Twisted, intense, up, & down the board flows.
Everything centers around the main-room. The map looks feels as though it has
more rooms yet in reality, it contains one large-room & many halls connecting to
the different areas.


Technical & Presentation

  The frame-rate never drops in this map. Bal has kept the r_speeds at a norm
throughout. Even looking down over everything, you never see more then 7000-
tris. The map is well-clipped as you would expect. There are two of these areas
that show lower-FPS but they are not really a problem though as they are both in
tight corners where you won't be fighting near as often.


Conclusion

  Ash Rain has been very well put together. The map flows well & looks excellent.
Lighting has been used effectively & neatly. Ash has fun for all... A