Starting in a prison cell, you need to make you way to the surface.
Once there, things get a little more interesting, in fact, your whole world is about to change.
Combine Mountain Complex is a fun and challenging first release.
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- Title: Combine Mountain Complex
- File Name: hl2-ep2-sp-combine-mountain-complex.7z
- Size : 3.68Mb
- Author: dewkl
- Date Released: 23 December 2009
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Installation Instructions
- Copy final02.bsp into your Half-Life 2: Episode Two Maps folder.
- Launch Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Open the console and type map final02.
- Press enter/return or click the Submit button.
- Play and Enjoy.
Please see the Technical Help section if you need help.
Screenshots
Click on the thumbnails below to open a 800 pixel wide image.
WARNING: The screenshots may contain spoilers.
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Reader Recommendations
Total Downloads
Please note: These statistics are valid from December 2010
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2,632Overall
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3Today
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6Last 7 days
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21Last 30 days
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197365 days
Meta Review Data
Statistics based on 5 comment(s) with meta review data.
Installed:
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 3 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 0 Hours, 28 Mins
Shortest: 0 Hours, 15 Mins by Daken50
Longest: 1 Hours by Avantgarde95
Total Time Played: 2 Hours, 21 Mins
Using Gauge: Users
Manually: 3 Users
Time Taken:
Average: 0 Hours, 28 Mins
Shortest: 0 Hours, 15 Mins by Daken50
Longest: 1 Hours by Avantgarde95
Total Time Played: 2 Hours, 21 Mins
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WAIT! This is a first map? Holy Headcrabs Gordon! Dewkl says he spent two weeks learning Hammer (The application used to create custom maps) and I have to say even though I haven’t met him I hate him already. TWO WEEKS! Man, I am depressed now. Clearly, some people have a knack for these things and others (me) don’t.
Anyway, onto the map.
Visuals
The initial prison cell and corridor are really well lit and there is some atmosphere reminiscent of a horror mod. The lighting is a little strange in some places; one chair seems to shine and a few crates are black. These are minor quibbles because overall it’s a very nice looking map.
Once outside the EP2 engine shines and things look great. I did get the feeling that there were too many changes in visual design but I attribute this to want to never make it boring for the player and whilst I currently (notice that the adverb: currently) I do feel it’s something that happens with newer mappers. An experienced mapper should write an essay on how to keep things looking consistent without looking boring.
Gameplay
I have no real complaints about the gameplay but more beta testing was definitely needed. I got stuck in a room once I reached the outside and had to reload. I also felt the strider was too easy. I have kept enough rockets to kill it before I had to fully expose myself.
The section with the mounted turret gun could have been really good but the manhacks almost ruined it. Definitely more use of the area could have been made than was. In fact that should have been the end of the level because by getting me to go through another door I began to suspect/expect more action, and that slight deflation of excitement is what I was left with.
I understand why this was done but felt that Dewkl should have sought help with fading the level after the destruction.
Regular readers may have noticed that often, the more I like a map or mod, the more I seem to complain about it.
Layout and Design
Designing the level before building it, clearly made a difference and besides the visual style changes the layout was interesting enough to keep my curious.
Summary
A really enjoyable map that clearly demonstrates the author has a future as a modder. Working alone is great but going through some for of quality assurance (beta testing) is needed, not matter how good the level is. I can’t praise Dewkl enough and look out for an interview with him on PP soon.
Better than most 3rd releases!
Phillip’s comments plus:
Didn’t spot any leaks but then I wouldn’t spot a leak even if it was a waterfall! Didn’t get stuck and no bugs found.
There is a lighting problem in places but they are only a minor irritation.
dewki is getting lots of constructive criticism over at Interlopers.
Otherwise, very well mapped and designed. Excellent, although not the hardest, combat.
From a quiet start it builds to a crescendo. The map plays like a mini micro mod.
dewki says he might do more – brilliant.
I know I’m breaking the rules by giving a recommendation before completing the map, but it’s Christmas eve and I’ve got a lot to do. What I have played so far however doesn’t look like a first map by someone who learned to use Hammer in two weeks. I particularly liked the alternate route around the two portable gun turrets, which I only found AFTER I’d taken the bl##dy things out. I’m impressed with what I’ve seen so far despite the lighting errors and I look forward to seeing what Dewki can do after three weeks of learning Hammer.
A very nice mod, and apart from the fact that the areas before you get the flashlight were a bit too dark I didn’t see any huge problems with the mapping, over all it looked very nice, especially for a first map.
I was a bit disappointed with the way the player was given weapons, I was expected to fight my first two or so soldiers using just a pistol and then I ended up getting the AR2 before the submachine gun which was somewhat strange.
There were also a few logical oddities (What was the deal with the moving block in the beginning, I’m not quite sure? Why did the door unlock after I defeated the gunship?)
Something I didn’t like to much,and I usually complain about the opposite,is that there is to much ammo and health for the number of enemies.I liked the chopper coming down easier than usual as its more realistic than the 10 or more it normally takes.Over all thou a fun map and worth the download.
Enjoyed every second of this map! Beautiful visuals, satisfying combat. Hope to see more from the author!
This is a nice little map. There’s a nice progression and an easy-to-follow, fairly linear path. There’s not much to explore here, nor is there much to fight. The battles all seemed to be pretty easy.
