So, who's beaten Marathon on Total Carnage?

Inspired by the "So, who's beaten Marathon 4 on Legendary mode?" thread.

I'm sure there's at least a hand full of Vid Masters somewhere around here (VanillaThunder?).

Anyone beaten any, or all, of the Marathon games (Marathon, Marathon 2, and Marathon Infinity) all the way through on Total Carnage? How about the major Marathon mods (Marathon EVIL, Marathon RED, Marathon Rubicon, Marathon Tempus Irae, Tempus Irae 2 The Lost levels, and Marathon RED)?

I'm about 2/3 of the way through Marathon 1.
Marathon 2 beaten.
Marathon Infinity beaten. Except for the Vid Master's challenge, can't get past the 1st level, how embarrassing...

Marathon Rubicon beaten. I've only gotten 1 of the many endings though.
Marathon Tempus Irae beaten.
Tempus Irae 2 The Lost Levels beaten.
I'm about 1/2 way done with Marathon RED.
I'm pretty sure I've beaten Marathon EVIL.

Out of all of them, I'd have to say Marathon Infinity's Vid Master's Challenge is the hardest.

How about Co-Op? Has anyone beaten any of them in Co-Op? I've been playing Marathon since 1995 and never had the chance to play others in multiplayer...

I think Marathon 2 was the first game in the trilogy in which you were able to play co-op.

As for answering your question, I've beaten Marathon 1 on Total Carnage. It was nigh impossible because the ammunition amount remained the same but the monsters took like ridiculous amounts of damage to go down. I had to attain Fists of Legend to finish the game. It was the last stage that was the worse, all these snipers from high, invisible ledges were hard as fuck to dodge.

I honestly don't believe Marathon 2 can be completed on Total Carnage. Just that stage in which Tycho fucks with you and drops you into a crowd of hunters and machine gun Pfhors pwns me. I could not get that slowass bulk door open, run around in circles and avoid grenade showers all at the same time.

bokmeow said:

I think Marathon 2 was the first game in the trilogy in which you were able to play co-op.

As for answering your question, I've beaten Marathon 1 on Total Carnage. It was nigh impossible because the ammunition amount remained the same but the monsters took like ridiculous amounts of damage to go down. I had to attain Fists of Legend to finish the game. It was the last stage that was the worse, all these snipers from high, invisible ledges were hard as fuck to dodge.

I honestly don't believe Marathon 2 can be completed on Total Carnage. Just that stage in which Tycho fucks with you and drops you into a crowd of hunters and machine gun Pfhors pwns me. I could not get that slowass bulk door open, run around in circles and avoid grenade showers all at the same time.

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To be honest, I've only played the demo of the actual Marathon 1 (came on my M2 CD). I've been playing mostly the remake, M1A1, for Aleph One. Its not exactly the same, but pretty damn close from what I can tell. I don't remember wether or not the actual M1 had co-op or not. Not like it would matter much in my case back then, seeing as I never found anyone else to play with.

I know what you mean about M1. I first started playing M2 and Infinity on Total Carnage and got used to it, but when I tried to play M1 on Total Carnage, I got owned real quick. Its like I had to learn how to play the game all over again. I'm more used to it now, but its still pretty insane.

Are you sure that level was from M2 and not Infinity? It sure sounds a lot like that one level from Infinity with all the grey-colored Super Pfhor. If it is that level, then its one of my favorite levels to play in Total Carnage. I even shoot at the spectator Pfhor as the platform is going down to get them in on the action too. The trick to that level is to open all the doors and hit the switches as fast as you can to get out of the arena and onto the ledges up above, its much easier to snipe and defend from there. Or you can just stay in the arena and run around in circles, and try to get the Pfhor to hit each other.

