Synopsis
| IF there is any level that can separate the men from the boys when it comes to the mind game in Descent, that level has to be Kaotix. |
Retired Residents
Neitzl, Manson
| IF there is any level that can separate the men from the boys when it comes to the mind game in Descent, that level has to be Kaotix. |
| Kaotix NM "I'm not sure if I actually knew that was his home level or not. Surely I wouldn't just go and give KidD the homecourt advantage... that'd be suicide! Well that's exactly what it was, suicide. I threw myself in front of so many shots that game, trying my absolute best to keep the walls of his home looking as shiny as his pyro. While I was not terribly disappointed with the outcome of the score, it was by no means a close game. But then... that's what we've come to expect from the UT... and, after all, it *was* his home level! I didn't move in until after he had moved out. :)" |
-dramu
| Kaotix NM "This was a vendetta in the truest of senses. I felt I had to take care of some business. We started with a game on my home level (Elegies lvl 1) and finished up on both of his home levels. In Io it was uphill all the way...he got the missiles, that was the difference. He out-hussled me, superior mine movement. Taking him on in Kaotixnm to decide the vendetta was something I had to do. He had thrashed me there last time. I attribute the IDL vendetta system to my rivalry with Kid." |
-Karash
| Kaotix NM "My home? Heh. Don't be fooled, that's one of Karash's BEST levels. Now that he got his revenge, I'm moving to Galatea. :)" |
-KidDerby
Journal Note: KidDerby won his Cross Maxius in Galatea LH, vs Manson
| Kaotix OW "My first ever game with Manson was at 4AM one night back in October. He had already become the first player to be invited up to the UT and he was a hot commodity, tearing up everyone he faced. I asked what he wanted to play and he suggested his D2 home, Kaotix OW. I had to get all the OW levels from him (the zip he put together is still on my hard drive and has been spread around quite a bit). The first thing I noticed was that he was a good door fighter. I have always been skilled at fighting someone on the other side of a door, doorway or small tunnel, but he kicked my ass so badly in fights of this kind that I was genuinely startled. So I had to get more aggressive, and this too played into his hands. He nailed me clean a few times because I walked into traps and got hammered. The depth of his patience and cleverness, along with his door skills, got him to an 11 5 lead before I finally began to understand his tactics and rhythms. I held my own from there. We had some classic standoff fights at that small vertical tunnel that leads down to the lava pit. That was his favorite spot to set traps, and once I knew this, I was actually able to get the best of him there. I would flare the walls to make him fire, and do it again and again until he would start to think that I was just toying with him, then I would jump out with plasma and give him a faceful, and withdraw. He started doing more attacking the more success I had turning the tables on him when he camped. We both camped on either side of that shaft and took turns attacking, trying both to catch the other off guard and to anticipate attacks and have weapons fire there to meet the aggressor. Lighting cues are more visible in D2 than D1, but the flares mask them, and so it becomes a matter of pure timing when there is a standoff, because you cannot use the lighting cues to spot the opponent's attack milliseconds before he appears, if there are flares glowing. It was actually a very intense stretch of fighting, because if you relax for even an instant the opponent can be in your face and you are dead if you were too relaxed; yet you cannot attack wrecklessly because he is just sitting there waiting for you to try it. We played most of about twelve total kills this way, and I was doing well. Once Manson realized I had adapted to his first line of tricks, he changed up and went aggressive on me and forced the fight into the faster paced area near the reactor as often as he could. He got one doorway kill on me with quads that was so impressive, I quit calling him the "doorway master" and dubbed him with a more proper label of "doorway GOD". =) Even so, I got to within 17 14 him and had him sweating, before he hit a home run of three straight kills to end it. I wish he had stuck around the IDL longer; he was a great competitor, and I always had a lot of fun playing with him." |
-Sirian
| Kaotix OW "I had never played Kaotix before, so I was in way over my head. Manson played quite aggresive. I had a hard time keeping out of his plasma. I guess that's why I never picked up on the waiting game that he apparently sometimes plays, because he didn't seem to sit and wait in this level. He controlled the pace of the game, tho, that's for sure. I kept praying for an afterburner, and my pleas fell on deaf ears. :)" |
-Chipmunk
| Kaotix NM "Back in the early days of the IDL, I started noticing an "upcoming" player by the name of Manson who had an impressive string of wins under his belt, including one against my good friend Sekmu for the #1 position on the lower tier. So I decided to "stalk" him for a bit...but not in the classical Glock tradition, rather through information only. I generally learned he was a stand-offish player, a master of the "corner turn" kill against aggressive players. I also learned through my contacts that he had an affinity for Kaotix NM. On our first meeting I asked him to a friendly duel on this level. What I found was a monster. I quickly dropped 0-3 while chasing him around the level...the usual Karash Aggressive stance...quickly I switched over and made him wait me out a few times. Caught him scavenging for missiles a couple of times and tied the game at 6-6. By this time about an hour had gone by, it was a great strategical battle...and I was enjoying it. We both paid for every mistake we made. Sekmu was up that weekend doing a mini-LAN with me and watched the entire game. In one standoff, we were both low on sheilds with him in the red room, and me controling the main room. We waited out each other for 10 mins without budging...until I finally broke and hammered my way in thru the energy tunnel to get an unsuspecting kill, and limping away with 1 shield. After 2 hours I finally tied the score at 13-13 with 79 shields and offered a draw...which he accepted. I have learned to never follow Manson **anywhere** thru a mine...he is a true beast of the MindGame...and Kaotix NM compliments him perfectly. |
