[SP] [MAP PACK] The Inquisition - Fixed

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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Jan 18, 2014
New and Improved version!

Set after the awakening of GLaDOS, you are taken through a testing track involving the Matter Inquisition Field - a yellow fizzler that blocks portal shots, and destroys cubes, but doesn't close portals. The puzzles gradually get more difficult as you make your way through six fun-filled chambers, plus two extra bonus chambers.

===

"The Inquisition" is a map pack that I've been working on for about 5-6 months. What started as a small experiment with FourthReaper's Modified Fizzler Fields turned into one of the biggest projects that I've ever done, and consumed a lot of time and effort.

So much time and effort doesn't go without help, and so I'd like to thank a couple of people:

FourthReaper - While not directly involved, FR is the reason this map pack exists, and his Matter Inquisition Field is the entire focus.

Josepezdj - Jose is responsible for the glowing button bases, as well as the rusted signage, both minor details adding up to a big difference.

Lpfreaky90 - LP's contribution was the death fizzler seen in one of the bonus maps, as well as some modelling (keep an eye for a spanner!)

Tile - Tile created broken fan models, which were very valuable in the destroyed sections.

===

And of course, I'd like to thank those who playtested for me:
Lpfreaky90
tmast98
Mevious
wildgoosespeeder
yishbarr

And finally, I'd like to thank the Portal 2 community!

===

The formalities out of the way, enjoy the maps!

Click here to download [MAP PACK] The Inquisition - Fixed

Click here to download [SP] The Inquisition [Map Pack]

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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Jan 18, 2014
Replied 7 minutes later
Here's a couple of pictures, but they only reveal a fraction of what is to be discovered!






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quatrus
1,047 Posts
Posted Jan 18, 2014
Replied 2 hours later
Excellent map pack...kudos to you, the play testers and co-developers. Difficulty was not overwhelming maybe just a little harder in Ch4 than original Portal 2 game level....well done...
Couple of minor issues:
Ch2 - I moved the cube over near the fizzlers before going over the fizzler/discriminator walls - couldn't see it from above....had to re-spawn/move it. No, I don't know why I did that....
Ch4 - cube dropper kept getting stuck when fizzled cube off funnel button - no clipped over and pulled it down. F7 didn't help.
Thanks for creating - one of the outstanding packs... will play it again...
[...quark names - neat....] - Bonus maps - thank you....
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RubbishyUsername
167 Posts
Posted Jan 19, 2014
Replied 1 day later
So beautiful I cried a little. The difficulty was well balanced, the maps were gorgeous and I really enjoyed your little behind the scenes ARG, even if I couldn't possibly decode it. You really pulled of the reconstructing theme excellently, and I only wish Valve had a little of the Weatley destruction in their levels because you did it so well here. My only issues were that a couple of the cube droppers bugged out so that they would open but the cube would just float and not drop. Pretty game breaking, but I got around it both times. Also, I'm not entirely certain what the 4 high fizzler in the second screenshot was supposed to achieve - it is still possible to bring the cube over by holding it high in the air, but doing so reveals no alternative solutions nor is required to continue. I don't really see why it couldn't be 1 high like the other 3. Still, I would rate it in the top 5 Portal 2 map packs. It is excellent.
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sicklebrick
876 Posts
Posted Jan 23, 2014
Replied 3 days later
Wow man.. just wow. Each one of those maps is great on its own.

I really really like the tasteful use of those alternate fizzlers throught - took a bit of time to get used to, but it made them kinda fresh and new - sort of like when you're playing portal for the first time and they start introducing bits incrementally, your brain scrambles to piece together what's possible. I mean there's loads of alternate elements and stuff, but these maps were done really well so it worked well.

Smart puzzles, awesome detailing all the way through, nicely spaced out, well lit, all served up in lovely little chunks with nice pacing. Really, my only issue with the whole thing is that cubes would jam after loading an autosave, but that's not really an issue.

I tried to find alt ninja solutions to each map (4th one was a bit of a stretch, but I found something ). Hope you don't mind - it's only 'cause I really liked the maps

ebG5kjUVy8k
"Excuse the shoddy editing, but at least it's 720p"

Thanks again

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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Jan 24, 2014
Replied 1 day later

sicklebrick wrote:
Wow man.. just wow. Each one of those maps is great on its own.

