The Matrix Unleashed - SubMetro

Description
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Let all man give thanks to his divinities, for we hath been blessed with a map from Szico VII. Yes, after quite a times away, it appears Szico has released another product, this time hailing strangely from the Matrix. Yes, the Matrix Unleashed, a now defunct project, presumably had quite a few maps like this one. Though the original map rights were held by SmoKE_89, Szico has rebuilt and destroyed planets to form a scene from "The Matrix Reloaded."

I'll be honest, it's been several years since I even laid eyes on the cover of a Matrix film, so in terms of any accuracy to a recreation is gonna have to be up to someone else's judgement. I'm just gonna attack it from the naive perspective.

I started out inside a sewers-ish area. Already there's a LOT of stuff that can be broken. A random pipe(requires a gun higher than pistol, and no saber,) a table in the midst of the tunel, and plenty of wooden boarding covering multiple entrances to this area. Already I was so anxious I didn't know where to begin XD. Inevitably, I chose to use one of Szico's Famous Scripted Doors That Swing Open(TM) and skip the boarded up elevator. Walking around, you can really get a feel for the subdued atmosphere just by drinking in the textures. Surprisingly, the underground area was rather will lit, which I suppose is fair in this day and age. Stepping outside, I was treated to the full power of just how run-down this side of town really was. With the beauteous skyscrapers of metropolis staring down at me mockingly from the skybox, I was forced to trod the streets alone. Looking down, I actually could see a rain puddle that hadn't evaporated, with a very vague image of the cityscape reflected in its surface. A very nice touch, indeed.

Suddenly, there came the part I was dreading: Matrix code. Yeah, can't be in the matrix unless you see the code, eh? Both sides of a particular street terminated in a tunnel with matrix code blocking it. A crying shame too, because it just sorta kicked me out of my mood and reminded me I was reviewing a map. Desperate to get away, I made my way to a cracked-up building and blew out the boarding covering a tunnel. After crossing a makeshift bridge over an aquaduct, I took an elevator and....came full circle back to where I started. Huh, that was fast...

So, as you can probably guess from above, this isn't exactly the biggest map known to mankind. Granted, it's spacious, but it may leave one hungry for more exploration,(though that could just be because Szico makes these things so tantalizing to explore.) After a brisk noclip throughout the entire map, I did find something I wouldn't have noticed before: The main street has room for battle damage! Yeah, just shoot around and you'll find a few surprises in certain parts. Pretty entertaining aspect to add to a firefight, I'll say.

Well, there weren't many technical flaws that I had noticed from an average playthrough. I did notice that the puddles texture did have a visible seam around the edges, but it was faint enough that your everday player wouldn't really notice or care about it. I'd say the only thing that was actually a true bug was the global setting on the door sounds. You could hear them from like any part of the map, or even outside it. Kinda like a big "HEY, COMIN THROUGH HERE!" exclamation to the whole world. Everything else is soundly constructed as usual. Music is thematically matrix-y, has bot support if y'still play with those, and it supports almost every gametype except siege.

Welp, guess that's it for now. Hopefully this isn't the last we'll see of ya, Szico. We can always use a good map to help inspire the community at large, and far as I'm concerned, yours are always ones to treasure.

....Kbuh-bye.

New Textures: Aye
New Music: Aye
Secrets to plunder: Nay
Bot Support: Aye


- Averus Retruthan

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