-Karash
| Kaotix OW "I have been flying with Neitzl almost as long as we both have had Kali, and so I know most of what there is to know about his flying style. He loves plasma and is one of the rare few who can nail me really well with it. My game with him here was hard fought, and to be honest he would have beaten me if not for my knowledge of this difficult-to-master old-school level. Kaotix is also Manson's home level, and my first match with Mans was here. If not for all the countless beatings I have taken in Kaotix from masters of the mind game like DrDon, Corpse and Manson, I would surely have lost, for it is their tricks that beat Neitzl, not me. Neitzl knows the level very well and he WILL kick your ass in here unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing. Good luck." |
-Sirian
| Kaotix NM "I had just been nominated for the UT on the IDL; Neitzl had never heard of me and had posted that I should look him up for a game. I went to the D-server, and of course I found him. He started out our conversation more or less by saying: "I only have d1 right now." And he seemed to feel I would get scared away by that. I just replied "So? I love d1!" He then asked me what levels I would play, and honestly I answered him: "Any." He then suggested KaotixNM, and even if I had never played a match in that level before I accepted. I felt I knew the basics of the level. Once started I got very well off. Collected most of the homers and the spread, with which I fwapped and slapped him for an early 3 - 0 lead. "This is a piece of cake!" I almost thought. Ap ap ap ap, NEVER underestimate ANY player; and especially not from the UT. We went on with 4 - 1, and 5 - 3. I still felt very good and I got a "free" kill with a smart shot down a hall, searching for luck. Then at 7 - 4. Neitzl got me, and in my eagerness and newbieness I rushed straight back into the room to finish him off! Of course, outgunned as I was, Neitzl just smiled at me and quite frankly, sent me back to my grave. At 7 - 7 I managed to get back in rhythm and we were head to head for a while. First with me having the 1 kill lead, then he started to have the 1 kill lead. By now it was a pure spread ‘n’ homer match, with the occasional smart involved. This I think was to my disadvantage because early in the game I used the fusion on him, which granted me some of those "cheap" kills. Somewhere along the game he made me lose my nerve for cool fusion fighting. Kudos to him for that feat. I couldn't really figure out which game suited me the best and was the worst for him. We both seemed to handle the lag-fights (oops, I mean dogfights ;-) very well, but I felt I had a better chance in them, because I had him in sight. I felt awkward playing my otherwise safe style of peek-a-boo and hit ‘n’ run. He just seemed to know the level alot better than I in that regard. He finally got the two point lead at 13 - 15, and then we went like that until 17-18. Then I just clumsily missed to dodge a smart which he laid, and I was only one death away from defeat. I now had to kill him twice in a row, which I had only done in the first few kills in the game. I collected up a few smarts and homers and flew around until I faced him in a 90 degree turn. I had my finger REAL tight on the trigger, and usually this results in the quick death of the opponent, but with lag AND skill Neitzl managed to spray ALOT of plasma on me before he died, leaving me with 14 shields for my last MUST-HAVE-KILL on him. And in a level that full of homers, I felt my hope slip away. A few seconds later Neitzl finished me off in a dogfight, for the annoying 18-20 defeat. Only now, afterward, Sirian granted me wisdom, enlightening me that KaotixNM was Neitzl’s home level, which soothed my wounds a bit. But damn, I would have wanted such a scalp!" |
-VaiN
| Kaotix NM "Abused in my own home! I demand a rematch!" |
-dramu
| Kaotix NM "MY house! Get out! :)" |
-Neitzl
| Kaotix NM "This was the third match in our Vendetta. We were 1 and 1, so I *had* to win this game. As luck would have it (all bad) this match was in his D1 home. Dramu is a very very tricky smurf. He says he wasn't hiding, but I'm *still* trying to figure out where he appeared from, a few times. I would fly around being very cautious and check back to find him almost touching my ship ready to blast me. Just like in our first two games, the lead shifted back and forth the entire game. Dramu got a point ahead at 14 or so and I was getting worried. I had had a 2pt lead earlier and blown it. The momentum had shifted his way. I was losing the dogfights. He had my number from previous games in that area. I was tagging him with homer after homer before dying though. I vowed at that point not to engage without having at least 6 homers on me. ;-) He tagged me with a LONG shot with some Quad 4's. Now I was really annoyed. Down to 30 shields, down by 1 point and he wasn't hurt a bit. I threw a smart missile from the length of the level straight towards him. I ducked back into the lava room and started looking for homers to be shocked by the message that Dramu had just died from my smart! That kill put me back into the game mentally. I now had a chance to take the lead once again. I managed to get the next kill and kept around 7 shields. After that, it was back and forth with the kills until 21. Missile whoring and lots of luck pulled me through this game. If you play Dramu here, play cautious and smart, because I can guarantee you that he will be doing the same." |
