25/04/2016 - "Serpent Canyon" by Shane Caudle

[UBerserker]

Map Title: Serpent Canyon
Author: Shane Caudle
From: Unreal
Filename: NaliBoat.unr
Music Files: WarGate.umx




Video Playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfvUvXe6b5Y


Sypnosis: Prisoner 849 is finally reaching the Nali Castle.

Discuss!

[FXANBSS]

I think this is one of the maps that i almost don't know about it, i thought it was from RTNP but not.

[Preki]

I think this is one of the maps that i almost don't know about it, i thought it was from RTNP but not.

Apparently you haven't played through the game properly

Serpent Canyon is a nice change from walking back and forth through dungeons of Dasa Cellars. It's a breather level in its full glory. Definitely the best part of it is the boat ride with this music playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjw-QNZPQSY&nohtml5=False

[Legendslayer222]

With the scenery and the wildlife, this level gives you a perfect chance to soak up Unreal's atmosphere on a relaxed boat ride. Or you could do what I just did and glitch out of the boat, frantically swim to catch up to it, get mobbed by flies and fish before finally overtaking the boat and glitching back into it just before reaching the destination. Trust me to conjure up such a misadventure on a very simple level.
Overall this is one of the least remarkable levels in the game, with the most noteworthy features being the tense windmill encounter and the infamous easter egg. But according to UBerserkers's trivia thread it was once part of Nali Castle, and if I consider Serpent Canyon that way it makes a lot more sense, as an epic build-up to what is perhaps Unreal's most iconic level.

[UBerserker]

I clearly remember how the localizations missed the message in this map lol. Felt like the river needed some lily pads which went unused in the final game (only for the old Aztec they were used).

[Semfry]

Really simple map but it comes at a perfect time to break up the pacing and presents something completely different between two of the bigger maps in the game. It's also got a bit of a surprise edge as the fight with the Eightball Skaarj in the confined windmill that can be nasty.

[Anreel]

I was the fool who didn't use the boat or jumped out of it or something like that on my first play.

[YappieChappie]

An iconic transition map. For a long time I did not have my CDs so kind of forgot about this game for the most part, except this one sequence (and it's accompanying music.) The port version in UT2004 was merged with Nali Castle and had a bug where the music would play much faster than in the original game, kind of spoiled the mood for me.

That stupid Eightball guy in the basement kills me at least once every play through, he's stuck in this stupid dark corner right in the perfect spot to hit you with those damn rockets of his. The asshole.

[Preki]

That stupid Eightball guy in the basement kills me at least once every play through, he's stuck in this stupid dark corner right in the perfect spot to hit you with those damn rockets of his. The asshole.

But unlike him, you can take him down with the Razorjack from behind the corner.

[UBerserker]

Or with bouncing grenades, even more ez.

[Sat42]

I think I remember someone (Prophet perhaps?) saying that making a map like this in 1998 was pretty ballsy - mostly an atmospheric map with a narrative purpose, which comes with a relatively long, essentially non-gameplay moment. One of the things to make Unreal stand out from other shooters. I loved this moment, it made me reflect on the adventure I was having, and the music still gives me goosebumps.

Oh yeah, the Eightball-wielding Skaarj was really a right fucker the first time round