I really really like the tasteful use of those alternate fizzlers throught - took a bit of time to get used to, but it made them kinda fresh and new - sort of like when you're playing portal for the first time and they start introducing bits incrementally, your brain scrambles to piece together what's possible. I mean there's loads of alternate elements and stuff, but these maps were done really well so it worked well.

Smart puzzles, awesome detailing all the way through, nicely spaced out, well lit, all served up in lovely little chunks with nice pacing. Really, my only issue with the whole thing is that cubes would jam after loading an autosave, but that's not really an issue.

I tried to find alt ninja solutions to each map (4th one was a bit of a stretch, but I found something ). Hope you don't mind - it's only 'cause I really liked the maps

ebG5kjUVy8k
"Excuse the shoddy editing, but at least it's 720p"

Thanks again

Wow man.. just wow. Each one of those runs is great on its own I can't pick a favorite, though the ones on the bonus map were very impressive! Won't bother fixing any of them, I doubt the average (or the above-average) player will be able to pull them off And thank you for your kind words!

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Test Subject #54067
77 Posts
Posted Aug 10, 2014
Replied 6 months later
It's funny, the bonus maps were rather easy for me, where as the last chamber (lasers, funnels, fizzlers, and the inquisition field) was extremely hard. I could not solve it in one sitting, but when I did solve it... That was one of the best AHA moments I've ever had playing Portal 2. Great test chamber. Now, make something called "The Excision" about that Liquid Coloring Excision Field in the Other Files Section Just kidding, you're probably tired of custom fizzlers

One question, how do you make that awesome credits sequence?
I understand that it is probably a point_viewcontrol, but how does the text on the panel change every time?

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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Aug 18, 2014
Replied 7 days later

Test Subject #54067 wrote:
It's funny, the bonus maps were rather easy for me, where as the last chamber (lasers, funnels, fizzlers, and the inquisition field) was extremely hard. I could not solve it in one sitting, but when I did solve it... That was one of the best AHA moments I've ever had playing Portal 2. Great test chamber. Now, make something called "The Excision" about that Liquid Coloring Excision Field in the Other Files Section Just kidding, you're probably tired of custom fizzlers

One question, how do you make that awesome credits sequence?
I understand that it is probably a point_viewcontrol, but how does the text on the panel change every time?

Hey man! Sorry for the late reply. It's actually a fairly simple process - I created a custom animated texture, and used a texture toggle to change the display every time the panels went down.

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Test Subject #54067
77 Posts
Posted Aug 18, 2014
Replied 3 hours later
Oh, that's clever.
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quaternary
171 Posts
Posted Aug 18, 2014
Replied 2 hours later
While this thread is up here...

Any hints for the last bit of that fancy room with the 2 fizzlers & laser? I can get up to the top area no problem, and destroy the box from there (changing the funnel back to orange), but I have no idea what to do from there :/

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Test Subject #54067
77 Posts
Posted Aug 18, 2014
Replied 2 hours later
Working on a video, portal just crashed, will be up shortly
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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Aug 19, 2014
Replied 15 hours later
RectorRocks did a playthrough video a while back, which may help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duxt9epLjGI
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Test Subject #54067
77 Posts
Posted Aug 19, 2014
Replied 10 hours later
Ah, beat me to it...
Part 4 is very hard but quite well-designed. Kudos to you for such an amazing puzzle design.
What's your secret!
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srs bsnss
552 Posts
Posted Aug 23, 2014
Replied 3 days later

Test Subject #54067 wrote:
What's your secret!

Thanks for your feedback! I assume this is more of a rhetorical question but to divulge a bit, I have actually made a few posts about my map making process:
Design inspiration
Puzzle inspiration
Design theory
Mapping method

In general, my goal is a simple map with a challenging puzzle and a rewarding 'AHA' moment.

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Test Subject #54067
77 Posts
Posted Sep 02, 2014
Replied 10 days later
Oh! Thanks!

(Yes, it was more of a rhetorical question, but not too much...)