[Projet] Des longplays sur des wads vanilla

Filename : SPIDER.WAD (https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/s-u/spider)
IWAD :  Doom 2
Author : Andreas Lange, "APS-Software"
Release Date : 23th May 1996
Number of maps : 5
Difficulty : Ultra-Violence (100% kills , secrets and items)
Engine used : DOSBOX

Description : Warriors of Spider is an early episode for Doom 2 that probably takes its name from the 1988 science fiction novel. Each map has a different theme but has in common that it features an intricate progression using lifts extensively. The wad also contains some new sounds, a few custom textures and non-authentic music that we have heard elsewhere.

Notes :

- Map names are provided in the text file of the wad.
- The textures come from the Doom 2 wad "Obituary".

Bugs visible in the video :

- some blatant HOMS are visible , like at 9:35 or 15:55
- A lot of stuck monsters can be seen.(exemples : 9:21, 17:35 or even 22:23)

Time stamps :

00:00  Titlepic
00:05  Map 01 - Factory
10:22  Map 02 - Cave
18:55  Map 03 - City
28:06  Map 04 - Space Ship
41:06  Map 05 - Theatre, the Big Showdown!

A more in in-depth review of each level here :

Map 01 - The level officially takes place in a factory but the ubiquitous brick textures and Bach's "Toccata" makes me think more of a fortress. A level that I like overall because generous on shotgun/SSG shells. The crate maze, which is the only place that actually reminds me of a factory, is quite fun to explore, despite the many imps that act as snipers. The lift leading to several floors (see 1:20) is particularly unpleasant to use because of the imps regularly getting stuck inside. However, this is unfortunately not the only time the author has used this type of system. Similarly, you have to use a perpetual floor to reach the backpack, which has no other purpose than to waste time (see 3:00). At last, the exit is quite amusing because you have to press the right switch. If you press the wrong one, you either trigger useless actions such as turning off the light or lowering the floor or traps such as raising the floor so that the ceiling crushes the player.

Map 02 - A good map, which is shorter than the others if you know it well. The main difficulty lies in some jumps to get more than dispensable objects such as a chainsaw or a box of balls. You have to walk fast enough to reach the platform but not so fast that you bump into the wall (see 11:09). I also like how the mapper gives you a free BFG and a megasphere. To access the secret of the megasphere, you have to press a wall that is located in the secret of the backpack (see 16:54)

Map 03 - The inspirations of the map 15 of Doom 2 can be felt quite easily. You start at the top of a building and go down via a lift. Moreover, the resemblance is also perceived by the possibility to move freely around the buildings. However, it is not as developed as in the IWAD map because the map does not contain relief unlike Industrial Zone which had pits filled with lava... In any case, a rather pleasant map despite the numerous backtracks particularly boring. You can find two megaspheres and a soulsphere, which helps to make the map quite fun to play. Once you've got the blue key guarded by blocked mancubus and an arch-vile, you have to use a multiple floors lift, quite similar to map 01 except that you need precise timing because each floor is blocked by a small lift. Using this elevator well means using a lot of switches in the right order and with precise synchronization (see 25:35). The last one is unbearable if you discover the map for the first time. By the way, the path to the soulsphere, although requiring a blue key, is totally optional (see 27:15)

Map 04 - My favorite map, but it took me some time to appreciate it, especially because of the complexity of some places, such as this room full of perpetually moving floors with arachnotrons on top (see 33:00). Beyond that, it is to my taste the most accomplished map, visually speaking. The use of blue tech textures is really nice and the new barrier textures contribute to make this map particularly unique. Likewise, the little electro music brings a quite comfortable atmosphere. I also enjoy the way of hiding secrets where you have to climb on a door made of lift (see 29:18) Finally, the little puzzle with the platforms to raise in order to create a path shows the potential of Doom's mechanics (see 31:25)

Map 05 - The final map, which is quite a mixed bag. At first sight there is no boss, not even a Mastermind that would have justified the title of the wad. To tell the truth, the atmosphere remains particularly well done because the level proves to be quite adventurous and complex and the music clearly indicates that this is the ultimate challenge. However, progressing in this map was a chore, especially at the beginning when lots of shotgunners flush out anything and severely malfunction the lifts in the main hub. The first task in this map was to get rid of all these zombies before moving on. Beyond that, the map is nothing more than a switchhunting party which becomes not so complex once you play the map again.

I absolutely regret the absence of bosses in this map. You can find two arch-viles in a crevasse that presents very little threat, within a particularly beautiful Silver structure. (see 53:30). Apart from that, I don't have much to say. A lot of backtracks that artificially lengthen the level.