Lab Flee - Dunkelschwamm
Rise up brother, and let us flee this lab! Players are regular human beings trapped in a laboratory and trying to escape. We fight what I assume are our fellow prisoners to escape.
Author: eMTeG
Date of release: 2002
Maps in package: 1
Map review of Lab Flee
(originally posted on SCMapDB)
Labflee is a Sven Co-op walkthrough map with a blackmesa-type setting. In many ways it is a typical walkthrough map, but in many others it is what I would consider very *extra*.
The main basis of this map revolves around this central kiosk wherein a scientist is safely (and anxiously) locked behind bulletproof windows and surrounded by doors. By following these doors, players can access a storage area with an egon gun, an elevator to a heavily turret-guarded power generator area, and ultimately teleporters to the exterior. While backtracking through these areas, enemies often repopulate to keep things interesting.
Speaking of the enemies, let's start talking about how extra things get. I mentioned that the players get an egon, and I want to mention that this is maybe in the early midpoint of the map that this happens. That's because corridors will quickly fill with teleported-in vortigaunts and alien grunts at fodder-levels. The mapper expects the player to have the egon gun and bases several encounters moving forward on that information. The result is billions of gibs and gameplay based around scanning over crowds with the beam before they can attack back.
The weapons are almost great. For whatever reason, the map is configured so weapons don't stay. I don't know what benefit this adds, since there was a wait to equip between just two players. I can't imagine this was improved with more players. That said, you do get a full slot 3 loadout (the M16 comes in a bit later). It's good for cutting through the swarths, especially once you get the egon gun.
There was a bit where we needed to shoot a pipe to proceed. It's the only pipe of three visible that can be broken. It doesn't read great.
Eventually things culminate in a horde rush with a bunch of alien military, a baby garg, a gonarch, and a gargantua. The big guys feel like pushovers compared to the swarms, but it's fun tearing them down with the egon gun and underbarrel grenades so whatever.
The appearance of the map bounces between serviceable Black Mesa aesthetic and underdeveloped beginner map. There's some z-fighting in places, especially when it comes to elevators, and the lighting is pretty flat in a lot of areas. The aesthetic of the map is bland and forgettable, even if it carries things mostly evenly.
I like that in the end a big brick ship comes to pick the players up.
Overall, I think this map is worth checking out. It's a decently fun walkthrough map with an EXTRA twist involving using lasers to mow down swarths of aliens. What's not to love?
Pros:
- Using a girthy laser to turn vortigaunts into coleslaw
- Good all around arsenal
- Fun ending climax battle and getaway
- Nice hub for keeping backtracking to a minimum
Cons:
- Somewhat unclear pipe puzzle with contradictory information
- Bland, boring lighting and scene composition
- Weapons do not stay
- Some funky lifts, some with z-fighting
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