Danimetal
November 12th, 2005, 09:24 AM
Hello and welcome to our second issue!. This issue bears the number 0, as if it was the beginning of everything and, in a sense, it is. Since our previous issue we have become a hosted project for NewDoom.com, integrating this reviews service in the NewDoom community... From now on, you will be able to get the latest reviews at "http://reviews.newdoom.com" in a weekly basis. All that it´s left is that you, people, read and participate in our forums with your opinions on the reviews, the format and, of course, the wads themselves!.
This week our team is offering 7 reviews. 5 from "Newstuff", one submitted by the community and other chosen by one of our reviewers. If you think this is not a lot, please, take a look at the "Coming soon" thread and add those wads that we just left this week. If you think it´s enough, you´re probably right ;).
On a side note, you may know that a member of our team, CrashOverRide, has been banned from this forums. Well, Fatal and I have discussed about this and have decided that the banning has no impact on our relationship, thus, he will stay on the team.
As in the previous issue you have the summaries of the reviews on this thread. Click on the name of each wad to go to the actual review and see everything that they offer. Then come back to our discussing thread and talk about it.
Finally don´t forget that you could do this too: our team is open to new members so read the "Recruting" part on this forums if you´re interested :).
* * * * *
In case you just want to go through the whole reviews go here (http://reviews.newdoom.com/). Otherwise you have summaries for each review below. You can read the reviews you´re interested in by clicking on the Name of the wad.
Palace of the Beast (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Palace_of_the_beast.) by Thrain Shadbolt. For Doom2.exe. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/p-r/palace.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 7
One of the sweetest 1994 wads I´ve played lately. Though it doesn´t start as if it´s going to be great, soon it combines the exact amount of difficulty with great puzzles, nice architecture and a layout pretty much rivaling what its seen in the original Doom. If you seriously don´t mind playing the original Doom levels you shouldn´t mind playing this one and will have a lot of fun with it.
Hangar 27 (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Hangar_27) by Dutch Devil. For ZDoom. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/g-i/hangar27.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 6.
A small wad that closely and intendedly resembles to E1M1 with the amount of detail needed so it feels good and not overdone. Being a small run and a small play you won´t regret using some of your minutes playing through it to get the 100% but after doing that you´ll be waiting for more or just forgetting it since it´s small size seems like it´s biggest flaw.
Space (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Space) by Unknown for Doom.exe. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/s-u/space.txt)
Reviewed by CrashOverRide. Score: 5.5
Nice layout is key to this level, as it places most key doom elements in a bit above par fashion. Yes, there is a bug here and there.....but hopefully nothing that will keep a serious doomer from playing if they remember to save at the right moments, and keep health at hand.
Last Mission (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Last_Mission) by Mark A. Pullen (A.k.a Fanatic) For Doom2.exe.Single Player only. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/j-l/lastmisn.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 7.
An original wad intended to be a challenge for the most hardened out there... Either to be seen as original or as another shooting gallery wad, provided a nice amount of fun while it lasted and I found it to fulfill with no problem it´s own mission: to entertain. Visuals and theme weren´t precisely out of place but gameplay was a little out of reach for beginners. Give it a try if you want to show what you can do or secretly test what you´re able to achieve.
Thy Infernal (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Thy_Infernal.) by Algeroth. For Limit removing port. Single Player. One single map (E3M3).
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/Ports/s-u/thyinf.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 3.
First wad from the author, features a standard Doom gameplay reminiscent of Doom´s third episode with some switch hunting, lots of secrets and small interesting touches that are spolied by several flaws in design itself. Still, it doesn´t suffer from any of the common build problems from new authors and shows a considerable knowledge of the engine that may bring interesting wads in the future. It´s strongest bet is on it´s non-linearity and on frequent backtracking. It´s strongest design flaw is the very same so finding anything interesting on this wads entirely depends on you.
Mine Shaft (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#MINE_SHAFT_) by Marc A. Pelletier for Doom2.exe, Single Player, Cooperative and Deathmatch. Maps 01-02
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/s-u/shaft.txt)
Reviewed by Vermil.
According to the read me this is an authors first publicly released wad, from early 95. Shaft consists of 2 small maps (that could have easily been combined into one) with an underground theme and an underground lair (those demons and their secret underground lairs!) respectively.
OMG!!! NOT Another Map By PuMpKiNsMaShEr (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#OMG_NOT_Another_Map_By_PuMpKiNsMaShEr) by PumpkinSmasher for Boom Compatible. Single player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/m-o/omgpump.txt)
Reviewed by CrashOverRide. Score: 7.5
This level has so many things going for it, I don't know where to begin. Seriously though, one of my scant complaints about it would be that there wasn't any more of it when all was said and done.
