ZPack - Random Maps for ZDoom

Played all maps in HMP difficulty with keyboard only. This is an interesting megawad which use several features present in ZDOOM such as swimming underwater, attacking monsters with help of friendly marines, flying upward through a giant fan among others. All maps are well design but few aren't balanced properly (for example E2M3 and E3M0, which really need more health). Speaking of E3M0, it is the worst map of the megawad, besides not balanced properly it's very cramped and all over the place. The best for me are E1M7, E1M8, E2M7, E3M3, E3M4, E3M5, E3M6, E3M7, E3M8 and E3M9. All the other maps are OK to play. I would reccomend only for those who don't mind some customs monsters.
 

I really wanted to give this four stars because the levels are beautiful and a lot of work clearly went into these, making a lot of use of ZDoom's features. However, I'm giving it three stars because the gameplay is a mixed bag. I wasn't a fan of Tormentor667's timed section (though there was plenty of time to complete it signs of where to go in that level aren't clear; I had to consult a YouTube video on where to find the red key). Some of the custom monsters felt cheap as hell to encounter. Finally, the last map can fuck right off, especially when killing the boss results in an explosion that drains your health. Considering all the other bullshit you have to go through during the boss battle, having enough health to even make it through that arena-wide explosion to get to the exit is a luck of the draw.

I'll likely play through this again at some point but not for a while. It's hard for me to recommend this as a full playthrough to others though. There's some standout maps in this collection that are worth playing regardless (Vader's and skillsaw's maps come to mind).

Pretty solid ZDoom megawad.  Very few maps that I found poor in quality.  Challenge level is acceptable, secret levels are pretty fun.  Wished more ZDoom wads were like this.

I would have rated this five stars, but failing to credit me for the boss music in E1M9 merits four stars.