I've decided to talk about some of the better third-party Doom II levels I've played. There are a TON of Doom II levels out there so I've narrowed it down to the levels that feel the most original to me. These aren't exactly my favorite levels ever, they're just levels that stand out the most for me in originality.
Mephisto's Maosoleum (The Master Levels) - Not only a good inspiration for a MAP30 concept but useful in coming up with a good MAP07 tag use. Awesome progression and a great challenge.
Black Tower (The Master Levels) - Can't put a floor above the other? You don't have to, but of course this is made possible with Boom's silent teleporter, but before that we had the ordinary teleporter to work with. The way this level was built makes you feel as though you were progressively climbing higher. A good, difficult level with many great ideas by an innovative author.
Titan Manor (The Master Levels) - This level for me introduced a sort of "Metroid" mind set when searching to complete the level. It's stuff like this that later lead to people creating ultra-complex levels like "Excalibur" This was the first I had ever played and it still stands out as a pretty solid level from someone who would later become one of my favorite authors in the world of Doom II PWADs.
Trapped On Titan (The Master Levels) - Another great level from the same author of Titan Manor, implementing many interesting puzzles and linedef triggers. Add to that quite a large and epic layout and you've got an awesome level. To me, it's almost like a space version of Industrial Zone, being that it's large and has plenty of different looking areas interconnected in such a way as to not feel too out of place.
Congo (Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment) - We thank The Plutonia Experiment for coming up with this wonderful, Earth-themed level. The design is simplistic but aesthetic enough to just work with all the vines and rocks intertwining one another.
Hunted (Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment) - This level makes for a good showcase of how Doom levels don't have to revolve solely on switch hunting and killing zombies. Much like that of Cyberdreams and Arch-Vile Jump, it has the specific theme of being lost in a maze with Arch-Viles and having to navigate your way out. An interesting concept well executed by the authors of Plutonia.
Pharoah (Final Doom: TNT: Evilution) - A great feeling of place here. Probably the first great Egyptian-themed level as well as being a good source of inspiration for those looking to make a Doom level that takes place somewhere in the world.
Caribbean (Final Doom: TNT: Evilution) - Another one that has the feeling of place down. This also makes for a good showcase of what people can come up with when creating a new Doom level from scratch.
City Of The Unavenged (Memento Mori) - Like switch hunting? This level pretty much makes very good use of it. It never gets boring cause the author makes sure there's more enemies waiting for you each time you navigate the map for another switch. Lots of great linedef actions and triggers put to good use here, very well thought out.
Viper (Memento Mori) - A great example of originality in making a last level for a Doom II mapset. Should make for good inspiration for those looking to make an original Icon of Sin-styled map.
Blessed Are The Quick (Icarus: Alien Vanguard) - Great mansion level with a rainy atmosphere. This is actually probably one of the only levels I've ever played that had rain in it. Now in terms of gameplay not everyone would like this level, but I still feel the style was well executed and really stands out in my mind as one of the great mansion-styled levels.
Brutality (Icarus: Alien Vanguard) - This is probably my primary inspiration for levels that constantly impress the player. This is the kind of level where something interesting is always happening and the player never gets bored. Great use of linedef actions and great fast-paced action make this a great level. Add to that the clever details and structures and you're not likely to forget this level.
Town Of The Dead (Requiem) - Everyone knows this one for introducing plenty of clever tricks including a double 3D bridge, the fake 3D bridge and plenty of interesting tricks. Another case of someone coming up with something amazing when starting from scratch.
Escape From Chaos (Requiem) - More tricks on display, though this one also falls in the category of constantly impressing the player by keeping things interesting with lindef actions and tricks as you progress your way through the level.
Skinny Puppy (Requiem) - I'd say this is aesthetics taken to a whole new level here with the tech base theme. Very awesome texture use and yet again well thought out in execution.
Doorway To Quake (Requiem) - This brings Doom II as close as it can ever get to being 3D. Plenty more interesting tricks as well as being a good inspiration for secret levels taking place in a different game entirely.
