ODESSA12 ("Chambers")

The 8th Odessa map starts out pretty interesting, with a series of dickish, Plutonia-esque traps. There's a rather interesting one involving a staircase that's actually a series of lifts that serve to waste your time, only to open up a closet full of Pinkies who gradually close the gap between you and the damaging floor. There is one annoying Bob Evans trick where a door opens behind a fake wall; guess he intended for you to listen closely? There's also an entire optional blue key wing that's found with a double linedef secret, but honestly it's not worth the hassle. It takes just as long to complete as the main level and your only rewards are a BFG9000 and Soulsphere that ultimately go unused since everything's already dead.

A hit and miss for me. The red key "structure" is a must-see. The Annoying Steps(tm) maybe also. OTOH there are many completely bland-looking areas, a dark corridor with demons and spectres, the wooden section w/berserk and more. About 80% of the monsters are demons/spectres and imps.

Another of Bob Evans's Marmite-like (love or hate them) WADs, laden with booby traps and infuriating switch puzzles. Its strength is gameplay; this is not a tourist attraction. Lighting is above par but not fussy. Texturing is competent apart from a dodgy ceiling change but also rather whimsical. I never found the blue key (or visited those areas) and had to use the map cheat to solve the red key puzzle, having failed to pick up an automap.

It was exciting. Every time I'd pick up a weapon or more ammo, a bunch of creatures would come out and I'd use up most of that ammo. The maze is solvable, but difficult.

cool