Sarge wrote:4) Doom 2
So yeah, I finally finished that playthrough of Doom 2. I had been inching through it on lunch breaks at work, while my coworker was working through it as well. But he finished it a while back, and I just kinda forgot. I picked it back up, and decided to bring the save file home so I could finish it tonight.
Really, I like the original better. Now, there are some interesting weapons I like this time, but the atmosphere isn't quite as good, and there's just so many "gotcha" moments that I was wired to expect them by the end of it. "Okay, which wall's gonna open now to unleash unholy terror on me?" I save-scummed the mess out of the final battle, although that's not undoable if you can maintain a touch of crowd control, usually best accomplished through using the BFG9000. I always saved right before the pillar ascended so I made sure I'd get that missile shot in on the last boss, though. Just three good shots and it's done. It might be different on other difficulties, I was just on the default, which is still plenty tricky.
Anyway, that's another classic down. Now I need to catch up to said coworker and beat Duke Nukem 3D, although I'm more tempted to let him try Dark Forces and play that.
I was typing up a post earlier when you mentioned you were going to continue with Doom 2... I'm a huge Doom fan but I would also agree that 2 is kind of a step down in some ways. The level design isn't as aesthetically consistent as the first game was, where it felt like you were going through giant interconnected places, but Doom 2 is pretty disjointed. Doom 2 always feels like it gets easier as it goes too, so the difficulty curve is kind of wonky. And some of the weird city levels just don't do it for me and feel goofy. The level quality is kind of all over.
That said, upgrading the engine enabling the possibility of bigger maps works when done well, and the introduction of the super shotgun and new enemy types that become a staple in all the other Doom expansions, official and unofficial, definitely makes it the full complete package. That's the only downside to going back to Doom 1 for me, I love the intricate and tighter level design, and it's tricky having to work with less weapons, but I really do miss the variety in enemy types.
Anyways, if you ever hit up Final Doom, via Plutonia or TNT, those take it to a completely different level difficulty wise. To BS levels with Plutonia with those chaingunners, good lord! Whoever textured those levels didn't do that great either, most of the levels are very brown haha. But overall these two episodes are awesome if you want a tougher challenge. TNT is really weird though and feels like it has some lost levels from Duke Nukem 3D, some of the design is just really weird and goofy for Doom.
"Gotcha" is kind of the Doom philosophy though. There's definitely a very huge difference in terms of gameplay when compared to DN3D honestly. I'm a much bigger fan of Doom's style and having to strategically mow down mobs, work with crowd control and the environments, etc, it's so simple yet oh so satisfying. I'm not huge on pure monster spam levels that some of the megawads contain, but I love it being on the extreme side and pretty intense. DN3D on the other hand to me honestly plays more like a modern shooter to a weird extent, there are far less enemies on the screen usually, but they are a a lot more versatile and complex. However I hate how you can't really detect bullets or dodge much in the Build engine shooters. I always play Doom on the higher difficulty levels, but find DN3D, Blood, and Shadow Warrior to be WAY harder even on the lower levels. Weird stuff.
Man I haven't played Dark Forces in forever. I need to revisit that one someday.