I might do more of these at some point - there are seriously LOTS of great levels I've played, and I'd like to share more of these at some point. I may even share a little of what I've been doing at some point. Of course you can always refer to my YouTube channel to check out plenty more action-packed levels. :)
Mephisto's Maosoleum (The Master Levels) - Not only a good inspiration for a MAP30 concept but useful in coming up with a good MAP07 tag use. Awesome progression and a great challenge.
Black Tower (The Master Levels) - Can't put a floor above the other? You don't have to, but of course this is made possible with Boom's silent teleporter, but before that we had the ordinary teleporter to work with. The way this level was built makes you feel as though you were progressively climbing higher. A good, difficult level with many great ideas by an innovative author.
Titan Manor (The Master Levels) - This level for me introduced a sort of "Metroid" mind set when searching to complete the level. It's stuff like this that later lead to people creating ultra-complex levels like "Excalibur" This was the first I had ever played and it still stands out as a pretty solid level from someone who would later become one of my favorite authors in the world of Doom II PWADs.
Trapped On Titan (The Master Levels) - Another great level from the same author of Titan Manor, implementing many interesting puzzles and linedef triggers. Add to that quite a large and epic layout and you've got an awesome level. To me, it's almost like a space version of Industrial Zone, being that it's large and has plenty of different looking areas interconnected in such a way as to not feel too out of place.
Congo (Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment) - We thank The Plutonia Experiment for coming up with this wonderful, Earth-themed level. The design is simplistic but aesthetic enough to just work with all the vines and rocks intertwining one another.
Hunted (Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment) - This level makes for a good showcase of how Doom levels don't have to revolve solely on switch hunting and killing zombies. Much like that of Cyberdreams and Arch-Vile Jump, it has the specific theme of being lost in a maze with Arch-Viles and having to navigate your way out. An interesting concept well executed by the authors of Plutonia.
Pharoah (Final Doom: TNT: Evilution) - A great feeling of place here. Probably the first great Egyptian-themed level as well as being a good source of inspiration for those looking to make a Doom level that takes place somewhere in the world.
Caribbean (Final Doom: TNT: Evilution) - Another one that has the feeling of place down. This also makes for a good showcase of what people can come up with when creating a new Doom level from scratch.
City Of The Unavenged (Memento Mori) - Like switch hunting? This level pretty much makes very good use of it. It never gets boring cause the author makes sure there's more enemies waiting for you each time you navigate the map for another switch. Lots of great linedef actions and triggers put to good use here, very well thought out.
Viper (Memento Mori) - A great example of originality in making a last level for a Doom II mapset. Should make for good inspiration for those looking to make an original Icon of Sin-styled map.
Blessed Are The Quick (Icarus: Alien Vanguard) - Great mansion level with a rainy atmosphere. This is actually probably one of the only levels I've ever played that had rain in it. Now in terms of gameplay not everyone would like this level, but I still feel the style was well executed and really stands out in my mind as one of the great mansion-styled levels.
Brutality (Icarus: Alien Vanguard) - This is probably my primary inspiration for levels that constantly impress the player. This is the kind of level where something interesting is always happening and the player never gets bored. Great use of linedef actions and great fast-paced action make this a great level. Add to that the clever details and structures and you're not likely to forget this level.
Town Of The Dead (Requiem) - Everyone knows this one for introducing plenty of clever tricks including a double 3D bridge, the fake 3D bridge and plenty of interesting tricks. Another case of someone coming up with something amazing when starting from scratch.
Escape From Chaos (Requiem) - More tricks on display, though this one also falls in the category of constantly impressing the player by keeping things interesting with lindef actions and tricks as you progress your way through the level.
Skinny Puppy (Requiem) - I'd say this is aesthetics taken to a whole new level here with the tech base theme. Very awesome texture use and yet again well thought out in execution.
Doorway To Quake (Requiem) - This brings Doom II as close as it can ever get to being 3D. Plenty more interesting tricks as well as being a good inspiration for secret levels taking place in a different game entirely.
