Custom Map #1536: FPS: Minos. By: Heritor

[EMguy]

The aim with this map was to test a more hardcore FPS experience - less focused on the normal "clear all creeper" that FPS maps traditionally have, and more "escape and survive".
I've had the idea floating about for a while (since my first FPS map) of a roaming monster that's very hard to kill, and hard to escape from - while I do feel that this accomplished that goal (and I personally had my fair share of "ohshit" moments while testing it where I'm faced with creeper in one direction, and a monster wiping out all my hard-earned AC in the other), I can get why this isn't most people's cups of tea.

I think you almost got that, however in my playthrough I only had a few actual encounters with the Minotaur since it went off to a corridor after 25-35 min and just patrolled it. The encounters were hairy though. Maybe have the sleeper on its top have a much higher bank and when it is full have it err towards patrolling AC and when it needs recharging, patrol creeper.

[CS Z]

How most players will play this map:

15 minutes: "Still at the start and struggling.  Will wait for a bit here until more upgrade points become available.  Who was dumb enough to install flip breeder as a floor decoration in a research facility?"

1 hour:  "Still at the start but have mostly pushed the visible creeper back.  Sort of.  Running at 2x speed has saved my sanity."

2 hours:  "Why are there so many InfoCaches?  I've already maxxed out all possible upgrades and now have 20 extra points that I can't spend on anything."

3 hours:  "Mutters something rude under the breath about a dumb 2 million creeper cap which has not been dented yet and stares down yet another dull, uninteresting, and boring hallway filled with creeper."

3.5 hours:  "Hates roofs, weird half-height walls, and FPS creeper mazes.  Finally finds the elusive path to the staircase that leads to the totem.  Also have come up with at least a half-dozen alternate names for the map like 'Lame-os' and 'Me-nuts'."

4 hours:  "4x speed."

5 hours:  "Finally blows up whatever that thing was and completes the map.  Also takes the extra 5 seconds to finish wiping out the creeper so no one in the future who finds this world has to do that again.  Also suddenly annoyed there wasn't a reclaim objective."

When making maps, an average playtime of 30 minutes at 1x speed is the sweet spot for map completion of all objectives.  When mapmakers make maps that go over that, players will start disliking the map.  More time required = more dislike.  Having to use 2x or 4x just to make progress in the player's lifetime also increases dislike.  However, maps that take less than 30 minutes cause players to find a map to be "too easy" though.  So there is a balance to be achieved.  Just something to keep in mind:  Don't waste people's time with 5 hour slog maps.

This map was exceptionally dull and uninteresting.  The Minotaur wasn't ever any significant threat (it managed to get itself stuck in a corridor early on) and the hallways were just one creeper-filled hallway after another with no risk of losing.  The only reason to play this map is if all the other FPS maps have been played.  Even then, everyone is better off replaying all the other FPS maps.

There's some pretty bad RNG at the start.  There are two possible sleeper units that can sit on top of the Minotaur:  One that requires line of sight (LOS) and shoots creeper at the player at a very rapid rate and one that launches bubbles in the air that can be defended against using auto-defense.  If it builds the LOS unit at the beginning, then the player is going to be hosed down with creeper very quickly when it comes into view.  If it builds the other one and the player has auto-defense, then it's not really a threat unless the player does something stupid like blow up that sleeper unit.  And the player doesn't get to know which one was chosen until about 10 minutes into the playthrough when it suddenly comes into view for the first time.  Beyond not being able to continue to upgrade the weapon firing rate indefinitely, the RNG-chosen mobile sleeper unit is probably the second worst aspect of this map.

Exiting this map also takes several minutes.  Not sure what's going on with that but I've only had that happen once before when I built 5,000 units on a map when I once got bored with someone's ultra-cheeseable hold objective.  It might be related to the menu HUD, which flickers constantly.

Remind me to never let Heritor design a research facility in real life.

[heritor]

Remind me to never let Heritor design a research facility in real life.

To be fair, the only research facility I'd ever design in real life would be a villain's lair, so in that respect my skills would be valued.

[hbarudi]

Really benefit if we had a map of this at this point.

[dancingninja]

So I have been going through the FPS levels the last month or so (off and on). I actually thought that the level was mostly fun. I agree limiting the creeper would have helped. Also being able to see the map instead of the ceiling would also help. The mini map even at its largest is hard to see. And from what I could see, once sections are covered by anti-creeper, you can't see the walls. Also I like killing stuff, but not having them perm death or stun so you can get by them, it makes it overly difficult. I was going to try to get all the items but gave up because I couldn't get pass one of the enemies and died. Then couldn't even figure out how to get back to where I was.
Also to help with the overwhelming creeper, having equal creeper and AC ground breeders would have helped. It would keep the creeper from re-taking areas already converted.
Overall, I like the level!

[Dendril]

(I realize this is an old thread, but I'm still issuing a severe warning for people in my position - thinking it can't be that bad)

It is that bad, and worse.

• Do you want to spend 3-5 IRL hours navigating a janky maze where barely 60% of the walls on the mini map are visible?
• Have you ever wanted to stare down dozens 5ft wide hallways, while your PC fans scream for help, and the FPS drops to single digits?
• Can't find a scratch for that good 'ol "Half the progress I just made on the other side of the map just got f***ed by the slowest tank in the universe"-itch?
• Ever get the sinking sensation that you simply have too much time to spare?

WELL GEE GOLLY, THEN THIS MAP IS FOR YOU!

Skip this map. It's not worth the play. It's like the "Tedious"-tag was made specially for this map.

I get what the map creator was trying to achieve - Minotaur in The Maze - but the game design of this map is awful. Swing & miss.

(No criticism directed at the map maker personally. It's just that this particular map was categorically bad.)

Tip (if you decide to play it anyways): Keep the "regular" FPS Upgrade-tab open at all times. That custom HUD panel is flickering constantly, and will make your FPS drop significantly.