Nessus (Master Levels): Max Secrets via Save-Load exploit
44Shows a method to get credit for discovering the 'impossible' Secret on the PC Master Levels map Nessus (replacing Doom II's Dead Simple map) when playing at Skill level 4 or 5.
This was done by enlisting the help of an Arch-Vile (which only appears on this map at higher Skill levels), and then exploiting a particular save-state bug: If a game in progress is saved while the player character is standing more than 50% over the edge of a platform, the character can fall through that platform to a lower surface when the game is loaded again. (For another example of that bug, see https://youtu.be/5SzLV9cvyBM .)
In this video a late-game save file is loaded, where an Arch-Vile has been lured to the middle of the northern end of the large central building, and the player is standing in front of a panel at the north edge of the map. This panel hides a waist-high chamber recessed into the wall, with a BFG 9000 inside. The level's only score-affecting Secret area is actually just a narrow strip of floorspace in front of this chamber, beneath the bottom edge of the panel.
The view is switched to the Automap screen, which zooms in on the player's location and the unopened chamber. The nearby Arch-Vile is awakened, and it begins to attack just prior to the panel being opened. Moving toward the chamber as the attack is completed, the player is propelled inside by the blast, and then maneuvers to stand partially over the raised edge of the chamber. At this point the save-load exploit is employed to get credit for discovering the secret. Note that when the game is loaded again, the player character is actually stuck partway inside the lower section of the chamber, but is released when the panel closes.
Note that in order to be propelled into the chamber, you'll need to be moving towards it just as the Arch-Vile's attack completes. Also, take care to not get locked in the chamber, as the panel will automatically close after a few moments, and it can only be opened from the outside.
This trick works in the original retail PC version under DOS, and also in some modern console ports, including the 2019 releases of Doom II on PS4 and Xbox One.
Background info on the problem with the Secret area on the Nessus map:
In PC Doom II (and fully accurate ports of the game), all score-affecting secret areas are specially-flagged horizontal surfaces of varying sizes and shapes. In order for a player to get credit for discovering a given Secret, the lower tip of the player character's vertical axis must make contact with that surface.
On the Nessus map, a Secret score of 0% is the typical maximum, because the player character bumps into the waist-high lower section the chamber before the character's axis can make contact with the thin strip of floorspace in front of it.
A common solution for getting a 100% score in the original retail PC version was to momentarily use the game's 'walk-through-walls' cheat code. This would allow the character to step partially into the solid lower part of the chamber, letting the axis trigger the secrets-found counter. (For more about cheats in classic Doom games, access https://classicdoom.com/doomcode.htm .)
To view a map that shows the score-affecting secret on this level, access https://classicdoom.com/maps/mlsecs/ness-z.htm
For a video showing how to reach this part of the level, see https://youtu.be/gw7eIEjsw4Q
This video is part of the ClassicDOOM 'Master Levels solutions' playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL866411DFBA60B450
See also the 'UV-Max combat' playlist for UV playthroughs of every level:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD961A52F665000DB
#masterlevels #doom2 #classicdoom #doomii #nessus
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