The /newstuff Chronicles #215

[The Ultimate DooMer]

It seems like ages since I've done this, and that's because it is. Anyway, 19 maps are here (many of them showing up late) and it's mostly a classic arrangement with one or two modern twists. Plus a few Heretic maps (!) and a couple of non-map wads. Off you go:

• Boring Doom by B.P.R.D
  49kb - doom2.exe - SP - (img)
  2 maps, identical except for texturing. Consisting of 4 identical sections with identical items and monsters, the title seems rather justified (although that was probably the idea).
  
  
• Jester's Enigma by Too Dice
  38kb - doom2.exe - SP - (img)
  A small map with a medieval stone/brick outdoor theme. Detail is a mixture of bare passages and nice outdoor areas. Gameplay is reasonably hard, with some dark battles early on and a very tricky fight around a key involving some archviles. This unfortunately leaves you short of ammo for the fights afterwards, and the general lack of health might annoy, too. Still, it makes a challenge for those want them.
  
  
• MK (1) by Matej Kurpel
  18kb - heretic.exe - DM - (img)
  The first of 3 deathmatch maps for Heretic, this one has a couple of yellow stone rooms with a dock at one end and a lava river at the other. There are also a couple of passages and smaller areas, too. Detail is quite basic, although scenery things help improve the looks. All the weapons are down, along with some badly-placed powerups (one in an impossible-to-reach area, the rest in one big hidden stash). The areas are quite open, so expect some fast battles with unfamiliar (ie. Heretic) weapons. Probably best suited to FFA (free-for-all) battles.
  
  
• MK (2) by Matej Kurpel
  53kb - heretic.exe - DM - (img)
  A deathmatch map that is really a single player map with no keys. It contains nearly every theme going, and looks like a patchwork quilt as a result. Detail is low again, but the texturing and the scenery help with the looks (or perhaps it's just me because I like Heretic a lot). There's plenty of weapons, ammo and powerups so you won't go without, and as a single-player map it's not bad for monsters.
  
  
• MK (3) by Matej Kurpel
  44kb - heretic.exe - DM - (img)
  Back to more traditional deathmatch for this 3rd map, we find ourselves in a somewhat larger map. Detail is slightly better here thanks to more variety in architecture, but still low. The layout is quite reasonable too, although a low-turnout fight will be a hunting expedition, so a large number of players is recommended. There's all the weapons and plenty of stuff to help you out, but there are some ridiculous stashes of powerups hidden away, too. Still, it should be a good high-turnout fantasy fragfest.
  
  
• Just Another Day.. by RCM-WP
  376kb - Legacy - SP - (img)
  An intricate and at many times dark Legacy map. There's a small amount of dialogue and one or two 'tasks' (if you like), but really you just get on with it. Detail is both intricate and impressive, (particularly on a small scale with office equipment and also on a large scale with the mines) although some areas are a little bare. Legacy's 3D floors are used to great effect, and there's some water zones and a cool red fog effect outside. Because the map uses Fragglescript, it's no surprise there's a crash or two, but focused around the red and blue underwater areas. The darkness can also be a pain in places, notably in one of the secrets (which is a room with a blue pool that you can't enter). Still, the gameplay is interesting in places and fairly challenging too. It's definitely worth a look, even if it is just for the looks.
  
  
• Jalla10 by Ivar Remøy (jallamann)
  13kb - ZDoom - DM - (img)
  A small, dark sewer map. In fact it's nearly all dark, so it should be interesting to play on (although the inclusion of a secret lite-amp is perhaps a tad unfair). All non-plasma weapons are present plus a small amount of health and helmets. Suited to low-turnout games only.
  
  
• Low Tech Weapons by Captain Red
  1012kb - ZDoom - n/a -
  A full set of weapons that are all not-that-dependent on technology (apart from the flamethrower). The animations are rather good, and there's a funky crossbow that throws dynamite and even a nifty sniper rifle that lets you aim (with a scope) while the fire button is held down (release to fire).
  
