So I really liked the map overall. Pretty good visuals (especially the caves) and I enjoyed gameplay a lot.
I really liked the use of the custom palettes inside the caves. It really gave the feeling that I was inside some dusty dark place with some dim light. However, I didn't enjoy it as much inside the church; and there is also a small ground outdoor behind the church which has the custom palette as well and on that place it really felt out of place, especially when you or enemies walk in and out the sector with the custom palette.
Some nitpicking now, nothing major but I'm a nitpicker by nature :
- I didn't really like the teleporting to go inside that tomb and inside the church. Honestly I wished you had taken the time to make normal transition, it could have meant doing it differently especially for the tomb (I think it could have been done easily with the church though) but it would have been worth the effort and made for smoother gameplay. I even got squished and died once due to the teleporting when getting out of the "13th" tomb...
- There are some invisible walls at times which really had no business being there, like if you try to jump above some of the walls between 2 playable areas that are next to each others near the start and with some of the tombs as well.
- I didn't mind the sound replacements too much (though it's a bit obvious when Duke switches from DN3D to DNF voices, due to the difference in sound quality and even in tone); except the chaingun sound replacement that I didn't like at all, it sounded like a weak toy, and it felt even worse when I heard the Battlelord with that sound.
- Some grass sprites near the church that are blockable, not a big deal
- Some sprite clipping and shading issues like above Duke's tomb
- Music didn't work no matter what I tried, so I just played it using VLC
Overall I liked the map a lot though, I think it's your best map so far even with all this nitpicking.
Edit : Looking at screenshot I have to say that, as far as the visuals are concerned, I thought the red brick texture was out of place. Personally I never liked that texture, it sticks out way too much, especially in this rather dark context imo. Again that's nitpicking.
Edit 2: just replayed the map and I enjoyed it even more than during the first playthrough.
Really good design, atmosphere and gameplay overall. You did a good job designing a graveyard with the type of weird unsettling design one would usually find in graveyards from horror stories. I've been to a graveyard today (I guess like many people) so it helps to see the difference.
I really enjoyed the transparent enemies for once, and the respawns were really well handled and kept me surprised.
Found 2 more minor things to nitpick about though
![:)](https://forums.duke4.net/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
: some parts of the bench inside the church lack the custom palette ; the hidden switch on the grave (that gives the devastator) can be seen if you look from behind the grave. Spotted some more sprite clipping in other places I hadn't noticed before as well. Keep in mind I always play in 8bit.