I dont think there is a flash light on fpsc ;i Nor the forums. Just one that doesnt actually light areas and is just for effect.
DEMO REVIEW.
When I first opened it i was treated to that really annoying default sound on the start menu. I let you off with the menus because it was only a demo.
Music/sound: There was very little of this. In the first room there was a cool ambience which was relly atmospheric and immediately boosted the feel of the game. However, that ended and it was silent all the way through...
Lighting: Some was pretty, some not. Areas were TOO DARK. You've no idea how annoying it is for a person who has never played your game to have to walk backwards into blackness to see if its a dead end or not, but what's worse is that these areas weren't dead ends but infact concealed doors and switches! I had to literally fire my gun for a flash light. When i had to knock down the cade at the end, i spent 5 minutes trying to get through the door, i got jammed in it and got completely stuck, all becuase a tiny plank at the bottom right hand side, in darkness was blocking me. I couldn't see it at all though. Some areas looked as if you'd actually spent a decent time with the lighting. Other parts looked like you'd thrown them together.
Level Design
So-so. Again, some areas OK, others not so.
Why was there a massive lever in the corridor of the hotel? Out there, anyone could push it. I doubt levers like that would be used nowadays anyway.
I was disapointed I couldn't explore the rooms in the corridor. Entities were too scarce for a hotel.
Some rooms were just random! A staircase which leads straight to a door, in a ww2, wooden environment with not possible way to get onto the floor without jumping from the stairs? SAFETY HAZARD!!! Tells me you haven't really thought out your levels... I didn't realise it was a hotel till the end.
There was an area with a boarded up room, a zombie was on the other side and this attacked me through the wall.
In the random wooden room I could see the zombie through the wall aswell.
Alot of collision everywhere, especially those windows that were boarded up in an impossible way. A few planks... not a rainforest. The light ebbing through the windows didn't work as they were paper thin when looking straight at them. In dark areas they also looked mega bright which looked really fake.
The cade bit at the end was a bit silly as i don't think civilians would be happy with me breaking through their defense. Rooms were oddly shaped, no custom media, models made it lack in a scare factor as they've been used countless times... I could go on and on...
Gameplay
Run and gun, that was it... No triggers, no dialogue, no story events. The hud was really, really messed up. I didn't know how many bullets I had which was a nice touch, but the fact I had about 7 mags made this idea completely pointless. I stood shooting a zombie, 5 shots it took. The axe used 4... : / Guess what I stuck with.
Overall scores:
Music/SFX - 2/10 - Hardly any. This score will not increase by simply adding looping ambience. You need to carefully use Soundzones.
Lighting - 5/10 - Ok, not great.
Level Design - 5/10 - Needs some work.
Gameplay - 5/10 - Was lacking.
Overall 4/10
Don't be downhearted. I think i'm harsh, but hey. This is how you make a great game
Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty... For tonight, we dine in Hell!
