Design

Cratesis is an intriguing map with an interesting design. The setting appears to be a crate factory nestled within a mountain, featuring areas of lava or molten metal for added atmosphere. Despite its interesting concept, the design has some noticeable flaws. Certain areas can cause players to get stuck, which disrupts the flow of gameplay. Additionally, the map is not particularly "tau-friendly," making it difficult to access higher areas. The weapon and item placements feel random and sparse, lacking the structure needed to enhance the gameplay experience.

Gameplay

While the map’s aesthetic is visually appealing, the gameplay falls short. It feels like Cratesis has the potential to be great but doesn’t quite deliver. The map’s layout is clunky, making it difficult to navigate smoothly or maintain consistent momentum. The poorly planned weapon and item placements further detract from the gameplay, leaving the map feeling unbalanced and unrefined. Cratesis may look impressive, but it struggles to provide the engaging, fluid gameplay that players expect from a Half-Life deathmatch map.

Climbing the mountain

Inside the mountain

Molten metal area

Main area

Crate room

Verdict

Cratesis has strong aesthetics, but unfortunately, that’s where its strengths end. It lacks the smooth gameplay and cohesive design necessary for a good Half-Life deathmatch map. I do wonder that it might not have been designed originally for Half-Life, potentially being a port from another mod or single-player campaign, which could explain its lack of flow in a deathmatch setting. While it’s clear that a lot of effort went into creating this map, it ultimately doesn’t meet the standards of Half-Life Deathmatch.

I don’t enjoy giving negative reviews, especially when creators put significant effort into their work, but for this map, it simply doesn’t deliver for the intended gameplay style.