The /newstuff Chronicles #53

There are eight new WAD files brought to us this week, presented in our ever-so-consistent pamphlet worshipping the new things uploaded to CDROM.COM.

• Beat This by Mike Mulvaney - Six maps for Doom 2. Beware, this WAD contains thousands upon thousands of monsters. A different monster for each map. You'll be lucky if you can make it to the fourth level without your computer completely freezing up. That is, assuming you play with the IDDQD and IDFA cheat codes. There really is no other way to play it. Very simple designs, no detail. I'm not often critical of anything, but really, don't bother downloading this.
• Snipe - Paintball Arena by Radtard - One deathmatch map for Doom 2, a bit different from the rest. This is a "sniping range" taking place in a small, rectangular outdoor area. There are several walls put up around the map, with every weapon, each in its own alcove. You can duck behind these protective barriers and shoot other people from a relatively safe spot, but since the areas are so easy to access, unlike bases, it seems like the experience would degenerate into massive backstabbing and open artillery rather than a strategic "paintball" experience.
• Overload by Thomas Bringle - One single-player map for Doom 2. A rather large one. Not high on detail, but lots of dark areas and height variation, so you don't really notice the lack of eye candy. It's quite challenging, with weapons and ammo hard to find, enemies on your tail right at the start, and lots of medium-sized monsters. Some dark indoor areas, some bright outdoor areas. It has a somewhat interesting atmosphere. Enhanced DOOM port recommended.
• Guns PC by Espi - An interesting modification. Nine new weapons for Doom 2. Ranging from the knife to the big weird gimmicky guns that do strange things. A few automatic weapons, a flamethrower, and some weapons with colorful missiles, all packed together in one convenient WAD file. That about sums it up. Requires EDGE.
• Grail2 by Andy Mckie - Supposedly the sequel to the recently-released Grail1, this is a nicely done fortress-style map. It has a moat, a drawbridge, and your usual inner-castle stone content. This is mainly a deathmatch map, preferably for four or more players. It has a few monsters in there as well, so it can also make for a fairly easy single-player experience. And of course, it has underwater and room over room effects. Requires Doom Legacy.
• Nectarine DM by Sgt Crispy - One deathmatch map for Doom 2. This is pretty much your typical deathmatch map. Some nice detail. Not overboard, but it looks pleasant enough. It's a light brown brick map, sort of resembling a castle, sitting out on a large pool of water. It has some nice height variations, and lots of nooks and crannies. It seems best played with three to five players. There is also a "Fanatic" MIDI music replacement, which feels appropriate.
• Spud's Funky Doom Sounds by Sgt Crispy - One WAD for Doom 2, consisting of an assortment of 28 sound replacements. Mostly Adam Sandler and Monty Python sounds, although there are a few others. These sounds can be quite "harsh," so be warned.
• Force Kinzola 1 by Andy Mckie - One single-player / deathmatch map for Doom 2. This has a squarish space base theme. A relatively simple design with lots of tunnels and passageways leading to simple rooms. Lots of ammo is provided, so it's not a very difficult single-player map. It seems a bit too large and complicated for deathmatch, so it's a wonder what exactly would be done with this map. It has some texture replacements and  room-over-room effects. Requires Doom Legacy.