Down the Drain - 32 vanilla maps - Final

[Ravendesk]

DW says I'm necroposting, but I think it's ok.

 

Discovered this wad because of Nirvana's podcast, otherwise would've probably played it much much later. Just wanted to say that this is quite something. This combination of 90s mapping style, modern combat style (not quite, there is some old-school monster usage as well, but many of the fights feel very modern) and a really surreal, eerie and oppressive atmosphere is very unique and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.

 

Feels like this wad is kinda underrated so I'll just use my chance to highly recommend it to everyone who has missed it for one reason or another.

 

[SilverHurling]

Came to say just the same as @ravendesk, this mix between 90's and modern combat is amazing!. Discovered this pearl thanks to SoBad's youtube series,  and i been playing it a lot. It's a nice place between hard and playable, fun and challenging, old and new. I want doom in this way

[DutyAWOL]

I'm playing through this WAD in 2022 and it gives me SO MUCH nostalgia from the 90s modding days. Absolutely fantastic work. Love all the original textures and the puzzle-style maps with the abstract approach of it all.

 

Seriously reminds me of an official add-on to DOOM 2. 

 

Top, top work. Bravo. Although I still can't find secret #4 in map 10. I've got the SSG, the Rocket Launcher and the rad suit with the box of shells.

 

Where ON EARTH is the fourth???????

[Captain Keen]

Thanks for bringing this thread alive, I’ve never heard of this but it looks great!

[Benjogami]

7 hours ago, DutyAWOL said:

Top, top work. Bravo. Although I still can't find secret #4 in map 10. I've got the SSG, the Rocket Launcher and the rad suit with the box of shells.

 

Where ON EARTH is the fourth???????

Glad you're enjoying :)

 

Sadly, the fourth secret in map 10 is ungettable: there's an extra secret sector between the rocket launcher and the impassable bars that you can't step on.

[DutyAWOL]

4 hours ago, Benjogami said:

Glad you're enjoying :)

 

Sadly, the fourth secret in map 10 is ungettable: there's an extra secret sector between the rocket launcher and the impassable bars that you can't step on.

 

Ahhhh! Okay! Well that solves that puzzle for me. I'm up to map 23 but I'm going to give it a rest for today. This is seriously a brilliant WAD. It needs more exposure so happy to bump this thread. :) Do you have any other WADs that I can check out? 

[Benjogami]

19 hours ago, DutyAWOL said:

Do you have any other WADs that I can check out? 

Hmmmm I do, but I'm not sure any of them hit the same notes as Down the Drain :D Perhaps Emergent. Also maps in various community projects, like MAP01 of DMP2018 and my maps in Joy of Mapping 4, 5, and 6 share some similarities. But there's also lots of overt slaughter stuff. I suppose World Orifice is a bit like MAP31 of Down the Drain ;) And I always like to recommend The Egg of Human Endeavors, especially on HMP.

[Catpho]

Cmon benjo, why hold back on Techbase at the Edge in Eternity inside Oblivion & Thomas Neinsteen's 30 Years in Hell?*

 

@DutyAWOL I've only played a little of Down the Drain (saving the wad for a potential DWMC play), but as it's tapping into Benjo more exploratory, layout focused side from what i've seen. So I think the logical next step would specifically be his map "Exlucsive Economic Zone" for Joy of Mapping 5 (E2M11). Try his recs too, his weridomancy is a lot of fun if you stick with it, and it's tempered by his strengths at convetionalmancy at certain points as well.

 

* Unless you like niche slaughter stuff, playing these 2 specific maps will probably make you hate him :D. I weirdly enjoy dyingcam3 map08 tho.

[gudermannian function]

Doomwiki is doing a disservice by not adding a page for Down the Drain

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by gudermannian function

[apichatpong]

I'm having a nice time playing this wad (when I say nice, don't necessarly mean easy).

Always had some (at least) interest on Benjogami's work but, beyond the fascination for esthetics and twists of his maps, not skilled enough.

This one is strangely well balanced between nostalgia and modernity and fit perfectly for the end of winter : still a bit cocoonish but agressive enough  to make you stay straight on your chair. This wad is a formica chair.

 

Plus, my girlfriend started to feel annoyed by the time I devote on Doom these days and now is more conciliatory because, as a long time fan of Radiohead, she enjoyed some midi choices.

[Benjogami]

Yo, really glad you're having a good time. Also glad your gf likes the Radiohead, lol. I feel like maybe I put too much Radiohead in, but there are just so many good midi renditions and they hit that nostalgia target just right for me, and the more cynical apocalyptic songs gave me quite a bit of direction when mapping.