The Dark Tide Episode II: Nightfall

Initial Comments

When I first found out that Dark Tide II was out, I nearly screamed with joy, expecting a highly elite level. The level almost met all expectations, but a few things didn't seem right.

Level Design

This level was very good architectural-wise. However, some things didn't seem right. I think that shooting the buttons to make the elevator go down was awkward in an Imperial base where loads enter and leave every day. The textures were very good. If you wanted sand, there were sand textures. If you wanted water, there were very good water textures, etc.

Level Dynamics

This is where the level really shone. There are many things in here, most of them new. There are new cutscenes, with superb acting, and wonderful music. I felt relieved when the Dark Tide theme came on. His use of the Battle of Gall from Shadows of the Empire soundtrack during the game itself was also cool. However, he made the music and the sound effects too loud in the beginning cutscene, that I had to turn it off, then restart the level, to hear the voices. Perhaps with DTIII, he should include subtitles.

He also made this level more like Jedi Knight. With the use of doing underwater swimming to press two switches to open a door, and the use of breaking glass windows, it really felt like this was a Jedi Knight level I was playing, until I saw the old Stormtrooper WAXes, hehe. The use of eliminating the Speeder Bikes was also good, although I got frustrated at times with the Boba Fett logic. I also liked it where you had to get past an ATST, although it was very easy.

Level Experience

The level was good in this category, too. But, just like in the design, some stuff seemed out of place. I didn't know WHY Moff Rebus was behind that door [see Dark Tide I - ed], or what the point of it was. It just added a few KB onto the download with the voices. And, like I mentioned above, the elevator with the shoot-to-toggle switches was a bad idea for a Base like this.

Overall Response

This level is VERY well done, except with a few flaws in the design, it was perfect. I highly recommend you download and play this level, if you haven't done so already. You wouldn't be sorry. I look forward to Dark Tide III.

Score

Design - 9.6
Dynamics - 10.0
Experience - 9.5

Total - 94%