  
• Chainmill by Samuel Villarreal (Kaiser)
  1200kb - Boom port - SP - (img)
  A brick/wood/metal map inspired by Plutonia map 15. It has a similar starting area and all the little twists and turns, plus a look-alike exit room too. Detail is impressive, with plenty of lighting and other nice effects to really make the theme work. Gameplay is tough as you'd expect, but not up to Plutonia standards. There's too many chaingunners, hardly any revenants and no archviles. Plus there's one point near the start where you might get stuck (if this happens, go to the room with the 4 green lifts and noclip past the fake switch at the end to the yellow key). Ammo isn't a problem, but health will be due to the high chaingun count. It's fun though, and has a cool tune too (strangely unaffected by the volume control in ZDoom). Recommended.
  
  
• MK-noname by Matej Kurpel
  102kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A DooM 1 map that is, frankly, a bit of a mess. The layout is all disjointed (being linked by teleporters which are a bit confusing), the detail is minimal, the weapon/ammo/health balance is non-existent (ie. infinite amounts of them all) and there isn't any challenge from the monsters. The only thing it has got going for it is the classic-style atmosphere (so avoid it unless you like that).
  
  
• Nuke Processing Facility by Jimi
  23kb - Boom port - DM - (img)
  The second dark sewer deathmatch this week, although this map is somewhat bigger and contains all the weapons. Detail is pretty good, and has a lot of flashing lights which will doubtless play a part here. It does contain a far-too-powerful secret, but on the whole it's quite good and will suit medium-turnout battles best.
  
  
• Nuke Sewer by Jimi
  38kb - doom2.exe - SP - (img)
  A 10 sectors map that is set in a sewer. Detail is surprisingly good for the sector count, but like in his CC2 map the author doesn't seem to understand the concept of pistol-start gameplay (ie. there's far too many tough monsters early on with no means of killing or surviving against them). Ammo is fine once you get the ssg, but there's still no health apart from one or two items later on (there's also some really bad monster placement at the end). This map would've been great with a proper health/ammo balance, but in its current form it's unplayable.
  
  
• BOH by Pablo Perkins and Maverick
  25kb - ZDoom - DM - (img)
  A tiny but well-detailed deathmatch map from the ZDaemon clan of the same name. It has ssg, chaingun and rockets, plus some health. The map is built around an open arena with the weapons on overlooking passages. Fast, but only suitable for 1-on-1 play, really.
  
  
• [MKDooM]: CRINGE! by Mark Klem
  1300kb - doom2.exe - n/a -
  The first of a number of old doom wads appearing in the archives for the first time, this is a graphics wad that replaces some of the weapons and monsters with new bloodier versions.
  
  
• The Pfander Annihilation Level by Tom Boyles
  138kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A small-ish E2M2 that is mainly green marble. It has plenty of height changes and one or two tech rooms, but there's not much to look at. Gameplay isn't too hard either, so once again it's for the classic fans only.
  
  
• Watch Yer Back! by Tom Boyles
  26kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A small E2M1 that comprises of inter-connecting rooms and stairs. There's little detail, but the pace is reasonable due to traps opening a lot. (in front too, so you have to watch your front as well as your back)
  
  
• Escape From Wolfenstein by Tom Boyles
  39kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A small-ish E1M5 that actually goes quite well with it's slot. It's dark and creepy for the most part, although a maze with running monsters would've been the icing on the cake here. There's no real ammo or health problems, although playing with -fast should help create a challenge for the spook-seekers here. Play with the default tune for that creepy feeling and it's certainly worth a look.
  
  
• Force Your Way Through by Tom Boyles
  59kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A medium E2M3 that is very much in the same style as the map above, except for a few larger areas and a lot more monsters. There's an awful lot of areas you don't need to visit, but you generally progress in one direction towards the exit (which doesn't work btw). There's too much ammo and it's not altogether that difficult, but reasonably fun.
  
  
• LOOK OUT! by Tom Boyles
  57kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  A medium E2M4. It's a green marble affair with some lighting effects and a little bit more in the challenge department. It still has the same style as the other maps though, although not many unneccesary areas this time. If you like classic wads you should enjoy all of these, but I don't know about the rest of you.
  
