Jump to content
Search In
  • More options...
Find results that contain...
Find results in...
  • NOTE: There is a known issue with the most recent entries having screwed-up information and links. Some databases are out of sync and we haven't been able to fix it yet.

The Classic Episode

   (67 reviews)
Sign in to follow this  

Guest

About This File

An episode in the classic Doom style. The goal is to recreate as accurate as possible the atmosphere of the original id levels. This is a collection of the previous classic releases (classic1 - classic7) plus two new levels. All maps support coop play and maps E2M1, E2M2, E2M6, E2M8, and E2M9 are recommended for deathmatch modes.


User Feedback

Create an account or sign in to leave a review

You need to be a member in order to leave a review

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

I Drink Lava

  

At a time when the Doom mapping well was running dry and source ports had made it possible to steal ideas wholesale from "Quake II" and "Half-Life", the humble and aptly-named Classic Episode was released. While it was made by the same authors of "The Darkening E1", The Classic Episode outclasses both it and its overhyped sequel in terms of gameplay.

 

Sure, the maps are nothing more than the same tired IWAD tropes we've seen countless times before, particularly in E2M3 "The Deimos Complex". However, it is precisely this lack of pretensions why The Classic Episode works so well. It's an episode that plays in the vintage style, but with the massive leaps in quality that came with years of experience in the Doom community. The maps work well, have impeccable balancing, and provide a damn good difficulty curve throughout the 9 levels. E2M9 "Dissension" in particular is the highlight of the episode, which is probably why they made the secret exit in E2M5 so stupidly obvious in the first place.  E2M7 "A Place of Sin" is also stellar, seamlessly merging "Pandemonium" with "And Hell Followed".

 

I wouldn't say it's the best or most faithful IWAD-style levelset ever created, as I still feel fondness for 1995's "Fava Beans". In terms of sheer fun factor, however, The Classic Episode delivers in spades.

Share this review


Link to review
Ezepov

  
Super

Share this review


Link to review
NuMetalManiak

· Edited by NuMetalManiak

  

The Classic Episode is very likely to be forgotten in time nowadays, but it's one of the few add-on packs to be used for Compet-N, which means it has some recognition that way. of course, it's by far the most obscure of those Compet-N add-ons, but back in the day it sure wasn't. people outright thought this was a worthwhile episode replacement (the only one out of all the addons for Doom 1 I may add).

 

when you look at Classic Episode on the surface, it's really nothing much. no new textures, no new monsters, the layouts aren't really as exciting as what you could expect from modern wads. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHY IT IS CALLED CLASSIC EPISODE, ISN'T IT? it aimed only for the classic style of Doom that had the same run-and-gun action and atmosphere as the original Doom. Thus, the level layouts aren't amazing and aren't designed to be amazing, they're made to just be normal levels, without any gimmicks really. only E2M8 seemed to have one with the way the teleporters and locked doors were set up, but the gameplay isn't all that different from Classic Doom.

 

if you wanna take a break from all the fancy schmancy Zandronum/Zdoom/Boom maps of the modern age, this can be right up your alley. there's many episode replacements like this one old and new but this has aged considerably well and its gameplay is a great reminder of the original game in every way.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

  
Everything you could want from a E1 episode. Fun fun and more fun. 5 stars is more than deserved. -TRRobin.

Share this review


Link to review
riderr3

  
5/5 deserved! One of the best Doom1 pwads with primarily E1 atmosphere. I like the baron trap at e2m7. Difficulty and enemy placement is right!

Share this review


Link to review
TheUltimateDoomer666

  
Great enjoyable maps which do a decent job of capturing the classic DOOM feel.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
This map stays VERY true to the Doom style but it drifts away from the Episode 1 theme, so I give it 4/5.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
This is truly classic stuff. I just wish it was a (full) E1 replacer instead of an E2 replacer, but then again I'm in love with E1 :)

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
I love it. The classic feel and the great gameplay make this for me one of the best UDoom maps ever. 5/5 - Damned

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
A good doom1 levelset. The levels truly capture the whole doom1 feel as each of the 3 famous styles from the episode have thier representatives here. I do feel that this endless "recapturing" of the old feel is a bit over the top as there are truly loads of maps and mapsets that try to do that. But, that doesn't take away from the quallity of these maps, so it's a 4 from me.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
The best UDoom maps ever. I don't understand why people whine about the lack of e1 feel. THIS IS NOT AN E1 REPLACEMENT! It's based on all 3 eps, and it succeds at recreating their feel. Just read the txt next time before you start whining. 5/5 - Belial

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Certainly one of the top three Ep.1 replacements ever, along with "Ch Retro" and "Fava Beans". Whereas "Fava Beans" had great atmosphere but barely any opposition, "Classic Episode" has great gameplay but sometimes doesn't quite manage to give you the illusion that you are actually at the same Phobos base you were in Knee-Deep. Still, with people involved with "The Darkening" behind the wheel, you can't go wrong. --5/5

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Belial is right, but I understand that some people are so spoiled, if they don´t get what was announced in the advertisement, they want their money back... 5/5

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
The best doom 1 maps I've ever played. These are simply very, very enjoyable to play. The difficulty is done very nicely - it gradually gets harder as you progress. I found the secret level for the first time in my life I think, which is just wonderful. As Belial said, the whiners should read the text file and learn to appreciate different level design styles. Would you believe I only died once... and by the final enemy in the game >.< Awesome stuff! 5 stars - Starburst.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
This truly is a classic episode. A nice combination of E1 and just a little E2.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Great one, pure oldschool 4/5

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Incredible, I had a lot of fun with it, great work!

