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Title : Hall of The Mountain King (HALLMONT.WAD)
Author : 'Spooky' John Bye
Email Address : jb54@le.ac.uk
Misc Author Info : Underworked physics student
Description : A huge level with some impressive bits and
pieces. Full description below, but basically
it's a big underground medieval-style setup.
Additional Credits to : All the usuals, plus the makers of DCK and BSP
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* Play Information *
Episode and Level # : E1M1
Single Player : Yes
Cooperative 2-4 Player : No
Deathmatch 2-4 Player : No
Difficulty Settings : Yes
New Sounds : None
New Graphics : None
Demos Replaced : None
* Construction *
Base : New level from scratch
Build Time : About 12-24 hours over a few days.
Editor(s) used : DCK2.2, DEEP shareware beta, BSP 1.2x
Known Bugs : Some of the rooms are just too big and
detailed. Sometimes when you go into a room
there's a kinda HOM type thing in the corners,
kinda like a brownish grey mist... Using version
1.9 of Doom kills this problem.
Also the huge long candle-lit corridor was
TOO long. I had to add the doors in the middle
because when you looked down the length of the
whole corridor the game crashed! The only way this
could happen now is if you opened both doors and then
ran backwards down the corridor, reaching the end
before either door shuts. This isn't likely to be a
great problem in real play situations, but watch out
for it if that's your kind of playing style!
* Copyright / Permissions *
Authors may NOT use this level as a base to build additional
levels, but feel free to distribute it, provided you include this file,
with no modifications. You may distribute this file in any electronic
format (BBS, Diskette, CD, etc) as long as you include this file
intact.
* Where to get this WAD *
Probably where you found this text file. Otherwise e-mail me.
* Detailed Description *
This level started as 'an experiment in light and shadow' (apologies for
being pretentious) inspired by some other people's limited usage of shadows.
This WAD takes that to the limit, with detailed lighting levels around lamps
and fires and stuff and all sorts of complicated shading that made the level
much bigger and harder to do than it would otherwise have been. It also means
that the level might be too big for some computers. It worked fine on mine,
but I've got an 8MB Pentium90. If it doesn't work on yours, upgrade, or else
e-mail me and I'll make a simpler version of the level.
In the end the level became rather inspired by JRR Tolkein's 'The Hobbit'.
This level is loosely based on the goblin's underground fortress that Bilbo
and co. get dragged into in the mountains before reaching the beastman's house
and Mirkwood. (Chapters 'Over Hill and Under Hill' and 'Riddles in the Dark')
Of course Bilbo only had a dagger, not a chainsaw and shotgun!
In the spirit of things, you come around in the larder after being captured
at the entrance to the stronghold. Escaping, you have to fight your way
through the level, kill the Mountain King and use the switch behind his throne
to escape. After climbing the spiral staircases for seemingly ages, you meet
Gollum (or at least an invisible demon) which you must slay to steal the ring
(an invisibility thing) with which you can escape through the back door.
The level consists of several rooms and areas:
The Larder
This is where you start, along with all the other meat!
The Kitchen
A bloody mess, and rather unhygenic! The cook's not very friendly
either. Several corpses awaiting carving...
The Dining Hall
Inspired by my previous WAD, JJTOWN, this features a table and rows
of stools on either side, as well as a big chair at the head of the
table and a fireplace.
The Art Gallery
The artistic merit of these works is rather dubious, and the
artists responsible need psychological attention. The art critics
studying the works aren't very friendly either.
The Hallway
A relatively short hallway with alcoves along either side. Leads
to the well room (if you can get to it...)
The Great Hall
One of the biggest indoor rooms to grace a DOOM wad ever, this room
is made more remarkable by the intricate lighting.
The Guard Room
At the far end of the Great Hall is a small room where the guards
rest up between alerts, complete with it's own little fireplace.
The Great Corridor
A long corridor linking the King's Hall with the rest of the
complex. Due to game limitations it had to be cut in half to stop
the computer crashing whenever you looked along it. Lit by dozens of
candles along the length of it...
King's Hall
At one end of the Great Corridor, this is where the King (Baron?)
hangs out with his bodyguard. A nice big throne and banner behind
it. In fact the wall below the marble face is a switch which opens
the door to the exit...
Double Helix
A pair of nifty spiral staircases at the other end of the Great
Corridor which leads to the exit. In fact this is a double double
helix... You go round both spiral staircases twice to get to the
exit, the stairs rise to a higher level while you're walking round
the back to get back to the first staircase. I've never seen anyone
use this trick before. I was trying to have the stairs rise behind
you as you walked, but I couldn't get it to work, so I went for this
system instead. Watch for further developments. I think I can get
the initial plan to work. This would produce a real spiral staircase
that you can climb until you reach the ceiling, instead of being
limited to a 360 degree sweep.
The Exit
You can see the outside through the open gates, just past the rows
of guards... Lucky you're invisible. You can either kick ass, or do
a runner for the exit before they spot you.
The Well
A deep well in a secret room. Try finding the switch that opens
the doors at the end of the Hallway... (You might get a bit singed!).
The Slaughter House
There is one other secret room to be found. This is where you can
get a chainsaw. Half-finished products of this room can be found
amongst the blood that covers the floor of this little place. Also
where the guard's pet is kept amused...
I think this is one of the best looking WADs around. But then, I wrote it!
If you have any comments, e-mail me. Also watch out for future versions of
this level, which I hope to bring out soon. They might include HR Geiger
pictures in the art gallery and some new music for the level...
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�
By D3rpyD00dlez · PostedI genuinely enjoyed this mod with its level design and music. It was challenging and interesting and it kept me playing a while after beating it to try to find anything. though I would say it was slightly repetitive and overwhelming with enemies at some moments.
By LouigiVerona · PostedWriting a review for Darkening 2 is tough. It's a beloved megawad, and for good reason. As many other reviewers have said, it is historically a very important project. It was an important megawad for me personally. I fell in love with the first level in particular. The music, the realistic architecture, so reminiscent of the video games of the 90s... It all left a lasting impression. And it was one of the most beautiful wads I've seen at the time. But I rarely played anyt
By Ofisil · PostedA competently made map, for sure, but fun? It's way too long and repetitive, with same-y combat & ambush scenarios used again and again, and with way too much enemies, and not that much of a challenge, even for me who isn't exactly fond of "SUPER HARD WAD #9263!!!!11!. You can cut the whole thing in half, and then cut THAT half in half, and it would be a better map. Is it bad? No, just a little bit above average, mostly because it drags a bit too long.
By MrSkeltal · PostedGenerally good map design, but the difficulty as is the case with pwads tends to be uneven even on HMP, especially when you mix them with what slaughtermaps tend to be (monster spam). Too many parts where, after pressing a switch, you'll spend some time killing enemies only to realise the map maker tried to get cute and spawned a bunch of hidden archviles somewhere to start reviving everyone while you were busy wasting ammo. This is especially unfun in parts with very little cover where you'll b