🚀 go-pugleaf

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    The Three Featured in this review are:

    Mainshock, Cathedral Of The Damned and Shining Standards
    (This week separated into three parts for easy handling)

 (3) - Shining Standards
       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       By Aarron Apettett
       apet...@freeuk.com

      The quick Summation: Think - 'Masks' with a more domestic feel,
      (sans bots and security cameras) and a huge and greatly detailed
      and atmospheric exterior.

      The Longo:
      ~~~~~~~~~
      Though I just played through this one - there is so much to it
    that it's hard to know where to begin. - A HUGE building in a huge
    and lush wintery setting that had me sighing blissfully. - This is
    another (of very few) that has a complete exterior that you can cir-
    comnavigate - a quality so essential to convincability - and you
    may spend a good amount of time outdoors before even entering the
    house. - This one features an 'external' start position, (meaning
    that you start outside the gates) a substantial 'green house' area
    set outside the walls of the grounds proper - a crypt like structure
    likewise set on the opposite side of the map, and a Gate House and a
    Well Shed complete the outdoor picture. - This kind of detailing
    enriches the whole exterior experience and adds to convincability.

      I spent about 40 minutes outside before even entering the building
    and even then it was with some hesitation and regret having to leave
    such a rich (if not chilling) ;] atmosphere.

     Once Inside:
     ~~~~~~~~~~~
      A great basement with all the logical accouterments sporting soundly
    detailed structural integrity, and quite finely lit. - If there were
    awards for basements this would win the brass ring - the blue ribbon
    the silver cup! - So complete and realistic in its functionality and
    layout - and the detail and decorative elements a promise of what
    lay above.

     From there on:
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
      A relatively straight forward mission with plenty of detail and few
   innovation or supprises except for the secrets element - one which
   added a fair amount of spice to the mixture - and featuring an internal
   maze that could well crash any automap, and that contained it's own
   novelty and charm.

      I spent a full hour on the ground floor - clearing all the guards
    and sussing out the map before going upstairs, and another full hour
    on the top floor to complete the mission.

      Note of interest:
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      If you wish to gain access to the top of the perimeter wall - Five
    crates (from the basement) to get to the roof of the Well Shed and
    another two to reach the top of the wall itself.

      Summation:
      ~~~~~~~~~
      Not necessarily a 'great' mission, but an exceptionally fine
   one with rich atmosphere, and of substantial size and detail. The
   only thing I wished for when playing this one was - ONE balcony or
   open window offering me an elevated view of the grounds. - This one
   small feature would have added hugely to the immersion factor. Other
   than that this is a very enjoyable and complete mission well worth
   the DL - and one that has me demanding more from the author. (PLEASE)?
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Best Wishes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


-Praise The Builder

-Third Keeper
-(At Large)

                                                               - Max -
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