I liked the chopper fight but a skybox (or at least something!) would have done wonders here.
This guy should have waited to release, and kept working on fixing the lighting issues…and adding detail the the area.
If he really learned how to do all this in Hammer in only two weeks, then he undoubtedly has prior experience with other design tools. Not a bad release by any means, but Source requires more attention to detail and much more patience because it can be a slow tiresome process.
What an excellent way to start Christmas Day morning, a lovely little map!
To the author — more please!
A little bit of everything. Nice easy fun for about 10min. However, getting your first weapon in a prison breakout should be harder. Maybe fighting a few combine with your crowbar or pipe would be better. Visuals and lighting were well done. Good job. You’ve now been cleared for bigger projects.
Two Weeks! wow ! Must find some time to learn mapping though I suspect it would take me a tad longer to produce something like this – well done, hope we see more from the author there is definately talent there.
A fairly simplistic map with no apparent story, sets was basic and nothing to distinguish this map from hundreds that had come and gone before.
I had issues with the lighting affects glaring off of surrounding surfaces and textures; this surely must be down to inexperienced mapping.
The gameplay was adequate if not that challenging with only the helicopter gunship having me worried for awhile; however most of the action takes place in familiar surroundings these being enclosed environment with a few brief glimpses of the outside.
On no account does this map reach any admirable a height of achievements, what we have is simplistic and basic with all the signs of an author learning the trade. This is not to say the map is not worth playing, far from it, I enjoyed the experience and would adverse other to both give it a play through and leave your thoughts.
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Ok I’ve finished the mod now I’ve had time to get back to it and I echo what I said in my first post.
The only thing that stood out at all about this mod was the helicopter battle, yet it all felt very comfortable to play and had a number of cases where you had to think your way through encounters. The last battle was a little weaksauce which is probably why I remember the copter battle better, but in some ways that was good since it kept the copter battle from being overshadowed. Otherwise this mod might not have stood out at all for me.
For a first map this shows EXCELLENT promise.
Engrossing and immersive, and worthy of your time. A couple of places have a slightly unfinished appearance but for the most part the look and feel are spot-on; at the beginning for example, the somewhat odd moving-block arrangement had me fearing the worst but the prison scenes are well done and seem to me to be fully in keeping with HL2’s house style.
He still has a lot to learn, but this is great for a first map. I expect great things from dewkl.
It feels like a larger mod with all of the corridors and tunnels clipped out! I ran from one set piece to the next, and almost all of them offered some interesting combat.
It feels a little rough around the edges in a few spots, and not all of the ideas were fully developed… but there’s a lot of action packed into relatively short playing time.
All in all, I’m another voice in the “play it now” choir!
THis mod is 5/5. Great ambience, good atmosphere, well used sounds and some good used surprises throughout the game. Since images speak more than 1000 words, here’s a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53IgNN-lFCE
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I thought this was good.
I was prepared to try to fight the chopper with the only weapons I had at the time (1 SMG grenade and 3 AR2 plasma balls or whatever–those don’t work, if you wondered). Then I reloaded and found out the right way to do that part.
I also took out the turrets with my lone frag grenade before finding the alternate route. So I reloaded.
From my perspective, this was so good that it felt longer than it was. I didn’t find myself with too much ammo, but there was certainly more than enough health. (I’m not giving it a PIN because it actually is short, and the ending was kind of anticlimactic, as Phillip said.) That said, I’m looking forward to playing more by this author!
Pingback: Combine Mountain Complex (EP2)
“First Map”. Well, holy frarf. This is your first creation with HL2? Now that is just amazing; you have my infinite respect. The story behind this level is that it’s “garbage day” in the Combine Prison. (Say it with me: GARBAGE DAY!!!) You must escape the complex. This map goes from Water Hazard outpost-style to Nova Prospekt-style to White Forest abandoned base-style. I love the variety. I have a minor semi-jokey complaint, why are there so many boxes? You know you’re torturing us OCD people. I spent like three minutes going all Crash Bandicoot on them all. Other than that, this map is amazing for a first! In that blackout part I have no idea where the Headcrabs came from, neat trick! The other minor complaint I have is that there are two crowbars, so that’s a bit redundant. The later parts with White Forest-esque visuals were very atmospheric, especially since I love levels high up from the ground. The fight with the Hunter-Chopper was also absolutely awesome! I love this map, my recommendation is play it.
Manually
Medium
19 Minutes
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Fun combats, clever stuffs(ex. Using helicopter’s bombs to break the wall), nice map design! Nice map!
Manually
Medium
1 Hour
Fun an well balance nothing that really enhanced the experience and in the same time it worth to give it a try for a quite short experience
Using Gauge
Medium
17 Minutes
Lots of fun with this map. Everything went smooth with the action. Curious thing happened when I got to the room with the Hunter Chopper. I hit it with a Energy Ball and the chopper just vanished and at the same instant the wall exploded where the room to rocket launcher is. So the door leading to the outside for the rest of the game did not ever unlock. This has happened before on a different map with the chopper and a energy ball, so I knew what to do. Reloaded a save and waited to kill the chopper with a rocket. Seems it is no fault of the Map Maker but has to do with the way the chopper is killed.
Using Gauge
Easy
30 Minutes
Looks and plays good.
Manually
Easy
15 Minutes