The Final Gathering

This was pretty good, though it does have some things. That long elevator at the end of map2 and then repeated on map 3 could have been much shorter or faster, which is my only specific example. The maps are rather generous with the pickups in some parts with multiple megaspheres and the like. One thing that killed me far more than the monster were the inescapable death pits, many of which you have to go in to get something like a key, but if you misstep or aren't fast enough, there you are. There's usually some damaging floor to kill yourself on but they are low damage and because of all the mega and soul spheres it's rather tedious waiting patiently for your massive pool of health to slowly tick down.
Complaints aside, my favorite map was map04. It's a bit big and confusing, but I thought the lowering hall that changes the routes kinda neat. The pile of crushed imps in front of the archie trap in map05 was pretty nasty,
I had fun.

Compilation of works. The Dark Side of the Mind it's beautiful, and was one of the first times I jumped scared because of the ghostly demons. Awesome tricks in a orchestrated 95' magnum opus.

Rather dated miniwad. Most maps are not balanced well, with either too much or too little enemies and/or ammo. Map04 is overly complicated with confusing maze of corridors and unintuitive usage of switches and trigger lines.

N.B. this is a review of GATHR2.WAD from Maximum Doom, which excludes the fifth and final map, and doesn't include the custom music

Classic minisode, map one is like a prelude to the main meat (a long road with trees and troopers either side, a tunnel, and then like a 'manhole' into the sewers) - nothing offensive, cool opener.

Map two is a classic sewer map with cool switch tricks, tolerable slime tunnels, a barrel trap, cool looking marble zone and a cool final tech area.

Map the third starts off the same way map two ended (always love that detail), a fight in a huge water basin, and then around the periphery of, very cool looking, with a semi-secret area that is simply iconic. (Curiously, these last two levels were merged together as GATHER2.WAD, also available on Maximum Doom.)

And of course the forth map, a huge complex building surrounded by an outside courtyard guarded by plenty of beasts, nonlinear, varied, filled with memorable traps/scenarios/rooms (love that room with the bunch of thin pole crushers), loads of secrets (although only one 'official' secret), central hub room that transforms when you return to it, every enemy type except the ol' cyberdemon, there's even an outdoor 'balcony bar'.  Yeah, there's way too many megaspheres, whatever.  A classic '95 map pack. 

A reminder of the more innocent times of 1994, when whimsy, original ideas, and cheesy MIDIs ruled the day... Of course, these ideas were rather hit-or-miss, and so MAP01-MAP03 from this mapset heavily show their age (although the first half of MAP02 has a certain charm of its own). MAP04 is a winner, with it sprawling, nonlinear design and hidden yet oddly intuitive doors. MAP05 is a bit confusing but very well designed; it's just a pity that most of the map is unnecessary for reaching the exit.

back in the days, GATHER2 is the best example of a set that manages to do long levels rather well. looking at it from the modern era you're probably just gonna gaff it as something 94'ish. the fact that this actually existed on the Maximum Doom cd (which does some changes to the wad itself) shows that. even if it is exemplified in a rotten little cd, GATHER2 proves itself to not be as garbage as the predecessors, combat is quirky but doable while the levels just get bigger and bigger, although the final map is just a small slugfest complete with an Icon of Sin. the first map seems like it's nothing to write home about and features an ugly start looking at fire walls, then you go down a road fighting zombiemen or something. 2nd map has some interesting lift hub with several side areas, can get a bit groggy with wading through the nukage in some areas. I find MAP03 to be the best, a huge outdoor playing field first with the middle cauldron then getting to the bottom and fighting the enemies around there. the metal works at MAP04 are confusing but still somehow fun, and the low monster count actually makes this a bit easier although this is still gonna be the longest level to complete. overall though, you're probably gonna enjoy what you see here, if not, it's obvious to you it needs more detail or something.