Congestion 1024

An interesting concept, and one with a multitude of different mappers that had very different ideas of how to use the cramped space (e.g. verticality, cramped corridors, arenas, ammo starvation, the 1024 take on Dead Simple and IoS). This makes for a varied WAD, albeit one of varying quality (simply put, some interpretations I liked and others I didn't) and not overly balanced in difficulty (with some of the hardest maps in the set's first half). Map 27 is my pick of the bunch and feels like a 'magnum opus' map

 

 

Playability notes: Everything works fine in PrBoom+ with -complevel 9. Pistol start on each map is recommended by the text file.

 

Congestion 1024 is the first of its kind, at least in megawad form, and it triumphantly conveys how unrefined the craft of packing a map into a small space was at the time. As with many limitation projects, it contains notable examples in regards to visual complexity, but a dynamic gameplay experience in such confined compartments must be difficult to achieve if this set is anything to go by. There are a few diamonds in the rough, but the rough is rough indeed.

 

The concept itself is quite simple: limit the player's area to a 1024x1024-unit square. While enemies and architecture can extend wherever it is desired, the player must not be allowed to step foot beyond their relatively small enclosure. For an example of how little this is to work with, I present Doom II's MAP07, Dead Simple:

The available area is not the outer square, which is available by the end of the map; nor is it the square within that, which is what the player has available to them from the start of the map. Every map in Congestion 1024 confines the player's movement to the square circumscribing the exit and the four mancubus turret squares (in actuality this square is 960x1088, ignoring the lips, but the surface area is about the same). It's a hefty burden, but the goal should be (as with any limitation project) to create a level that plays without the player noticing any limitation at all: here, the player should feel like they can go anywhere, even though there is only a small space to actually go.

 

Unfortunately, as I anticipated even before playing, many of the levels expose their bottled, boxy boundaries quite brashly. Some even go so far as to abandon typical mapping fundamentals to desperately squeeze their idealized map, tighter and tighter, until it's crushed and crumpled beyond recognition. However, in spite of this expectation, I was impressed by several maps that expertly provided space and progression to the player.

 

Highlights:

• MAP02 and MAP04 are a step in the right direction, with layouts that keep your focus on the action rather than the limited motion. MAP08 and MAP11 are contrary to this direction, as there is plenty of action available but far too little area to enjoy it.
• If I recommend outright avoiding maps: MAP09, MAP13, MAP14, and MAP22. These aren't even tiny rooms connected by tiny hallways, but the opposite: hallways upon hallways, with the occasional room to break up the monotony. MAP13 in particular is titled "The Focus II" and it's embarrassing to believe that it was in any way inspired by the original.
• MAP15, MAP32, MAP17, and MAP28, on the other hand, are all worth a playthrough (two of those levels are part of the demo reel). They're constrained without being cramped, and difficult purely from a dynamic standpoint.
• MAP07, MAP16, MAP27, MAP30, and (eventually) MAP21 are arena encounters ala Dead Simple. Of these, MAP16 is the most interesting, as the intensity increases over time and can be taken at a variable pace.

 

I recommend skipping around with pistol starts: MAP01-MAP06, MAP15-MAP20 (including secrets), and MAP25-MAP28 are the most interesting stretches of at least decent maps.

it's pretty weird looking back at this wad in 2020 and wondering just why did people like it back then. Congestion 1024 is perhaps the first full-length megawad emphasizing crampedness in 1024x1024 spaces, and the maps here, at least today, are quite mild. there's a difficulty curve as always, but nothing all newer wads can do better. it's got some strict arena maps, which I frown upon now because they just aren't as fun as other types of maps (except MAP27 which excels in its spiderdemon encounters). the novelty in MAP22 is interesting, as is MAP23 and its mostly starvation-based gameplay. MAP24 and MAP28 are appropriately tough, and the entirety of MAP29 will keep on the toes. still though, it's a neat piece of history, and depending on your take, may be better than some of the more creative children gameplay-wise. basically it's got a little bit of everything inside the little bits of maps you'll find, and although it's feasible to beat these maps in just above an hour at most, there's always at least once little enjoyment factor out of it all.

