Somniac

Far from the sun, in the frozen expanse of the outer Solar System, the UAC conducts clandestine research on an ancient, icy planetoid. Something goes wrong. As the only survivor, you must escape. Your best chance of escape is to reach the shuttle bay, and pray that there's a ship there. If that fails, you'll have no choice but to go deeper into the facility and discover just what the UAC has been doing with its "research". A while ago I started working on some vanilla Ultimate Doom maps with a view to blend Scythe-like scale with more intense combat than KDITD, with a darker atmosphere like Doom 64 or Doom3. At the time I had been playing a lot of older Ultimate Doom WADs (Fava Beans, Classic Episode, CH Retro, stuff like that) and I wanted to do my own take on the E1 style with more of a dark sci-fi atmosphere within vanilla limits, using exclusively gloomy MIDIs to accomplish this. This isn't an overt E1 remake, but there is a definite influence in places. Indeed, its been called KDITD's "evil sibling". Why Ultimate Doom? I felt like challenging myself with the limited textures and enemies, and it felt like a natural fit for the concept. Plus, Ultimate Doom WADs are cool, right? The end result probably sits around E2/E3 in difficulty, and while the maps do get slightly bigger they stay fairly compact throughout. This is a WAD for people who want a fairly easygoing and classic Doom experience, with more modern design and a focus on atmosphere. Software renderer is recommended for ports. Screenshots: More screenshots: Map Format: Vanilla Ports Tested: doom.exe, Choco, Chocorenderlimits Replaces: Ultimate Doom E1M1-E1M9 Music: Yes Difficulty Settings: Yes (UV recommended, HMP is pretty similar) Build Time: around 3.5 months Textures: New sky (from Scythe X), some void textures, a slightly janky status bar Thanks to @DreadWanderer for the UMAPINFO fixes + help with issues affecting DSDA-Doom Widescreen status bar by @NightFright Map/MIDI list: Known bugs/ notes: DOWNLOAD Making this WAD has been an experience for sure. I set myself a goal and saw it through, and its been a rewarding process in spite of a few frustrations along the way. All the same, I'm proud of this and I hope you enjoy playing it!

Thanks for your feedback and glad you enjoyed the wad :) its never too late to update anything I guess, that was perhaps an oversight on my part (I'm a total nerd so I probably assumed everyone has "Kill all the Barons" tattooed on their brains like me).

Sorry, me again - the revised map I uploaded yesterday was a little buggy. This should be pretty much there, pending any feedback from playtesters. (tidied up the automap a bit, removed some 0-tag linedefs and put a bit of extra ammo around the map too)

Hello, in light of my map ending up as E2M4 I decided to expand it a touch, as it was it felt a bit too small for the slot. I decided to change the MIDI and name too (there's a new WILV graphic in the wad) - Download

Played the demo many years back. This is a pleasant surprise! Looking forward to this.

We weren't ready for Jazz From Hell and probably won't be for another hundred years.

This works fine for me on Crispy Doom just dragging the files (minus the -deh patch) onto the exe. Playthrough of MAP01-04: Its pretty good! Definitely has an air of 90s partial conversions and also reminds me of newer stuff like Rowdy Rudy. Some nice map geometry on display and solid MIDI choices. I noticed some misaligned textures, mainly switches. Would be cool to see mapper credits though! Will return to this soon.

Its a bit surreal to see Arrokoth on this list, there's been so many impressive wads this year across a huge range of styles, and there are loads I still need to check out. Thanks for the mention!

Moar vanilla Doom II, MAP03: Current plan is a 6-map episode, depending how long it takes me to run out of ideas :p

Looks really awkward and not very fun to me. I could almost picture a point-and-click running in this way, but it would still feel a bit wrong.

I assume their idea is basically "make it annoying enough that people buy premium to escape the nightmare", and its probably working.

Some highlights in rough order: Iron Maiden 2006 Peter Gabriel 2007 The Police 2007 (last UK reunion show) Cynic 2007 Nile, Napalm Death, Nocturnus 2008 Jesu 2009 Killing Joke 2009, 2017 Katatonia 2009 The Sisters of Mercy 2009, 2017, 2021 Gorguts 2012 Enslaved 2012 Meshuggah 2014 Peter Hook & The Light 2022

I finally got around to giving this a try and damn, killer set of maps that deserves more attention IMO. I loved the day/night transition, the music and atmosphere are super moody and the combat maintains a consistent level of spiciness. A highlight of what I've played this year for sure.

I've given up on the majority of social media a long time ago and I encourage others to do the same. Shits too much like a second job that you don't get paid for.

I'm hoping someone starts a "TNTINO" or "PLUTINO", they're cool acronyms and I think they'd work quite well. Interesting to know there is a potential D2TWID-LE out there! I'm sure I'm not the only person that would jump all over that, I loved the first one.

Almost every map I make these days seems to be some kind of techbase or industrial looking thing with rocky outdoor areas, which works easily with a variety of visual themes and fits the kind of brutalist looking architecture I enjoy making. Its become my go-to approach. Its working pretty well for me so far in that I'm more easily confident in that style, but I do want to try some other themes again. Plus, switching things up can be a fun challenge.

Imagine being that much of an uncultured swine that you don't know an Evil Dead quote when you hear it.

Seconding the above comment, I'm up to MAP05 or 06 and this is just as much a banger as Glaive III, though this wins out by a hair for me for the nocturnal setting and great use of lighting.

The quiet parts of Winter's Fury, where there's a stillness to everything, big intimidating looking buildings and icy peaks in the distance, and an unending grey sky. It felt strangely relaxing but with an air of unease. I haven't played it in years, but those moments are the ones that stick in my memory.

I use DX-Rebirth whenever I want to play Descent and that's a good one.

Fixed a couple of a misaligned textures in my map and removed a door I changed my mind about :p

Is it happening? Will the dream finally come true? I choose to believe!

Yes, but thinking back it tends to be more of a catharsis of externally driven emotions, rather than a direct emotional response to a specific map. There are exceptions, though. The first time I played Grove was at the tail end of a trip, and unless you've been in that state its hard to describe, but it was a very powerful experience. I do think the right map in the right circumstance can hit just as good as a song that tugs your heartstrings. Good art should make you feel stuff!

Nocturnal maps ftw, these are great!