I think I know what you mean, Marathon Infinity has that level as one of the Vid-master challenges. But if I recall correctly, there were NO ways of getting up on the ledges unless you propelled yourself up there with the SPNKR. Furthermore, staying on top of the ledges is no insurance that no hunters or pfhors will sneak up behind you, or just pummel you from below. It is exciting to see the enemies go at each other in a firefight, but most of them time I'm just too busy trying not to end up as a puddle on the floor.

woot... mac game thread!

As for me... nope, we played tons of co-op Marathon 2 and Infinity, but I never tried to complete the game on Total Carnage.

-Nick

bokmeow said:

I think I know what you mean, Marathon Infinity has that level as one of the Vid-master challenges. But if I recall correctly, there were NO ways of getting up on the ledges unless you propelled yourself up there with the SPNKR. Furthermore, staying on top of the ledges is no insurance that no hunters or pfhors will sneak up behind you, or just pummel you from below. It is exciting to see the enemies go at each other in a firefight, but most of them time I'm just too busy trying not to end up as a puddle on the floor.

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Are you sure its a Vid Master level? I distincly remember the level I'm refering to as being part of the story. I think we're talking about different levels here, but its all good.

nruva said:

woot... mac game thread!

As for me... nope, we played tons of co-op Marathon 2 and Infinity, but I never tried to complete the game on Total Carnage.

-Nick

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Damn, you're lucky...How was it in Multi? I hear that Multi is half the fun of the games (and trying to beat the games in Total Carnage is the other half).

This thread has inspired me to dig out the old Marathon and put myself to new challenges. I used to be the best of the best when it came to the network death matches because I had the pinpoint accuracy of a skilled marksman, and had more sixth sense required to be a stalker than Jack the Ripper.

bokmeow said:

This thread has inspired me to dig out the old Marathon and put myself to new challenges. I used to be the best of the best when it came to the network death matches because I had the pinpoint accuracy of a skilled marksman, and had more sixth sense required to be a stalker than Jack the Ripper.

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If you're not using Aleph One already, I strongly recommend that you download it (assuming your Mac/PC is good enough to run it). A1 is an app that enhances Marathon 2 and Infinity by piping the graphics through OpenGL.

http://source.bungie.org

Marathon death matches. There's nothing finer. Still fun today. I finally played Halo last night for the first time and it is obviously the next evolution of the game: the rocket launcher, the taser style enemy weapons, your suit design, the invisibilty and shield power-ups... all Marathon. Now if there were only recharge stations... that always added an extra element to death match games.

Wing Nut said:

Marathon death matches. There's nothing finer. Still fun today. I finally played Halo last night for the first time and it is obviously the next evolution of the game: the rocket launcher, the taser style enemy weapons, your suit design, the invisibilty and shield power-ups... all Marathon. Now if there were only recharge stations... that always added an extra element to death match games.

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Not only that, but in Halo the UESC insignia shows up when you're choosing the difficulty level. The Human soldiers wear those things over one of their eyes, very similar to what the BOBs have.

I really need to play Marathon in multiplayer...

Anyone ever play one of the conversions for Unreal Tournament?

What are the advantages of the OpenGL engines? I'm not quite fully aware of the motivations behind bringing Marathon trilogy to OpenGL, could someone fill me in?

bokmeow said:

What are the advantages of the OpenGL engines? I'm not quite fully aware of the motivations behind bringing Marathon trilogy to OpenGL, could someone fill me in?

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Its faster, 3D models can be added, graphics are smooth/non-pixelated, the game engine has been enhanced, new features were added (3rd person mode, cross hairs for the guns, ability to zoom-in on targets), PC users running Windows or Linux can play (you can play Infinity levels or the mods on a PC), network games can be organized via TCP/IP now, quite a few other things too. I strongly recommend it.

Hentai Sama said:

Its faster, 3D models can be added, graphics are smooth/non-pixelated, the game engine has been enhanced, new features were added (3rd person mode, cross hairs for the guns, ability to zoom-in on targets), PC users running Windows or Linux can play (you can play Infinity levels or the mods on a PC), network games can be organized via TCP/IP now, quite a few other things too. I strongly recommend it.

