-----> Best Levels List <-----
Myles_Williams
This is a regular posting of the list of all-time best levels. The
list is posted roughly the 1st and 15th of every month to
alt.games.doom.announce and alt.games.doom. An up-to-date version of
this list is available on the World Wide Web at reference
http://www.utk.edu/~williams/bestwads.html.
Changes:
* The entry for Alien-TC now lists the new installation.
* A few filenames have been corrected.
* All filenames now have a length next to them.
* The "2-D or 3-D" section has been reworded due to misunderstandings.
* The main archive site is updated.
* New nominees are Quest for Necromicon, Serenity, and Eternity.
I didn't have time to do the table of contents I promised, but
whenever you see it in the HTML version, it will be in the next
posting.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The All-Time Best Doom Levels
Introduction
Do you want to get your hands on those fabulous Doom add-on
levels? Do you need to know which of the 500+ levels you should get?
Then this list is for you! It describes all levels, past and present,
that were most popular among the fine people of alt.games.doom. Each
level is presented with pertinent information about how to find it and
what to expect when you play.
Rules of the list
A level can enter this list in one of three ways:
1. At the initial release, it receives acclaim on
alt.games.doom lasting at least one week.
2. It is frequently mentioned on alt.games.doom at
least a month after the release date.
3. It is nominated and subsequently voted into the
list.
Nomination
The nomination option is a last chance for any level that has
failed to satisfy the first two criteria, perhaps due to some
overshadowing event on alt.games.doom at the time of release. To
nominate a level, please send a description that includes the
filename to will...@martha.utcc.utk.edu, with a subject line of "WAD
nomination". You may not nominate your own levels. I will add the
level to the nominees list at the end of the list and leave it there
for two months. If I receive enough(*) votes in that time, I will
move it into the best levels list.
I have considered disallowing any levels that predate Outpost
21. If you know a real masterpiece that falls within that time
period, then now is the time to tell me.
Voting
To vote on any of the nominees, send a message to the address
given in the above section, with a subject of "WAD vote". The
message should contain, on each line, the filename of a level you are
voting on, followed by your vote (YES or NO). Remember that this
list is for the all-time best levels. Play the level all the way
through before voting, then decide whether it has a place among the
other levels in the list. You may vote on your own levels.
*Since this list has just started, "enough votes" remains to be
determined.
How to get these levels
All levels in this list are available by anonymous ftp to the
official Doom archive, ftp.orst.edu, in the directory /pub/doom. A
list of sites that mirror this archive are in the file mirror.txt, in
the root directory (the directory in which you start.) All pathnames
for levels in the list are with reference to the doom directory on
whichever site you use.
Basic instructions for using add-on levels are in the file
/pub/doom/wads/HOW_TO_USE_WADS. Some over-efficient mirror sites
have compressed this file, giving it a .Z extension. If you find
this on a mirror site, try another one and come back later.
Styles of Doom levels
Although each level is an original creation, there are some
common styles which affect the architecture and graphics used. Seven
of these styles are described below.
Military
Similar to the original episode 1. Brown plaster and
metal panels dominate the wall textures. There are many
outdoor areas and windows.
Tech Lab
Lots of grey. The levels resemble a space station, with
computers everywhere. The architecture tends to be along
orthogonal lines.
Temple
The textures are natural materials, such as wood, rock, and
stone. The architecture is like a medieval building.
Inferno
Similar to the original episode 3. Iron, stone, rock, and
skin are the primary textures, and red is the dominant
color. Lava is everywhere.
Tech Temple
Essentially a blend of Tech Lab, Temple, and Inferno. The
overall appearance is that of a research facility that has
been redecorated by demons. Episode 2 is in this style.
Urban
Like the city levels of Doom II. There are no add-ons in
this style yet.
Aliens
Like the movie. Levels use graphics from Justin Fishers's
Alien-TC package
Imitative
A catch-all category for any level that uses new graphics
or architecture to imitate a real place.
