gameplay was a little tougher than i expected at the beginning. layout was ok.

Agreed that the beginning offers a tense challenge but the whole map is fun and offers a great quad moment for anyone into that sort of thing. This is a very well made map, especially for 1996, I really liked this one. Watch me play it here: Escape the Base on The Quake Grave

I didn't liked it. First map (rit) was good, this one is undoublty worser.

Well, I've replayed this level and have changed my mind. I give it 4/5.

Quite a fun level. It's not too long, kinda in between small and medium. The visuals are pretty nice for 1996. The combat is pretty nice, there's both close quarters and wide open areas. I don't get why there are two Shamblers at the start and not the end, though. I'm not much of a fan of secrets that don't hint at being secret, that just look like the rest of the level and you have to shoot. Overall though, I definitely say it's a level worth playing.

I really enjoyed this one. The visuals are very good for 1996 (I like metal maps) and the gameplay is mostly very good. I say mostly because the start is way too difficult without the annoyingly obscure secret that I only found because I lucked out and shot the wall in the place the secret was.

Anyway, apart from that this is a very fun map to play through. The combat is not too difficult but challenging enough to be fun, and there's a nice variety of enemies used. I wish there was a bit more of a conclusion fight though.

I think this is definitely worth a playthrough, and for '96 it's outstanding. 4/5

I had a good time with this map! It looked good, was rather challenging, had some clever secrets and didn't wear out its welcome. Top notch for a custom map from the early Quake days.

This is a really fun old-school map. Very impressive for 1996. The only complaint I can make is that the secrets are relatively easy.

A very well made map for 1996. Not much to complain except for the frustrating Shambler duo too early in the map. Also there are a couple of secrets with high-end gear with the map practically over by that time.

best map from this author with challenging combat scenarios and plentiful secrets to discover. Well designed metal map from 1996. Would highly recommend playing this map even though it ends quickly. 4 out of 5 rating from me.

Somewhat less tight and more meandering than its predecessor by the same author, but has more scale. Still, quantity is no substitute for quality, thus only 6/10. Maybe I didn't quite get it.

Managed to find all the secrets, the map is really fun, one of the best maps of 1996 for sure.

Just like the previous one (rit), I don't think rit2 is from '96. Even the readme says it was created with Worldcraft 1.5, which was late '97.

It looks like you're right, Gila. Worldcraft was released on 5 September 1997:

http://www.csoon.com/issue29/p_valve1.htm

And Crash's reviews for this and Escape the Base were written in September '97.

This is one of the classics.

I really enjoyed finding this map again, after so many years - long enoug time that i could remember the general outline of the map, but not the monster or secrets placement.

Half an hour well spent! :)