10 апреля 2025 г. 18:35   (Last edited: 5 дней, 20 часов назад)

Ok. First for a bit of context - this was a mission I tried a looong time ago and never finished as I didn't like (even then) by gut feeling the (primitive) starting graphics and architecture, the zombies (go figure) and the fighting tools you get. Then I rediscovered it here and reminded myself of that loong overdue playthrough finish, also noticing the very high rating and apparently generally glowing consensus on it. So I saved and postponed it as a likely shining diamond to come back to sometime.

So, is it at the level the fervent ratings suggest, say of the best spooky OMs/FMs of all time (or, to be fair, at least its +- contemporaries) ?

No. This got nothing in terms of architecture/visuals/atmosphere on the Bonehoard/Sepulchre of the Sinistral or even Ruins of Originia (all from around the same early or relatively early time, not to mention the second Calendra's) atmosphere wise. It's a series of sequential, mostly not that spectacular, at times disorganized environments that forms a linear progression and is generally quality wise within the realms of its predecessor (Cult of the Resurrection, which I actually found slightly more interesting as it opened after lukewarm beginning into a nicely complex (and treacherous) interconnected structure in layout and gameplay). It's good but the kind of good above average, not excellent, maybe the first of its kind but there are generally quite a few similar missions, even recent ones, around the same notch overall. Yes there are a few nice situations, scripted dialogues and ideas but the author is a certified (...) for demanding that we play the mission in all three variants to find all clues needed to >one< single puzzle even if one does not find it worth playing all through three times (in my case twice and enough, and then I looked up the bloody four-letter word on the forums) to kill an otherwise unkillable boss (quest task) with an e*ng cruise missile (that still gets strung like an arrow), yes you hear right, in a thief game, very quaint. Very atmospheric.

As noted, it is worth mentioning on the plus side that the three difficulties aren't actually such and neither they suggest a particular playstyle as their names would imply, but more three different variants of the level with different routes and areas open and closed/inaccessible (but otherwise with not much change to the level physically) and corresponding variations in your set of tasks and where and how to fulfill them but again, given the relatively pedestrian environments and atmosphere, if one does not want to linger, you should be at least fairly given the option to decline this proposition.

So, the conclusions? 1. Never look forward to a mission by its ratings 2. Do not trust ratings when choosing your missions to play, as your good missions are YOUR good missions, not someone else's.