2-D or 3-D
An important characteristic of any level is how well it uses
space. The original Doom I levels tended to be two-dimensional, with
little height variation and few very high places. In version 1.666 of
the Doom engine, the bug that discouraged those features has been
fixed, so that authors may design more three-dimensional levels. Such
levels require you to think about height as well as position to solve
them. Running jumps between structures are common.
THE LEVELS
(Finally!)
Doom 1 Levels
* Alien: Total Conversion
+ Files:
o NEWSTUFF/alientc1.zip (893k)
o NEWSTUFF/alientc2.zip (893k)
o NEWSTUFF/alientc3.zip
+ Style: aliens : 2-D
+ Description: It uses the Doom engine, but it is NOT
Doom! The package contains necessary graphics, sounds, and
monster modifications. The eleven levels included in this
package duplicate scenarios from the movie "Aliens."
* Galaxia
+ Files: wads/g-i/galaxia.zip (332k)
+ Style: military : 2-D
+ Description: There are few gimmicks in this add-on, but
it rates high in playability. Deathmatch play would
probably be good in this level. It doesn't work work under
1.666 unless you turn off the music.
* Ledges series
+ Files:
(Original deathmatch rules)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges.zip (16k)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges1.zip (15k)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges2.zip (15k)
(Alternate deathmatch rules)
o wads/deathmatch/ledgesi.zip (15k)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges2i.zip (14k)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges3i.zip (15k)
o wads/deathmatch/ledges4i.zip (16k)
+ Style: military : 3-D
+ Description: The most popular deathmatch specific
levels, probably because of their 3-D architecture and
excellent equipment placement. Levels with an 'i' at the
end of the filename are for Deathmatch 2.0, or altdeath.
* Outpost 21
+ Files: wads/m-o/opost21.zip (60k)
+ Style: military / inferno : 2-D
+ Description: A military research installation has been
taken over by demons. This level is very dark and spooky.
When it was released, it was judged by many on a.g.d to be
the first id-quality add-on level.
* Return to Phobos
+ Files: wads/p-r/return01.zip (532k)
+ Style: military : 2-D
+ Description: Eight well-done levels in the Episode 1
style. Level 1 is very tricky, but it can be finished
without cheating.
* Deimos Subway
+ Files: wads/s-u/subway21.zip (157k)
+ Style: imitative / tech temple : 2-D
+ Description: A convincing replica of the Washington DC
subway, with three stations. When you get away from the
stations, the author's more original designs take over.
* The Unholy Trinity
+ Files: wads/newwads/trinity2.zip (152k)
+ Style: imitative : 2-D
+ Description: Demons have taken over Trinity College in
England! The author has used scanned textures to reproduce
Christopher Wren's architecture in detail. Music does not
work under Doom 1.666.
* Doomsday of the UAC
+ Files: wads/s-u/uac_dead.zip (152k)
+ Style: tech lab / inferno : 2-D
+ Description: A large scientific installation run by
UAC, the research outfit of Doom I, has been invaded. You
must find the demons' head honcho and kill him before you
can leave. There is a verrry interesting trick in this
level.
Doom II Levels
(None yet!)
THE NOMINEES
* wads/newwads/elements.zip (540k)
Expires Dec. 14, 1994
* wads/a-c/apocalyp.zip (558k)
Expires Dec. 31, 1994
* Invasion, Level 2
+ NEWSTUFF/invade2.zip (656k)
+ NEWSTUFF/invpro2.zip (1,919k)
+ NEWSTUFF/invepi2.zip (3,119k)
Expires Dec. 31, 1994
* wads/m-o/megapack.zip (115k)
Expires Dec. 31, 1994
* Quest for Necromicon
+ NEWSTUFF/quest12.zip (1,260k)
+ NEWSTUFF/quest12b.zip (0k)
Expires Jan. 14, 1995
* wads/newwads2/eternity.zip (465k)
Expires Jan. 14, 1995
* wads/newwads/serenity.zip (415k)
Expires Jan. 14, 1995
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Subject: -----> Best Levels List <-----
Date: 15 Nov 1994 11:16:08 -0000
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