Do0minat0r
Loser
Posts: 161
Registered: 06-09 |
waverider said:
No problem, and I agree, the Hell Keep / Warrens thing is way better executed here in Scythe 2, it's indeed a very nice secret map.
On that topic, do you know of any more maps like that? (Please don't say E3M9 of Wonderfull Doom, I know that is an expanded E1(!, wasn't it E3 in the original game?)M1 and have already played it).
Anyways, as I mentioned, Scythe 2 is an insanely fantastic megawad. But I should mention that I very much think that Map16, not Map09 (as the author insists) is the weakest map. Map09 is dissapointing overall, but Map16 seemed totally pointless and out of place (and while playing this, I wondered, what was Erik thinking?). Map09 is probably second worst, but I think that "Don't know what I was thinking" comment in the text would be better for Map16.
Fortunately, both of these map are relatively short. In fact, I thought all the medium-long length levels were at least good, some utterly fantastic. I don't know, maybe he scrubbed a few fillers in here and there, though that's not saying there aren't a noteworthy number of maps in here that are small but seem complete and not just filler material nonetheless. I'm starting to get the point of Map06 a bit, so it is really Map09 and Map16 (and maybe the first secret level, Map31, though it is well worth playing to find the cool Hell Keep/Warrens-esque super secret level) that dissapointed me by far the most.
Really other than that, there wasn't much in here that dissapointed me to any serious level. Some other maps are smaller than I would have expected, but these ones at least feel complete and thought out and not just put together as a filler. Then there's the last episode, where the map order could have used to be improved, but I liked all the maps, so no big deal. And of course, Map07 is another Dead Simple variant, but it's an OK one, unlike some others. And I loved the surprises of Map30 as well as not ending with yet another Romero battle.
So really, I can't call it "perfect", but nor could I call anything else "perfect" either, and this is truely a fantastic piece of work, as I've said before. I gave it 5 stars back in 2005 and I'd still give it 5 stars now. In fact, it is probably one of the 10-20 favorite wads of all time, as it gets things amazingly right for the most part, and deserves even more credit for being a one man effort; I truely don't think I've seen a more solid one-man megawad in my lifetime. Vile Flesh comes to mind but Scythe 2 is at least as good I think. So great job, Erik, and I hope you plan for more, whether it be Scythe 3 or something else. All said, that should wrap up my conclusion for this wad, though I know I'll probably be playing this masterpiece again someday!
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07-18-09 17:53 
