Most visually pleasing wads

The kind of wads I seem to enjoy playing the most are single player wads (which can include hubs, TC's, multi-level wads, Mega Wads and giant single level maps) that have very interesting architecture, textures and lighting. Great gameplay is fun too, of course, but I think really interesting level design gives me the most kicks. What wads (preferably Zdoom but doesn't have to be) do you find most fun in this regard?

* Temple of the Ancients (TEMPLE.wad) is a good WAD that has several different styles to it combined into a hub, and I like the architecture in it.
* A Hex On You (HEX_ON_U.wad), by the same author, is also quite good, and has a pseudo-Hexen 2 style to it.
* Equinox is probably the best-looking tech base wad I've ever seen.
* Pleiades (the entire collection) by Roger Ritenour is the ultimate in space station style wads, and it also includes a few planet-based levels.

I tried Equinox, but it annoyed me to no end. I dunno why it made the Top Ten in the Best Wads thing on Doomworld. I mean, there's some interesting architecture here and there, but mostly it's big, vague, open areas and a enemy to ammo ratio that is totally unrealstic in later levels.

For such wads, use jDoom or ZDoomGL. The graphics in those ports are awesome (but it costs speed).

GoatLord said:

I tried Equinox, but it annoyed me to no end. I dunno why it made the Top Ten in the Best Wads thing on Doomworld. I mean, there's some interesting architecture here and there, but mostly it's big, vague, open areas and a enemy to ammo ratio that is totally unrealstic in later levels.

Yeah, seconded. I played it a while and get bored early.

I agree that it is a little boring, but in the last few levels it gets better. Also I don't think it was one of the top ten wads.

I think Marc Pullen's (Fanatic's) castle is the most beatiful wad up to date.

http://www2.fanaticalproductions.net:8080/download.htm?mapId=2

You might also check out map20 of Alien Vendetta-also beatiful.
http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=11790

I also fancy Chris Hansen's Flay The Obscene series.
http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=11097

BPRD's Grove is simply gorgeus as well, altough very system-taxing.
http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=12430
Here's a less system-tiring version:
http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=12453

RTC 3057 Hb 01 has fascinating sci-fi architecture:
http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/index.php?id=12747

Vegeta said:

Yeah, seconded. I played it a while and get bored early.

yeah me too actually :S

When I first played Memento Mori 2, I was very impressed with the architecture of levels 27 and 28.

But of course that was in 1996...

Theres one wad i found to be rather unique in its architecture called "trinity2"
http://www.gamers.org/dhs/depot/trinity2.zip

Based off of trinity college up in cambridge.

Deus Vult anyone?

http://www.doomworld.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25614

Pure Hellspawn said:

For such wads, use jDoom or ZDoomGL. The graphics in those ports are awesome (but it costs speed).

I don't find JDoom or ZDoomGL to be that pretty at all. I prefer the old-school look, unfiltered graphics, 8-bit palette, etc.

zarkyb said:

I don't find JDoom or ZDoomGL to be that pretty at all. I prefer the old-school look, unfiltered graphics, 8-bit palette, etc.

I second that.

e6y.wad and odam.wad <3

Infinite Ammunition said:

odam.wad <3

Yay. ^_^

Dark Covenant map07 really impressed me back in the day as it has very nice architecture and it was the first pwad I ever played. Modern day? Vrack3 and Phobia.

Joe Christ said:

I second that.

Texture filtering and anti-aliasing (I don't know if that is a feature in GL versions of Doom...) look good on 16 or 32-bit palettes, but when it comes to VGA graphics I like the pixilated look as well.