Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad


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Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad

Posted By: Steve Levinson Date: 1/5/05 4:40 p.m.
In Response To: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad (Adam Ashwell)

: Eternal's third level, Stark Raven Mad, takes place on the Pfhor ship. For
: some reason we don't yet know, we're on the Pfhor ship, and the beginning
: of the level really shoves that fact right in our face. You start out in a
: big room with a juggernaut right in front of you, with some drones and
: enforcers on the side. Just jump down and run through the big opening.
: After a quick dip through some Pfhor goo, you'll find yourself on either
: the right or left side of the next area. This is an interesting area, and
: the strategies involved can be quite fun. Note here: When the enforcers
: fire from far away, no noise is heard at all. Whether or not this was true
: in M1 I don't know, but I don't like it. I understand that it's because
: you're far away enough to be out of earshot of the firing, but it just
: feels really weird getting shot with no sound at all.
In the place where you first jump down there are a couple of alcoves, each of which has a pattern buffer and a 3X shield recharger. These make the next part of the level a lot easier. Although the player can't return to these alcoves from the goo, it's possible to jump down from above once the next area has been cleared.
: At the top there's a switch opening two areas, one on each side of the area.
: Both have switches and pattern buffers inside, and flipping both switches
: gives you access to the upper area. There's a 3x shield recharger up there
: - it seems very generous at first glance, but what with all the level's
: enforcers, it's very nice to have. There's also an 02 recharger here - if
: you don't have full oxygen, FILL UP. You'll want every bit of oxygen you
: can get on the next level.
One of the unique aspects of Eternal is that the player automatically replenishes their O2 from the surrounding air, so O2 regenerators are virtually unnecessary in Eternal with one notable exception that we'll get to near the end of the series. I have mixed feelings about this, but it does make a lot of sense.
: Soon you come to an area with five branches.
: After an enforcer ambush, head up to the right, where you'll find the only
: working teleporter. Using it sends you into the juggernaut storage area.
: I'm glad there are some enemies in here now - it was pretty boring in the
: previous versions. There are also some Pfhor down in the pits who don't
: seem to be able to activate the elevators. It'd be cool if they could, and
: if they were activated only when the player neared, making it look like
: they were coming in to intercept the player.
This would be very easy to do with monster trigger polys. Since you're in charge of revising Chapter 1, I'd say have at it.
: This level is, in most areas, very bright, in stark contrast to the Pfhor
: ship in M1. The brightness makes it look very alien in one sense, but very
: non-alien in another sense. It's a blast to play, though. All in all a fun
: level, I do have some problems with this level on the matter of level
: design, much as I have problems with that in all of Chapter 1.
Bungie deserves the most criticism on in this regard, flip-flopping from garishly colored, but very dark Pfhor environments in M1 to overly bright and even more garish environments in M2, to bright but subdued environments in Infinity. This level is very reminiscent of M2's style, but perhaps even more colorful and less garish. Later we'll see some darker Pfhor environments. My biggest gripe with this level relates to symmetry. As we discussed in yesterday's post, humans like symmetry and it's only natural to build symmetric environments. From everything we've seen in Bungie's depiction of Pfhor ships, the Pfhor hate symmetry. It would probably take too much work at this point to eliminate symmetry in all the Pfhor levels in Eternal, but this level is way to symmetric for the Pfhor.
: Thus ends this volunteers post. Tomorrow will be level four, "G3
: Moontanning".
I assume from there that you'll head first to the failure branch and later return to the success branch?

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Pre-2004 Posts

Replies:

Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Adam Ashwell 1/5/05 1:45 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad blake37 1/5/05 4:34 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Adam Ashwell 1/5/05 4:41 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad blake37 1/5/05 5:03 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Steve Levinson 1/5/05 4:40 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Dr. John Sumner 1/5/05 5:13 p.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Steve Levinson 1/6/05 6:17 a.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad Dr. John Sumner 1/6/05 7:55 a.m.

Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad D-M.A. 1/8/05 12:56 a.m.

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Pre-2004 Posts

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: In the place where you first jump down there are a couple of alcoves, each of : which has a pattern buffer and a 3X shield recharger. These make the next : part of the level a lot easier. Although the player can't return to these : alcoves from the goo, it's possible to jump down from above once the next : area has been cleared. : One of the unique aspects of Eternal is that the player automatically : replenishes their O2 from the surrounding air, so O2 regenerators are : virtually unnecessary in Eternal with one notable exception that we'll get : to near the end of the series. I have mixed feelings about this, but it : does make a lot of sense. : This would be very easy to do with monster trigger polys. Since you're in : charge of revising Chapter 1, I'd say have at it. : Bungie deserves the most criticism on in this regard, flip-flopping from : garishly colored, but very dark Pfhor environments in M1 to overly bright : and even more garish environments in M2, to bright but subdued : environments in Infinity. This level is very reminiscent of M2's style, : but perhaps even more colorful and less garish. Later we'll see some : darker Pfhor environments. My biggest gripe with this level relates to : symmetry. As we discussed in yesterday's post, humans like symmetry and : it's only natural to build symmetric environments. From everything we've : seen in Bungie's depiction of Pfhor ships, the Pfhor hate symmetry. It : would probably take too much work at this point to eliminate symmetry in : all the Pfhor levels in Eternal, but this level is way to symmetric for : the Pfhor. : I assume from there that you'll head first to the failure branch and later : return to the success branch?

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Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Adam Ashwell	1/5/05 1:45 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	blake37	1/5/05 4:34 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Adam Ashwell	1/5/05 4:41 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	blake37	1/5/05 5:03 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Steve Levinson	1/5/05 4:40 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Dr. John Sumner	1/5/05 5:13 p.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Steve Levinson	1/6/05 6:17 a.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	Dr. John Sumner	1/6/05 7:55 a.m.
Re: Eternal Volunteers - Stark Raven Mad	D-M.A.	1/8/05 12:56 a.m.



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	Message: : In the place where you first jump down there are a couple of alcoves, each of : which has a pattern buffer and a 3X shield recharger. These make the next : part of the level a lot easier. Although the player can't return to these : alcoves from the goo, it's possible to jump down from above once the next : area has been cleared. : One of the unique aspects of Eternal is that the player automatically : replenishes their O2 from the surrounding air, so O2 regenerators are : virtually unnecessary in Eternal with one notable exception that we'll get : to near the end of the series. I have mixed feelings about this, but it : does make a lot of sense. : This would be very easy to do with monster trigger polys. Since you're in : charge of revising Chapter 1, I'd say have at it. : Bungie deserves the most criticism on in this regard, flip-flopping from : garishly colored, but very dark Pfhor environments in M1 to overly bright : and even more garish environments in M2, to bright but subdued : environments in Infinity. This level is very reminiscent of M2's style, : but perhaps even more colorful and less garish. Later we'll see some : darker Pfhor environments. My biggest gripe with this level relates to : symmetry. As we discussed in yesterday's post, humans like symmetry and : it's only natural to build symmetric environments. From everything we've : seen in Bungie's depiction of Pfhor ships, the Pfhor hate symmetry. It : would probably take too much work at this point to eliminate symmetry in : all the Pfhor levels in Eternal, but this level is way to symmetric for : the Pfhor. : I assume from there that you'll head first to the failure branch and later : return to the success branch?
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