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I still need the original files like Physics, Sound and what not to run the Aleph One applications, right? I think I remember reading about this way back when at the time the project was still very much in its infancy.

bokmeow said:

I still need the original files like Physics, Sound and what not to run the Aleph One applications, right? I think I remember reading about this way back when at the time the project was still very much in its infancy.

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Yeah, you do need those files. Aleph One is basically a newer version of the Marathon application, so you will need the other files, either from the original games or the mods.

They're even porting Aleph One over to the Dreamcast!

Hentai Sama said:

Yeah, you do need those files. Aleph One is basically a newer version of the Marathon application, so you will need the other files, either from the original games or the mods.

They're even porting Aleph One over to the Dreamcast!

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So, how does the new application allow 3d models, and sharper graphics? Is it like some kind of anti-aliasing on the old graphic files?

bokmeow said:

So, how does the new application allow 3d models, and sharper graphics? Is it like some kind of anti-aliasing on the old graphic files?

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In order to use the 3D models option, you'll need to download some 3D models for it and place them in a special folder (there should be a "Read Me" file included somewhere). The models can either be part of the scenery or actual characters, depending. The 3D Models otion can be turned on/off in the OpenGL Settings under Options.

Aleph One uses full-screen anti-aliasing while you play the game. It can also be turned on/off under the OpenGL Settings, as well as customizing the settings for it.

Also, Aleph One allows you to use "Enhanced Textures". They'll require a bit more voideo memory in order to use them. Another neat feature in A1 is transparent liquid and transperent effects. Transparencies are also turned on/off in the OpenGL Settings menu.

Hehehhe.... I wish I could've replied sooner, but Syphon Filter Online has me hooked.

Yup, beat all of the Marathons and Halo on the hardest difficulty. Infinity has to be the hardest of all, just because of the branching path levels and the ending levels which will REALLY f you up unless you are PERFECT.

Hardest level has to be "All Roads lead to Sol" on M2... If you're not flawless in that level, you're toast.

As far as Vid Master's challenge.. yeah, I've gotten through.. need any help?

VanillaThunder said:

Hehehhe.... I wish I could've replied sooner, but Syphon Filter Online has me hooked.

Yup, beat all of the Marathons and Halo on the hardest difficulty. Infinity has to be the hardest of all, just because of the branching path levels and the ending levels which will REALLY f you up unless you are PERFECT.

Hardest level has to be "All Roads lead to Sol" on M2... If you're not flawless in that level, you're toast.

As far as Vid Master's challenge.. yeah, I've gotten through.. need any help?

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The huge Jjaro space station at the end is one of my favorite levels in Infinity. Non-stop action!

"All Roads Lead to Sol" was the last level of M2, wasn't it? Great fun as well!

Its been a while since I took a shot at Vid Master's Challenge. I'm sure I've improved a bit since then (thanks to M1). I'll see how many more times I can stand being toasted, wasted, and spanked by the pfhor before asking you for some tips.

So, did they retain the quirky physics that were specific to each installment of the Marathon series, with the upgrade to Aleph One? I remember the grenade climb in Marathon 1 was the craziest shit ever when I managed to pull that off. You had to use this trick to get out of the uber secret starvation chamber. For reasons never divulged they eliminated that grenade climb in the second installment

bokmeow said:

So, did they retain the quirky physics that were specific to each installment of the Marathon series, with the upgrade to Aleph One? I remember the grenade climb in Marathon 1 was the craziest shit ever when I managed to pull that off. You had to use this trick to get out of the uber secret starvation chamber. For reasons never divulged they eliminated that grenade climb in the second installment

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Its very possible that they kept it. I haven't really checked, too concerned with conserving my shields most of the time. Seems like the M1A1 team was pretty conservative, and the physics are easily edited.

When playing M1A1 for the first time, I was amazed at how closely it looked, sounded, and felt to the original M1.