Wake up, take a leak and get some breakfast. Nothing out of the ordinary, it’s just a day like no other. This level guides you along a linear narrative presented using neat effects and rich design, starting off with an amusing introduction until something feels off…
As the captain of a cargo vessel, you are on a three month journey in charge of transporting dangerous aliens contained below deck. Before reaching its destination, you are awoken from cryosleep by the ship’s computer taking place at different times and presented with a new problem that only you can solve.
Like a love letter to QUAKE2 and named after an unofficial expansion pack, ZAERO takes all of its influences from the base game and designs a three level unit around ZDOOM features. Despite being labelled the first episode, two decades have gone by at the timing of writing and a sequel still hadn’t surfaced and therefore took interest revisiting one of the earliest wads I ever played to see how well it holds up.
Bored out of his mind after defeating the last alien invasion, Duke loiters around his motel room playing computer games and watching TV. An unexpected “Pizza Delivery!” with a gnarly growl soon turns into a failed assassination. Duke finds a note on the alien’s smoking corpse revealing they’re up to something else around these parts. Something… something… teleporter units. Better go check it out.
Alien forces have taken over “We Stor Your Crap” and someone needs to take them down to secure future enterprises! Duke is perfect for the job and accepts it without any complaints, any excuse to kick around some alien scum.
Duke has been taken captive and imprisoned by the aliens, now his only goal is to escape from his cell and find a way out the prison complex. Simple enough. Maybe blast a few aliens along the way for good measure! JAILBIRD is a classic oldie and was Page’s first release, which later received a small update on June 22nd 1997 under the title JAILBIRD2 making minor tweaks but is essentially the same level.
Recreations of levels from other games are a common staple across modding, either a nostalgic one to one replica or an undercooked transition. On occasions some of them do stand out from the crowd, such as this little curiosity I came across while browsing DoomWadStation. Created by the same author who released Crimson Canyon, the first level from DUKE3D has been reimagined within the constraints of DOOM’s engine.
Having saved the earth from numerous threats, it’s about time Duke gets treated to an all-expenses paid vacation. EDF, known to cut corners, sends him to the most exotic paradise that $125 can buy. What neither of them realise is the hotel was built on top of a dormant volcano. After only a couple of days drinking himself into a stupor, an earthquake hits jolting him out of bed. Looks like the volcano just woke up…
Duke regains consciousness, head pounding after taking a heavy blow as he surveys his whereabouts. Bullet holes riddle the walls and beneath him, a motionless body lies in a pool of blood. Framed for the murder of an EDF General, Duke is now on the run as SWAT bash at the door. The EDF storm the streets in a furious attempt to track and take down the fugitive saviour of mankind.
You’ve been sent in to finish up where Fly Taggert last left off, to clean up any remaining demons that could still be running around the base freely. Apparently there is a secret underground community leading to the anomaly. Kill all remaining monsters in the tunnel, leave no survivors, take no prisoners. THEPATH is a single level taking the MAP07 slot.