Review #11 - DBW-NG-BattleChessV1

Armagon · Post by **Armagon** » 13-12-2003 14:40

Time for another review and today's choice is for Deathball Warfare. I was impressed when I first looked at DBW-NG-BattleChessV1 by Nolan. Why? Read on and find out.

Screenshots
http://www.gameservers.net/newsimages/1071322633.jpg
http://www.gameservers.net/newsimages/1071322622.jpg
http://www.gameservers.net/newsimages/1071322614.jpg

So what's the map like?
OK first I want you to envision a giant chess board with a couple of slanted squares that form ramps or dips. Then I want you to picture several pieces on that chess board, encased in glass. Then I want you to imagine being a tiny person on that chess board. Aren't feeling small yet? You will soon.

The spawn points are all placed in logical and open places where players can easily shoot or be shot. Super weapons are limited and well placed, they can usually be reached in a couple of turns.

The gameplay is great in this map. There is plenty of open space to move, which is always good. The glass casing around the chess pieces create flat walls which players can deflect their weapons off of. This was certainly a sensible idea as it keeps the feel that it is a chess board, and it makes it non-spammy. It takes a pretty good shot to hit an enemy by shooting over a chess piece, because those suckers are tall.

The visuals are very good for this map, there is plenty to see. All the original chess pieces are present across the board. If you look outside beyond the chess board, you can see the captured pieces that were taken off the board. The theme is well executed and as a result the map has a good atmosphere (though personally I think some custom music could have made it better).

The framerate of this map is good, enough said.

Pros
- Good gameplay.
- Looks nice.
- Well executed theme.

Cons
- The radar can be a bit confusing at first.
- Making a good shot over the chess pieces can be a bit difficult due to their size.

Overall
Graphics 7/10 (by DBW standards)
Gameplay 7/10

A fun map, with a well executed theme. Any person who plays DBW regularly should have it.

You can download DBW-NG-BattleChessV1 here:
http://www.pcgamemods.com/3242/

=(ACE)=Nolan · Post by **=(ACE)=Nolan** » 13-12-2003 22:48

thx armagon 4 you review.

maybe more people will write suggestions 4 this map,
you know, its beta v1 of this map.

so a v2 is surely coming.

Nolan

ACE-ICH · Post by **ACE-ICH** » 14-12-2003 19:23

take castaway is a real good map

Post by **DavidM** » 14-12-2003 19:43

that one might be worth including in DB

Armagon · Post by **Armagon** » 14-12-2003 21:26

DavidM wrote: that one might be worth including in DB

Which one? Castaway or BattleChess?

RaGe|DB · Post by **RaGe|DB** » 14-12-2003 21:35

i love battlechess and castaway :O

Ars3nal · Post by **Ars3nal** » 14-12-2003 22:22

Noko · Post by **Noko** » 14-12-2003 22:24

My personal fave of the two... Castaway. (love the guy in the bathtub).

Battlechess is good too tho!

YoYo789 · Post by **YoYo789** » 14-12-2003 23:03

Would be nice to have some big players sitting at the table, and perhaps a chess clock on the side. And maybe just a desklamp lighting the whole area so you wouldn't need to map the actual room.

Just a thought.

Post by **DavidM** » 15-12-2003 00:22

the chess thing

=(ACE)=Nolan · Post by **=(ACE)=Nolan** » 15-12-2003 00:45

thx 4 the suggestion yoyo,
maybe i build them in, in the next version.

any bug reports so far?

Armagon · Post by **Armagon** » 15-12-2003 07:42

I didn't find any bugs when I checked it out, if I find any I'll be sure to let you know.

Messy · Post by **Messy** » 15-12-2003 19:46

DavidM wrote: the chess thing

hm? O_o

Post by **DavidM** » 15-12-2003 23:38

answered his question.

Notpron Forums

Review #11 - DBW-NG-BattleChessV1

Should DBW-NG-BattleChessV1 be in the second Deathball Ownage Map Pack?

Review #11 - DBW-NG-BattleChessV1