Arxangels

This WAD can play with single player, like the reviewer of T/nC #442 said, just harder, at least in UV.

Map01 is OK but for starter map of this mapset, it just feel a little unfair to me at beginning(if you're not rush to get ammo then you'll stuck at start room or/and dies), once I get used to I feel it's not that bad.

Map02...oh much better, I like the design and looking and its gameplay much better than the Map01, and so the Map03 just so good too, but if you want 100% kills, better open the yellow key switch before take the secret teleport to outside or you'll missed 3(in UV) ambush enemies.

Map04, starting just nothing too hard but after move in to the main area with lavas, thing just getting so busy and nasty. Not fan of this but still a good challenge...well, maybe not if my head get hit by Revenants and my back get bites by pinks... and then get blasted by archvile and cyberdemon...

Map05 is a tower-style map, with a lot of monsters blocked on your way out. Nothing very big deal if you're careful enough when progressing and fighting in tight areas.

Map06, an easy(compared to other maps) but cramped of sewerage map...nothing too special, and lack of health pickup.

Map07, now it's serious action, fighting cyberdemons and other monsters, blast through whole level.

Map08, mountain style level, archviles still nasty enough but at least I have much room to take cover, still...not a fan of "reviving hitscanners to farm weapon drops".

Map09 is fine, I found the secret BFG and it's very useful to kill the Cyberdemon and Archvile in the end but I could image how hard it'll be if I don't have, fighting them in narrow passages never be good thing to me.

Map10's beginning part is for co-op or highly skilled DooMer, because I tried use SSG to shut those damn pinkies but end up got shut down by them...so after a lot of tries I decided screw this and use my RL from Map09. The Base map is decent actually(not count the beginning part and the ending part with IoS spawner, that's for co-op game for sure but the area just too small for single player if you ask me), and I think maybe I just not skilled enough or it's not good...whatever.

Map11 is also decent too, too bad I already tired after Map10, I think if you open the door to outside before getting ammo you'll f***ed up for sure, but it's not serious problem, after that it's a fun level.

Map12...who put this shit in?! I think the proper way to do this IQ test is stop play the level.

3 would be best I would give...because some flaws really ruined this mapset, but I think some folks would found this mapset very enjoyable, and it's should be fun to play with friends, too.

of the many wads people can stumble upon in the idgames archive, Arxangels is a true oddball. it's specifically meant for cooperative play, but the game is actually perfectly playable in single player as well. just looking at how these levels are, these are pretty run of the mill in terms of modern wads, nothing super snazzy but at the same time nothing that really sucks (apart from MAP12, which honestly feels like a bonus map). the maps all have varied themes, with several being of the earth base kind. the gameplay seems more geared for coop, as players will likely stumble upon a large horde of enemies with a shotgun just by the first level, and you won't get a lot of good weapons throughout in single player to fight the many hordes that come. MAP04 is a standout level with its open earthscape, as is MAP07 with quite a lot of foes pouring through doors. MAP10 features some of the hardest combat, but a rather easy Icon of Sin that serves for starvation.

honestly if you want to play this in single player you might as well play with something like respawning items or something. the gameplay is clearly more geared for coop than singleplayer so it serves much better there.