the abandoned workshops

April 6, 2007 / Doom 2: Hell on Earth

Songs of the Damned

Author: Trevor Primmett Release Date: December 18th 2006

Gameplay
Another action packed level, which remains enjoyable from start to finish. Lots of enemies to fight against in this one at a controlled pace keeping a smooth flow. The surrounds are rather small at first with some smalls fights here and there, but once entering into the large outdoors many demons await. Many Imps are used throughout as long range snipers, throwing their fireballs everywhere you run causing you to keep on those toes without getting hit in the back, especially when in combat. They can be a pain, but easily avoided or shot down with the decent supply of ammo and health about. Large variety of enemies lurk, which keeps battles a little more consistant and different each time, plenty of small horde traps and some nice secrets to look out for. Main gameplay is the typical key and switch hunts, however the main twist is getting out of the large exterior locations and getting back to the area needed for the red key. Flow is down well and getting lost shouldn’t been too much of a problem, however possible. Good pace of giving weapons to the player, while others have to be obtained by different means, lots of armour and health bonus pickups around so the level of difficulty should also be consistant and fair.

April 6, 2007 / Doom 2: Hell on Earth

Beluga

Author: Didy Release Date: January 26th 2007

Gameplay
Balanced and enjoyable, medium lengthed map. Starts off by teleporting inside some facility and the rest is pretty much simple. Find keys and pressing switches and to find the exit of the map, while fighting off controlled amounts of enemies during combat. Plenty of action about, at a slow pace, with some nice variety between them adding in both lesser and tougher demons against you. Some of the fights can be quite tight, and a few were annoying in the dark but nothing too difficult to come across. Enough ammo and health supplies throughout the map, few weapons given to the player at a steady pace and some secret places worth looking for. Some switches were hard to find or notice at first in some areas, and may make it seem you’re lost from time to time as well. The wad includes a new music track, which fits the map and sounds rather nice.

April 5, 2007 / Doom 2: Hell on Earth

Genesis of Descent

Author: Hobomaster22 Release Date: March 27th 2007

Gameplay
You’ll find yourself in combat throughout a majority of this wad against small packs and large hordes. Large exterior and interior locations will hold those large battles, while corridors and other small locations won’t come as tough. Although there is plenty of action about and a nice balance of flow, unfortunatly the supplies can lack here and there when needed, but health wasn’t a problem. It could have been me not being careful at some stage in the map, but I couldn’t find much when tracking backing either. Simple objectives to find keys and pressing switches, while being caught in enemy traps, respawns and other nice surprises and short cutscenes later. The wad is quite lengthy, but I found it extremely enjoyable although a bit annoyed with lack of ammo here and there.

April 5, 2007 / Duke Nukem 3D

Hidden Zone

Balanced yet simple gameplay with decent design throughout.

March 31, 2007 / Doom 2: Hell on Earth

Austerity – A Simplicity Tribute v2.0

Author: Daniel “Tormentor667? Gimmer Release Date: December 24th 2006

Gameplay
As expected, this one is challenging with a recognisable pattern of hordes and surprise attacks throughout each of the three maps in this release. As stated there will be many fights, either with a few small hordes or a large groups, they’re all varied with different enemy types mixed together. Enough room to manuever around wether you’re indoors or out, but it’s still possible to be cornered or get stabbed in the back if your not careful. Your barrel will always be smoking hot, every room and corner there will be some form of fight, or a respawn of enemies to lengthen the journey towards your exit. Ammo and other supplies are balanced quite well, but very easy to run out of in this wad if your not careful how many shells you’re firing or damage taken. Secrets are available rewarding some hard earned goodies worth looking for since they will prove useful during many areas. Typical objectives, where other than the battles you will travel from one point to the other collecting keys and backtracking to the required doors and repeated in each level.

March 28, 2007 / Doom 3

Shambler’s Castle Quake Mod

Author: Various Release Date: March 16th 2007

Gameplay
Very much like Quake, as intended from the team, however ofcourse with modern feel while playing. All the weapons and several enemies such as the Shrag, Fiend and Vore make an appearance within this short but sweet mission. Generally this one is challenging to a good point, considering it’s size so this keeps the length going at an enjoyable pace. The atmospheric hallways and rooms add tension as you explore, in fear of a fiend jumping out at you or a Vore’s attack catching you off guard. Enemies have been developed upon making them much more viscious, especially the Fiend as it will tear you up if cornered, add sense of fear torwards the enemies some games seem to lack. Elements are pretty much the same as seen in Quake, such as how the weapons and items rotate above the ground, the keys and some portals which keep the intended game atmosphere in there. Although short there is plenty to come across and try out all the good things from Quake in a more modern engine with plenty of new effects and a new music track to finish it all off, although it does get repeatitive.

March 25, 2007 / Half Life

Final Assult

It is rather just a waste of time bothering with this map, although playable to some extent.

March 24, 2007 / Blog

Themes

Some have probably noticed, when using either Sunset or Mystic themes, either the right or…

March 19, 2007 / Half Life

Idol Hunt

Enjoyable gameplay within well structured ruins, good design but lacks some form of variety in the last two maps.

March 10, 2007 / Prey

Lost City

Gameplay
Split into two small parts, your character arrives by car to a lost city and you take control soon after the introduction scene is over. Throughout the map you will come across areas that are meant to creep you out and possbly scare you in others with an interesting usage of the default sound effects and character models. Action is very light as there isn’t too many enemies to fight against with only a few weapons available to you. Ammo and health is existant and placed in reasonable locations, with a decent amount. Nothing really too difficult here, since a lot of enemies can be picked off by hiding around corners or above ledges making things a bit dull. Opening the doors was a nice touch as they didn’t automatically opened as you approached them, although minor it allowed the player to take their time to see which doors could be opened by themselves. The map is pretty much linear however, a few places to explore but no alternate paths keeping things too much straight forward.

the abandoned workshops Posts