-ENDER
| C REATED by PPG level master NuKE when internet Descent was still in its infancy, Kaotix quickly became a mainstay among the old school elite, who were hungry for good levels back in the days when Total Chaos and First Strike were all that was available. Unlike most levels put out today, Kaotix shows no signs of influence from the efforts of the Grand Master of level design, Spaz, and in fact nearly predates Spaz's earliest designs. When you first fly around Kaotix, it is likely to appear strange. Some areas seem to have no useful purpose, and each section plays differently than the others. At first impression, you might even think the level is crap; but don't be fooled. No level is more difficult to learn than Kaotix, and if you are flying against an old school veteran, you will quickly discover how easily you can be trapped and killed in every part of this level. |  |
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If you learned how to play Descent in Minerva, or in other Spaz levels, you should set everything you think you know aside when you enter Kaotix. Spaz levels all have a very low trap factor. Players used to be being able to cut and run whenever they please are in for a shock when they enter this realm. |  |
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There are four main sections to Kaotix. The reactor area is at one end of the level and the lava pit is at the other. The main dogfight room is in the middle. The final section is the lower ring. A small room with six exits, two of which are concealed by false walls, connects three of the four sections, with open doorways and with tunnels, one pair per section. A great deal of fighting centers on this area. The energy bays are in the main dogfight room, but they are protected by invisible walls, and thus accessible only via tunnels leading from the lava pit and the connector room. Running out of energy can be a serious mistake, as it is easy for a well-armed opponent to prevent you from being able to refuel if he stands guard. Yet knowing this, he may opt to pursue you on the chance that you'll be expecting him to guard the energy bays. All sorts of deceptions are possible in this level. You will likely have to take a few lumps before you get a good enough feel to be able to compete here. Timing is the biggest key. Every spot on this level is a deathtrap, and every trap can be defeated unless it is executed flawlessly. This may be the most complex level ever created, when it comes down to tactics. |
| Kaotix LH The reduced presence of missiles requires that players rely on guns for more of their kills. Overall Rating: 9 |
| Kaotix OW This D2 level plays like the LH variant in D1, except for the ways in which D2 inherently behaves differently. As always for OW levels, plasma is king. Overall Rating: 8 |
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The lack of megas in this level seems to indicate that even NuKE views the original Kaotix in D1 as an anachronism. Kaotix II has practically everything in it -except- megas and shakers. |  |
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Another striking difference in Kaotix II is the lighting. Check out these two screen shots taken from the same location. The one on the right actually has two flares (which you can see) or it would be a black screen. As lights get shot out the level gets darker and darker. Most areas remain adequately lit even if all shootable lights are broken, but there are a couple notable exceptions, where you will be completely in the dark, with no headlights available. |  |
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The balance of this level is superb. While there is only one set of plasma, spread, and fusion, there are two sets of D2 guns: gauss, helix, phoenix and omega. A third burner plus extra sets of quads reduces the difficulty of reacquiring your stuff after a death, eliminating the "Mementomori Effect" of blowing an entire match if you get killed in the wrong spot. The ability to drop guns can also weigh in, for players versed in advanced weapon-management tactics. An extra energy bay has been added in the reactor room, and players using helix or phoenix will find this of extreme benefit. The false walls have given way to waterfalls and see-through doors, giving players no excuse for smacking into a well-placed smart mine. And finally, do not underestimate the usefulness of the handful of guided missiles that are available. |
Kaotix II is a brutal level. I think the main reason it is not played often
is the presence of the big guns. Yet that is exactly why you might want to
give it a test fly: unlike Pandemonium, where there is a huge weapon
imbalance, Kaotix II is a finely-tuned dueling ground showcasing Big Blue
and the Orange. This level even has a custom midi track, providing a change
of pace for those who listen to the music as they play.
Overall rating: 8
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| Kaotix III Kaotix III is an entirely different level design, unrelated to Kaotix except by name. We are not going to review it here, but it is a good design if you want to check it out. |
| Level Name | DF | TR | TM | TP | EB | GM | 3D | WF | CR | LV | ST | Overall | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaotix NM | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Kaotix | 8 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 1,6 |
| Kaotix LH | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 4,6 |
| Kaotix OW | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | JK |
| Kaotix II | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 8 | DEFG |
| Back to the IDL War Journal |
The presence of megas on this level makes it one of the most lethal D1
levels ever created. Unless your opponent's skills are far behind yours,
you had best find a way to gather more megas than he does if you want to
be the last man standing. Overall
Rating: 7
