NewDoom Wad Review #17 (05.30.08)

[AlysiumX]

There hasn't been any post here for quite some time apparently, so I figured it was time for a new newdoom wad reviews issue. This time around its Aberration Caves, Go Forth And Die , TGRDM2, and an awesome new mod called Zportal(based on valve's portal).

You may have notice that the reviews are a lot shorter, I decided to do this mainly because you can get scores on a level or mod faster and its quicker to review meaning you will get more reviews for more levels in a shorter time frame.

So without further adieu here is NDR Issue 17 :

Aberration Cave by Kenny "KennyJC" Coughlan For Zdoom
Singleplayer, coop, 1 map.
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Aberration Caves is a quake themed map by Kenny "KennyJC" Coughlan. Its layed
out pretty well, quake texture are used nicely and certain lighting effects make the
level stand out. The gameplay however I find to be more of a downfall, it tends to be
very difficult due to the amount and placement of monsters. I caught myself using
quicksave often, not knowing where I was going to die next. The idea for the last fight
was good in thoery till you take splash damage into account, then you start to relize it
seems about impossible. Luckly I found that if you just land on the bloody floor in the
same room you can shoot the cybie from there unfortunately it also definately made
the fight a lot less challenging. I would still say this is worth a play through tho
especially if you like a challenge.

This level earns a 3 out of 5. While design is good, its just a bit too difficult and has
some gameplay holes.

Download

Go Forth And Die by thug555666. For Doom2.exe
Singleplayer, coop, 1 map.
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Go Forth And Die is a map by thug555666. Layout is a bit different but still not too
amazing. I would also say there not much variation in the textures. Nothing really
stands out to me on gameplay, alot of this map seems have very low light levels
making you stumble through the dark to figure out what to do next(where my d3
flashlight?).Gameplay also seems to make some unwise choices such as throwing you
in the middle a maze with 4 archviles and a rocket launcher while playing with pitch black lighting.

This level earns a 2 out of 5. Layout is very simplistic and while it tries to introduce
new ideas it just doesn't seem to present it too well.

Download

TGRDM2 by Nicholas "Tiger" Gautier. For Skulltag
Deathmatch, 1 map.
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TGRDM2 is a deathmatch map by Nicholas "Tiger" Gautier. This deathmatch map
features a small layout consisting of pretty much 1 main room with small hallways.
You can kind of figure that the game play will get old pretty quick being that you
don't have much area to explore. Certain elements also really dont make since to me
such as why the bfg10k is so easy to get and why the railgun is so rewarding. I must
admit though one thing I had a lot of fun doing was getting the berserk from the exit
and plowing through people in those small hallways(make for a little bit of fun).

Over all this level earns a 2 out of 5. While not lacking in playability, it feels like it still
just doesnt have enough to justify it a dm level.

Download

And I have saved the best for last.

Zportal by CutManMike. For GzDoom 1.1.04 only
Singleplayer 6 map-hub.
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Zportal is a Gzdoom Modification by CutmanMike zportal might as well be a different
game altogether, as with valves portal zportal involves a different type of gameplay
altogether. The main game play element(incase youve been living under a rock) is
the portal gun(in zportal's case portal guns) which fires both a entrance and target
portal for players to interact with. Cutman's zportal level design isn't very detailed,
however its gameplay more than makes up for that. You are faced with tons of
different portal puzzles using a total of 3 portal guns(for those keeping score thats
two more than vavle's portal) . Puzzles are so fun and challenging that you could very
well spend hours doing them and not really notice your even doing it. Though very
fun to play portal is definately not without its flaws, one flaw you will find haunting
you till the very end is the dreaded sprite cliping flaw A.K.A. I didn't fire the portal
there, but you put it there anyway. One other gameplay element that kind of
bothered me was the parts where the lighting was pretty much non-existant, though
once I turned up my contrast it wasn't quite as bad. Dispite minor flaws I would
definately recommend this wad to any one that is a little tired of the standard doom
gameplay.

This mod earns a stunning 4.5 out of 5 This is a very fun mod to play, though the
sprite cliping glitch can really work your nerves.

Download

[D.etews]

Hardly You rock, dude

And to all those who would be so kind as to post here, I thank you in behalf of all FOT mappers in advance

Now go get playin so you can get postin