It's ok tbh. Very few maps are actually memorable and a lot of the gameplay is annoying rather than difficult. Still some good maps here and a nice OST. 2.44/5

Pretty good for the limitation. Some maps were extremely cramped in movement however.

1024 was a good starting point in 2005 but it does lead to crampedness that will annoy some. So I think nowadays 2048 is the more balanced limit (which has me interested in PCCP2, but that's for another topic). Plenty of nice maps here still, if you don't feel too cramped - and a good debut into the whole limited map space concept that still shows up from time to time a decade later.

Now, this is very inventive in demonstrating how a level can be great even with little room available. If only it had been playtested a bit more... 'Cause balance is fairly off in the latest levels. A well deserved 4 stars, though. -- x_MaimerFagen_x

You thought Alien Vendetta was good? This wad freakin kicks its ass. Alien Vendetta had good maps but not all were good and it didn't keep my attention for long. When I begin playing this, I couldn't stop! The maps arent too big or too small and the atmosphere is great and level design is so damn detailed.

Thanks for the Wad! :D! I LOVE DOOM! Are you guys still working on wads? :o

No less than awesome. -Tango

Lots of fun, memorable little maps. Something about this style of map is just so much fun to play. Can't remember any bad maps here, only lots of excellent ones. MAP32 aka Nullspace Junior, however, is the only one that meets Scythe 2 quality and is one of the very best Doom maps ever released. Astonishing visual design, and superb gameplay. 5/5

32 maps of awesomeness. Never would have guessed that small maps could be this fun. 5/5 -Dancso

This is an interesting concept, some of the maps are good and I had fun with them, some were too easy (all maps until 9, excepting 7), some were TOO FUCKING HARD (10,11 and 12) as I was very low on health most of time in these maps, I kept dying (around 20-30 times) because there was no health around and kept me starting some levels with very low HP if I managed surviving! At least ArchViles in later levels weren't a problem. Played with AEOD 6.02. Final verdict: 4/5 -Doomer95

I like it! But why is it not in the megawad section?

Wow what a fun megawad, one of the best ones I've played recently. Each level here is short but quite detailed, and not too hard with some great gameplay. I'm about halfway through the set right now, the only one I really didn't like much was MAP11, couldn't figure it out for the life of me and was just uncomfortable. I highly recommend this to people who have short attention spans, like me. :D 5/5

This was awesome. Small-medium sized maps rule! 5/5

Three maps of this set made PrBoom crash, so I cannot comment on them. The rest was really great, though. Definitely one of this year's best! -- 5/5

The maps may be small, but the are full of incredible details and fantastic gameplay!

On paper it doesn't sound like much...turn up the hardness with -fast and pistol starts and you have an interesting challenge. Some maps struggle for ammo (and map 10 doesn't have enough without the secret) but aside from that pretty good. I'm sure it would fail hard if not played from pistol start though.

Masterpiece in little size! - Daimon

Awesome! This is one of my favourites. *****

Easter eggs in Map 22 are a riot!

Very good wad, just played through it. My favourite maps are Focus 2, House of Shadows, Monday Morning (because all three consist mostly of narrow passages, making the map seem much larger than it is) and Bantam, because the medieval theme reminded me of Quake. I did notice that towards the end the project seemed to have run out of steam a bit. The maps were still pretty, but they were nothing more than very small Doom2 maps with nothing to make them stand out from the crowd. Still worth a 5/5 though.

This is one of my all-time favourites! 5/5 - Svartravn S

One of now two excellent megawads in this style; this one is a bit inferior to the other one (Claustrophobia) on detail, but it still looks pretty nice and plays just as well. I really love the 1024 concept of maps; short, refreshing, but sometimes intense levels. 5/5, easily.