  
• THE KEEP by "X" AND YOSHIAKA
  61kb - doom.exe - SP - (img)
  And now for something completely different...a classic wad entirely based on puzzles and skill tests. In fact I remember this wad because the authors offered a reward if you managed to beat it (heh). Devious puzzles, cunning traps and tests of skill and evasion (and of course patience) all await in this large-ish E2M1, and will almost certainly not be to many people's liking. There is some action, but it is pretty difficult. Some of the puzzles can be worked out, others are pretty obscure. The skill tests usually involve crushers or monsters. It's certainly unique, and definitely worth checking out if you're into puzzles, but not without a public health warning.
  
  
• Untitled #2 by Samuel 'Kaiser' Villarreal
  571kb - ZDoom - SP - (img)
  Another good-looking map from an author who has a habit of doing that. Brown-tech is the theme this time, and it's all new textures apart from the odd one here and there. It all looks and feels great, but sadly there's nothing in the gameplay. The opposition is all zombies and demons, with some secrets that leave you with more health than you can handle. Still, it's worth checking out, and you can always put -fast on.
  
  

[Darkman 4]

FP!

Yay for Heretic DM maps!

[m0l0t0v]

sp!
Never been so close to a fp :-)

Nice reviews, short... I like that!

[Nmn]

TP

Kaiser's maps are my choice and BPRD's map is a mystery-the guy has potential to make Equinox 2, why is he screwing making crap like that? :? Other than that-

who the fuck keeps uploading those old wads?

Seriously man, this isn't funny.

[TheDarkArchon]

4th post

A lot of heretic maps this week.

[TwinBeast]

Why my "Day in Hell" (hellcity.zip) map was not reviewed? Was thursday too late?

There was quite a bunch of health bottles in the Nuke Sewer tunnel going to the ssg... and a soul sphere near the end...

[Little Faith]

There's a 404 on the BOH screenshot.

[Lutrov71]

Bloodshedder said:
Nuke Sewer by Jimi
but like in his CC2 map the author doesn't seem to understand the concept of pistol-start gameplay (ie. there's far too many tough monsters early on with no means of killing or surviving against them).

What the hell, pistol start gameplay is fine in CC2 map22.

[TwinBeast]

(ie. there's far too many tough monsters early on with no means of killing or surviving against them)

If you just run forward a bit, then you'll get rocket launcher and there were couple shotgunners you could kill to get shotgun... I don't think they're too tough monsters to kill with a pistol. But you're absolutely right about the tough monster lurking around somewhere, it'll be a very quick battle against it with only a pistol(find some better hardware then ;).

[Udderdude]

It's offical .. Kaiser gets off to the thought of people being annoyed to death playing his maps. :B

[Bloodshedder]

Oops, I forgot to choose the proper updater on this one. Easily fixed...

[TwinBeast]

Jimi said:

Why my "Day in Hell" (hellcity.zip) map was not reviewed? Was thursday too late?

Eh? I want to know.

[Bloodshedder]

The Ultimate DooMer said in a SECRAT FORUM:
Sorry about the delay, but a bunch of wads turned up last night. I still had to leave 2 behind (hellcity and magewad), so could next week's reviewer take those, along with those uploaded today.

[TwinBeast]

Allright :) Thanks for the info.

[Foofoo]

Nmn said:

TP

Kaiser's maps are my choice and BPRD's map is a mystery-the guy has potential to make Equinox 2, why is he screwing making crap like that?

because making crap like that only takes an hour or two. easy.

[Use]

Nmn said:

TP

Kaiser's maps are my choice and BPRD's map is a mystery-the guy has potential to make Equinox 2, why is he screwing making crap like that? :?

Because he can. Who are you, the wad police?

[Foofoo]

*sirens*

oh shit they're coming this way!
/rolls my little crap wads into bread and eats them.

[Snarboo]

Foofoo said:

/rolls my little crap wads into bread and eats them.

Dude, that doesn't help! They'll just do a full body cavity search...

[Foofoo]

Snarboo said:

Dude, that doesn't help! They'll just do a full body cavity search...

well how do you think they got hold of Boring Doom? :(

[Nmn]

Use3D said:

Because he can. Who are you, the wad police?

Yes.

[Lutrov71]

Owned.