
Level name:  Dark Soul
Filename:   dsoul.map
Author:   Fergal Martin
E-mail:   ultraviolet66@hotmail.com
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Description:
               What makes this level different from any I've played(though 
I'm sure this has been done before) is the fact that this is a non linear 
level.For those of you who don't know what that means,it means that you can 
take completely different ways through the level that meet up in a common 
place for brief periods of time and then split up again.The level has 4 
common areas (excluding the starting area) each common area has 2 paths 
leading out of it which are completely different which both lead to the next 
commom area.This is best shown in the from of a diagram:
   b   e   i
  / \ / \ / \
 a   d   g   j   Where a,d,g,j= areas that must be visited  and b,c,e,f,i,h=
  \ / \ / \ /    areas you have a choice of visiting.
   c   f   h

 You'll have to play the game at least twice to see the whole of it and thats
 only if you find all the different paths the first time you look for them.
 This system also allows for a large combination of ways through the level.
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Story: 
          Aliens have taken over a top secret U.S base located in the Artic 
Circle.The reasons for this are now becoming clear.The base was located 
around a newly discovered Artic pyrimid.Scientists doing research on the 
pyrimid have concluded that the pyrimid was not constructed by humans.In the 
centre of the pyrimid lies a temple of untold power which the aliens are 
trying to revive after all these centuries.If they are sucessful then 
humanity won't stand a chance of surviving an attack from this mysterious 
power held in the temple.
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Mission:
           You have to infultrate the base.You will be dropped off nearby a 
ventalation tower.Use this to gain acess to the base.You may have to use 
stealth or just plain mass destruction depending on which way you go.Once 
you have secured the base you'll have to make your way through the pyrimid 
and destroy the temple.The aliens are also thought to have a boat in the 
harbour near the pyrimid you'll nead to secure that also.
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Info:

Single player: yes
Dukematch: no
Co-op:no
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Construction:

Base: new level from scratch
Editor used: build
Bugs: none that I can find
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Misc info:
             For all of you who are wondering (ooh there must be 2 or three)
why it's been so long since I last released a level there's a simple 
explanation.I built a really cool level that I called Triloxin which filled 
nearly the whole grid in build.The level was completely finished and I was 
going to put it up on the net but my hard disk failed and I had to get it 
replaced so the level was lost.Then I started to rebuild it form scratch and
I got everything drawn out and most of the textures put on but there is still 
a lot of the shading to be done and the enemies and other sprites have to be 
put in.I abandened its completeion in favour of this seeing as I thought this
map was a good idea.I may release Trioloxin.map sometime but it won't be as 
technically impressive as this map but it is a lot of fun. 

As for this map itself it is a mix of Goldeneye and Metal Gear Solid.One or 
two areas remind me of the surface level in Goldeneye.The Metal Gear Solid 
influence comes from the stealth factor in the level.In some areas you simply
have to sneak past the enemies to live e.g if you go down one path you'll be 
in a maze of vent shafts,to get out you can blast out a fan and proceed from 
there,only problem is it drops you out straight in front of a mini boss with 
only an pistol to defend yourself with,but there is another way that lets you
sneak behind the mini boss and if your good he wont even detect you.
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Difficulty:  
             There are no difficulty settings on this map.As for the general 
difficults of the map,I find it quite hard to do when I pick up all the items
and secret stuff.It might be considered very hard by anyoone else the first 
time they play it.That siad if you keep a look out for items you shouldn't 
have a hard time killing all the enemies.The underwater trip bomb maze,well 
thats a different stroy.........
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Music:
         As with all my other maps I have included a midi file and as with 
all my other maps it's entitled dethtoll.mid so it will automatcily play with
the level when they are unzipped into your Duke 3d directory.Its a good midi 
that works well with the level but if you don't like it then just find it in 
your duke 3d directory and delete it.
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Other levels:
               
Nathys.zip: my first level,reflecting on it now it's best avioded.

001projectx.zip:my second level.This was my first true level.Nothing really 
exiciting but it wasn't all that bad either.I'll probably change my mind 
about that next time I make a map(if your downloading it get 002projectx 
instead of 001projectx because the latter was released with an untested midi 
which crashed the level).

Both these maps can be found at http://www.dukeworld.com
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Final thoughts:
                If you like a level with plenty of traps,killing and mindless
destruction,all topped off with a hint of stealth and strategy then this is 
the level for you.The level is of meduim lenght but if you play through the 
different routes it is quite long.The different paths you can choose to go 
are completely different from each other.It is only the common areas linking 
these paths that are the same.The paths aren't exactly hidden but some are 
easier to see than others.There are 6 optional paths so each time you get 
through the level you'll see three of the paths.High ledges that you may see 
but can't access are generally the exit points of other points so there's no 
need to try for hours to reach them.Every area,even the underwater trip bomb 
maze can be done but only in 1 specific way.There are no areas that can't be 
done (duh).
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All comments,death threats and suggestions go to: ultraviolet66@hotmail.com
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