This week our team is offering 7 reviews. 5 from "Newstuff", one submitted by the community and other chosen by one of our reviewers. If you think this is not a lot, please, take a look at the "Coming soon" thread and add those wads that we just left this week. If you think it´s enough, you´re probably right ;).
On a side note, you may know that a member of our team, CrashOverRide, has been banned from this forums. Well, Fatal and I have discussed about this and have decided that the banning has no impact on our relationship, thus, he will stay on the team.
As in the previous issue you have the summaries of the reviews on this thread. Click on the name of each wad to go to the actual review and see everything that they offer. Then come back to our discussing thread and talk about it.
Finally don´t forget that you could do this too: our team is open to new members so read the "Recruting" part on this forums if you´re interested :).
* * * * *
In case you just want to go through the whole reviews go here (http://reviews.newdoom.com/). Otherwise you have summaries for each review below. You can read the reviews you´re interested in by clicking on the Name of the wad.
Palace of the Beast (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Palace_of_the_beast.) by Thrain Shadbolt. For Doom2.exe. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/p-r/palace.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 7
One of the sweetest 1994 wads I´ve played lately. Though it doesn´t start as if it´s going to be great, soon it combines the exact amount of difficulty with great puzzles, nice architecture and a layout pretty much rivaling what its seen in the original Doom. If you seriously don´t mind playing the original Doom levels you shouldn´t mind playing this one and will have a lot of fun with it.
Hangar 27 (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Hangar_27) by Dutch Devil. For ZDoom. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/g-i/hangar27.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 6.
A small wad that closely and intendedly resembles to E1M1 with the amount of detail needed so it feels good and not overdone. Being a small run and a small play you won´t regret using some of your minutes playing through it to get the 100% but after doing that you´ll be waiting for more or just forgetting it since it´s small size seems like it´s biggest flaw.
Space (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Space) by Unknown for Doom.exe. Single Player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/s-u/space.txt)
Reviewed by CrashOverRide. Score: 5.5
Nice layout is key to this level, as it places most key doom elements in a bit above par fashion. Yes, there is a bug here and there.....but hopefully nothing that will keep a serious doomer from playing if they remember to save at the right moments, and keep health at hand.
Last Mission (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Last_Mission) by Mark A. Pullen (A.k.a Fanatic) For Doom2.exe.Single Player only. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/j-l/lastmisn.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 7.
An original wad intended to be a challenge for the most hardened out there... Either to be seen as original or as another shooting gallery wad, provided a nice amount of fun while it lasted and I found it to fulfill with no problem it´s own mission: to entertain. Visuals and theme weren´t precisely out of place but gameplay was a little out of reach for beginners. Give it a try if you want to show what you can do or secretly test what you´re able to achieve.
Thy Infernal (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#Thy_Infernal.) by Algeroth. For Limit removing port. Single Player. One single map (E3M3).
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom/Ports/s-u/thyinf.txt)
Reviewed by Danimetal. Score: 3.
First wad from the author, features a standard Doom gameplay reminiscent of Doom´s third episode with some switch hunting, lots of secrets and small interesting touches that are spolied by several flaws in design itself. Still, it doesn´t suffer from any of the common build problems from new authors and shows a considerable knowledge of the engine that may bring interesting wads in the future. It´s strongest bet is on it´s non-linearity and on frequent backtracking. It´s strongest design flaw is the very same so finding anything interesting on this wads entirely depends on you.
Mine Shaft (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#MINE_SHAFT_) by Marc A. Pelletier for Doom2.exe, Single Player, Cooperative and Deathmatch. Maps 01-02
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/s-u/shaft.txt)
Reviewed by Vermil.
According to the read me this is an authors first publicly released wad, from early 95. Shaft consists of 2 small maps (that could have easily been combined into one) with an underground theme and an underground lair (those demons and their secret underground lairs!) respectively.
OMG!!! NOT Another Map By PuMpKiNsMaShEr (http://reviews.newdoom.com/#OMG_NOT_Another_Map_By_PuMpKiNsMaShEr) by PumpkinSmasher for Boom Compatible. Single player. 1 map.
[txt] (ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/pc/games/idgames/levels/doom2/Ports/m-o/omgpump.txt)
Reviewed by CrashOverRide. Score: 7.5
This level has so many things going for it, I don't know where to begin. Seriously though, one of my scant complaints about it would be that there wasn't any more of it when all was said and done.