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Classic episode I keep coming back to. One thing to point out is the creativity with the monster closet ambushes. I was constantly flinching and jumping in my seat, but even though the difficulty is high, I usually found a way through the battles without too many reloads. So this is basically Ep1-2-3 compressed into 9 levels with the challenge ramped up a bit.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Brilliant! Just like what it says on the tin! I almost felt I was back in the early days of DOOM back in the mid 90's after finishing the shareware version and just got home after buying the full version... Don't get excited though because this IS a classic style wad so don't expect any of those 'modern port' tricks, just great game-play. I feel so nostalgic :-) Nice job Jan. 5/5 -jb

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
One of the very best, ever. A superbly designed episode with great gameplay and architecture. A combination inspired by all the episodes for Doom and they all look very good. It was like I was playing Doom for the first time all over again. 5 Stars -PC

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Difficulty seems higher than Doom episodes 1-3. Probably needs more medikits (because of all the ambushes). Worth playing, even if you have to drop down a skill level or two.

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
This is perhaps THE BEST true U-Doom style
episode. Go get it!!

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
This is a really great (and definitely classic IMO) episode for the Ultimate Doom. At least some homage is paid to each episode; see the text file for details. The design, gameplay, and difficulty are all in line with what you'd expect from a wad of this style. You might have thought ID Software made these levels! 5/5

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
A must download

Share this review


Link to review
Guest

Unknown date

  
Excellent! 5/5 Too bad it didn't had full game replacement, I was expecting episode 1 and 3 as well but it doesn't matter, we have DTWID for this!

Share this review


Link to review
  • File Reviews

    • By Mizuki_Jun10 · Posted
      It turned out to be a surprise for me because I didn't expect it to be such a fun level, when he said he wanted a lot of monsters in his level I didn't imagine that amount of monsters, but it was definitely fun.   I consider it a very good map, for its time, for a first map made by him, for a very humble map.   But overall I don't consider it a great or extraordinary experience, I don't see myself revisiting Crusher, but I can't call it Average because what he did is super interesting.   And it's a long level, which I also didn't expect, but to be more precise, the exploration is interesting, the layout was a little diverse, and the action on the map kept me focused and entertained, some rooms had poorly aligned textures and didn't seem to have been looked at at the last minute, which is a bit strange because he said he spent a lot of time developing the map, but I imagine why since at that time there wasn't an "Ultimate DOOM Builder" with automatic texture alignment, or maybe there was one automatic alignment?   And the maze everyone mentioned was annoying, yes I admit it lasted a lot longer than it should have, and I feel like it could have been shortened in Wad's release, it made the level feel longer than it is too, but I don't feel so much that the level it got worse because of it.   The positioning of enemies isn't that great, but they make you take cautious measures at times, but at times I was like... "It could be better..."   But that's it, it's a good level, it hasn't aged well, it could be better, but I feel like it would be unfair to call this level average, it's a level that I enjoyed, did things that weren't that common at the time, and seemed to use of resources that at the time many used wrongly, I don't feel like I wasted my time. I deserve to see more from the mapper.... (If he released something after that of course...)
    • By Mizuki_Jun10 · Posted
      Surprising even, one of the newest community maps out there, 1994, wow, but it's still a bad map, the encounters are interesting, the layout is the most superior aspect here, but it still doesn't support the technical errors that even for 1994 were already guaranteed by the original DOOM maps. Weird textures, lack of variety, lack of a more interesting design than platforms going down or going up in the dark, some moments were really fun like the dark cave itself, but the fun lasts very little, with spaces that are too tight, and a shallow exploration.
    • By Mizuki_Jun10 · Posted
      I love Quake, it's my favorite Shooter, and I totally forgive the lack of detail and technical refinement that Mapper concluded here, but I have to say that even though the map is still recognizable compared to the classic E1M1 from Quake... The map just doesn't have such a refined texturing, a good light variation, and many of the areas don't even carry the classic Quake identity, as the best example: The part where we get the Nailgun, there aren't even monsters and an encounter with Zombiemans in that room , there is very little positive to consider here unfortunately, but it was a bit fun in some parts. Either way, there are a lot of negative things that make it impossible to ignore while playing the level, a horrible map, how sad.
    • By Mizuki_Jun10 · Posted
      Normally I would define these two maps as maps with interesting premises whose execution does not positively complement the result, Chicken.wad has such a simple layout that it is disappointing at first sight, which keeps you at a higher height than Cyberdemons that you They wait in sectors that flash between dark and very light, I can only be direct in saying that although the battle between the Cyberdemons is fun, the map doesn't present you with anything other than that, and it is even impossible to cross the other side of the bridge endless to eliminate the rest of Cyberdemons. Completing Chicken (Even though Chicken doesn't have an exit on his map.).   Let's go to Gangstar.wad, you can see a somewhat open space, different from the previous experience, but with the classic theme of a UAC warehouse style E2M2 from DOOM, but the boxes here are a little distorted? (Perhaps spacetime begged the mappers not to finish the maps so it distorted the map space causing this visual curse.) As much as the open spaces of the map are fun to navigate, the fun is short-lived with several of the structures being distorted. carrying with them ill-adjusted texturing. Clearly a superior map to the previous one, but unfortunately still poor, the repetitiveness of the texturing, plus a bland design and several other missing details, make this map yet another disappointment unfortunately.   The verdict is that both maps are completely disposable, I would love for the mappers to continue with their work after such complicated work, so they would at least be able to build more and improve the quality of their design work.
    • By Devalaous · Posted
      One of the classic megawads, and the successor to TNT Evilution. I've played this several times over the years, and its grown on me more with each play as my tastes mature.   Still has a bunch of maps that got me killed in 2024, after ive finished stuff like HR and AV, and plenty of maps are memorable. Only real downsides is some of the levels have little content, showing its age.
×