Bent
Level: Delver
Rank Points: 92
Registered: 12-11-2015
IP: Logged
|
Re: Architecture Salon (+2)
Architecture Salon really wowed me from the get-go! It starts you off in a huge and grandiose hub level, packed with level entries and secrets, which really builds anticipation and excitement for what’s to come. I’ve seen a lot of hub levels in DROD, but this is by far the most impressing to me, its only downside being that it can be a bit hard to navigate. When it comes to aesthetics, Architecture Salon is consistently one of the nicest looking holds I’ve played, comparable to gems such as “Gigantic Jewel Lost” and “A Day at the Beach”.
There are a lot of levels in the hold, all with a unique theme and look. Most of them are bite-sized, averaging around ten rooms each, but generally still feel complete enough. Difficultly-wise I agree with the creator’s rating of 6.5 brains. Most rooms provide a challenge, but I rarely got stuck. The difficultly of the levels vary quite a bit, but I don’t think that is a bad thing in such an open-ended hold. The puzzles themselves are very varied, but a majority of them focus on monster manipulation, tactics and strategy. There are quite a few lynchpins as well, but they are the exception rather than the rule, and I think that is the only real downside to the hold. Some of my favorite levels were River Crossing (located at 3E), The Eye (2S1E) and Imprisoned (2S3E). I also contributed a couple of levels to the hold myself, namely Adders and Brains (2S) and Small Sands (1S3E).
Because of its sheer size, conquering the hold is quite a feat. Personally I have a bad track record when it comes to finishing large holds – somewhere along the way life tends to get in the way, and this was no exception. Even though I spent a whole lot of hours playtesting the hold over the course of months, I have only completed around two thirds of it – but I peeked in the editor, and there is definitely some very cool endgame content in this hold as well.
In short: I really recommend this hold!
|
