STRAIN - Map 06: Launch Control (UVMax 9:17)

Channel:

Devour Inc 2

Subscribers:

197

Published on July 30, 2023 9:00:08 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO0G71A2wWA

Game:

Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)

Duration: 9:22

74 views

1

Source Port: GzDoom
UVMax, Pistol Start, No Saves
SoundFont Combo by @GoranObal
Executable file of the SoundFont Cover:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tQjG6yd0jVRGqqunXics7tUxxT9vPAJo?usp=sharing
ZDoom Hud addon: https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=60356
Doom II Minor Sprite Fixing Project: https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/graphics/sprfix20
STRAIN on idgames: https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/megawads/strain
Map Author: Jon Landis
Song Name: Simple Solutions (Mark Klem)
Difficulty: 4
Design: 6.5

STRAIN keeps getting better, and I have a feeling this is just a glimpse at what's to come and I am in for a ride. This is already one of the best maps I've ever played. I compare it to The Reactor from Requiem in many ways. It has very interesting usage of tunnels and verticality. It has a consistent and distinct style. And both surprised me with midis that I recognize from Sunder and didn't now they originate here. I heavily associate Simple Solutions with Archives of the Technomancer, but it was a treat to hear it hear. I want to say I am surprised it came from such humble beginnings, but I am impressed heavily with this map on its own. It is not perfect, some things are a little cryptic and arbitrary, and the hallways with the fins around the perimeter are really annoying to walk through and get caught on. I almost said the 2 areas with the 4 teleporters and switches and imp waves are repetitive, which they are, but they never stopped being fun for me so I can't actually say anything bad about them. It is strange to reuse a set piece so directly like that, but I guess the first one trains the player on how to handle it for later when its more crowded.
This map introduced another new enemy, which I already love. Its called a holobot, its that wheel shaped drone that fires slow revenant missiles. I like them for several reasons. First, I love the design, I think they have the same mix of cool and cute that the cacodemon has, but I love the sounds it makes even more, the random assortment of whirs and beeps cracks me up. Second, they die to one SSG blast and it is very satisfying. Third, I think they have lots of potential for interesting combat, since they are very easy to make infight, and the slow homing rockets I think are actually more difficult to get rid of since they have more time to react to your movements. I am looking forward to see what encounters are made with them.
Finally, I also noticed that the 2 types of imps can infight with each other, so big mixed crowds of them naturally rip each other apart.

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