#limit-removing

And the Bloodshed Began...

Game: Doom II Year: 2014 Source Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP01-MAP32 Gameplay Mods: None Authors: Maxime Bisiaux aka "Datacore" and Gwenvael Le Bihan aka "Subject_119" idgames | onemandoom

Datacore and Subject_119 (RIP) were activated with 3 Heures d'Agonie and paired up to make a megaWAD of pretty decent levels. Back when I first reviewed this I was a bit hard on the set. Bisiaux and Le Bihan were just two friends having fun making maps together; that's pretty much the Platonic ideal of the Doom community. Expect a broad variety of maps ranging from light fare to easygoing slaughter and even an homage to Quake's final boss map.

Return to Hadron Episode 2 The Collider's New Clothes

Game: Doom Year: 2017 Source Port: Limit-removing Specs: E2M1-E2M9 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Matt Powell aka "cannonball" idgames | doomwiki | onemandoom

In ConC.E.R.Ned, Hell invaded the European Organization for Nuclear Research's Hadron Collider, with a lone security officer getting pretty far but ultimately failing at securing the complex. Return to Hadron E1 was a sort of reimagining of the first episode, with another hero taking a stab at the now even more warped installation and, again, failing. Now, civilization is ruined, and you're one of the survivors picking through the resulting Hellscape. During your scavenging, you're drawn into the periphery of the Collider complex. With no apparent means of escape, the only way out is through.

Return to Hadron E2, like E1, is a sort of remake/remodel of Powell's debut megaWAD, this time targeting the second episode. Don't expect any sort of major devotion to the labyrinthine layouts of Deimos, though. Expect cavernous interiors and tons of OG Doom monsters to fill them out.

Icarumem

Game: Doom II Year: 2012 Source Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP24 (requires ICARUS.WAD) Gameplay Mods: None Author: "Memfis" idgames | onemandoom

This little tribute to Icarus: Alien Vanguard uses its textures to make for a fun little techbase / planetary stroll. It doesn't really fit in the standard ICARUS format--not on a spaceship, no simulator exit, no away mission pod--but it's nice to see the resources get used to make a fun little adventure like this one. Standout encounters include a pretty big teleport ambush with Doom trash enemies as well as an arch-vile encounter that will probably be fought with the basic shotgun.

Hell's Arena

Game: Doom II Year: 2001 Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP01 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Simon Broadhead aka "Volte-Face" idgames | onemandoom

Simon Broadhead mostly contributed to community efforts like Community Chest. Hell's Arena is his first solo release. This map could be a pretty good arena-type set piece in a larger level. As it stands, it's a pretty fun, low-key challenge map.

Max Saga The Doom Dragon

Game: Heretic Year: 2014 Source Port: Limit-removing Specs: H1M1 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Mike MacDee aka "Impie" idgames | onemandoom

The second and last of maps Mike made based on the red-hot Mighty Max toy property. (I confess--I had more than a few of these growing up and I loved the cartoon.) This puts you in the view of the toy as it's enacting the child's imagination, "doomed to wander space and time, battling supernatural evils for the god's amusement". In this case, a pagan Scandinavian cult wants to kickstart Ragnarok in the heart. Oh baby!

If you've played Strange Aeons then you may recognize this level's geometry. As was the case with Skull Dungeon, it was repurposed into E5M3 of Aeons. It's a decent Heretic level and there aren't enough of those (though comparatively more in recent times). It's slow going at first with all the weredragons, but if you love Heretic then you're probably at home with its more measured pace.

Installation A

Game: Doom II Year: 2003 Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP01 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Alex Parsons idgames | onemandoom

It's time for a change in the Alex Parsons project. This is AP_012, skipping three places since AP_009's The Catacombs. It's a short techbase level, probably meant to be the kickoff map for a techbase episode spanning MAP11-MAP20, knowing what the rest of the AP_01X maps are like. It's a quick, fun, and nice-looking outing.

Max Saga: Escape From Skull Dungeon

Game: Doom II Year: 2014 Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP01 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Mike MacDee aka "Impie" idgames | onemandoom 

Mighty Max was a 90s toy property that was basically action-adventure themed Polly Pocket for boys. I had a bunch of these growing up, but I didn't have Skull Dungeon. Anyway, you (Doomguy, or maybe Max) have been cursed to wander through horrific backdrops for eternity, in this case stumbling into Austria during World War II.

If you've already played MacDee's most popular work, Strange Aeons, then you might recognize the layout of this map. Mike took a few of his previously-released solo Doom II levels and repurposed them for some of the eldritch holdings for SA's E5... more on that later. This is a fun, adventure-style Doom II level in a mansion format that you can explore for its quirky secrets.

Complex 867

Game: Doom II Year: 2002 Port: Limit-removing Specs: MAP01 Gameplay Mods: None Author: Simon Broadhead aka "Volte-Face" idgames | onemandoom

As opposed to Broadhead's Hell Arena, which was (spluh) arena-style combat in a simple but tiered layout, this is a more traditional level that's part techbase, part marble temple, and dependable, classic Doom II action. Make sure you find the (very early) secret combat shotgun.