I really enjoyed this mission at the start. Daytime missions are rare in themselves, but this one (brought to you by MotleyCat) also has a unique Mediterranean feel to it which proves initially to be somewhat captivating. The architecture isn’t outstanding, but in my opinion, it’s all done very cleverly, and with the help of some nice new textures, it made for a very interesting setting. In particular, the City streets and a wrecked hideout section near the beginning of the level are very fun to walk around and explore. Although there isn’t much a of a plot to speak of, it’s sufficient (at least early on) to keep you going and motivate exploration.
However, my enjoyment of this level did not last. After you get to a certain point in the FM, a few weaknesses become apparent that unfortunately kill the overall mood. First, the mission is way too easy. I’m not exactly a genius when it comes to solving puzzles and the like, but I cleared right through this mission without much hesitation. Next, the sound prorogation is bad in places – there was one spot where I was able to walk all the way up to a guard on a marble floor without him hearing me. Even worse however, is that you get to a certain section of the story where several modern day references are made, and it completely kills any sort of mystique that had been generated up until that point. In the beginning of this FM, I was intrigued and really wanted to discover how the mission would finish. By the end, I just wanted to get it over with and see if I missed any secrets.
