Your 10 Favorite Maps of the Year*?

[baja blast rd.]

*(Year can be "Nov 15 2020 to Nov 15 2021" if you'd rather do it that way.) 

 

This is something I was really curious about from many people.

 

Try to briefly explain your individual choices. And feel free to go past ten -- to 15 or 20 or even more -- if you have lots to say.

[galileo31dos01]

Viscous Realms and The Killing Pits: my reasons are in this other thread

 

UnderMine by BENCHY: regardless of some notable flaws with monsters and thin steps, I quite liked the setting from the get-go, the hidden toilet behind a curtain of blood and the railings as far as particular details go, the artistry behind crackle and fireblu together in the final area, and as an interesting aspect, it delves quickly into entryway slaughter(ish) gameplay: not too comfy, nor too demanding, endurance is tested for a short-medium period of time, something that's becoming more regular lately in individual maps and I embrace that accessibility

 

Crepitations by Soulless: orange isn't an easy colour to manage in doom, very few combinations have achieved that memorable striking appeal in a good way (tangerine nightmare, orange is true love, etc). OTEX arrived to serve justice, and this is one of numerous examples. It also plays wonderfully fun, engaging incidental combat, with cheeky traps aplenty, excellent use of spatial awareness, autumn-esque setting, fully playable in zdoom (yes!). Exciting, clever map, in short words.

 

Grotto of the Scorned by Valhen: will echo myself from the past: "very neat, pretty challenging map, offering a wide range of set piece combat ideas that wouldn't feel out of place in sunlust and combat shock -early- levels of violence, with a demand in movement-reaction that escalates quite quickly (surpassing plutonia by two or three levels) specially in the key-centric spots, and the highest difficulty in secret hunting I've found in a long time. Lots of little visual eye candies, playful with colours, reminding me of alien vendetta on an architectural/detailing side, and STRAIN music that evokes tension, one of my favorite midis" (rearranged this text so it doesn't look entirely copy/pasted). 

 

to be continued... 

 

EDIT:

 

Unhallowed by Cyano: such a masterpiece, loved the greens and browns, the blues and yellows, a mapper with excellent taste in color combinations, offering a selected roster primarily of slimmer/round beasts in different case scenarios, from micro-managing space, carving through hordes with the rocket launcher, utilizing cover and power tools with skill, that kind of shiz everyone knows, plus one of the most pacific vistas I've seen, located in a latter area, where a legion of cacodemons interrupt your moment, for a brief moment, heh.  

 

Dereliction Derby by PinkKittyRose: it's not news that we've been blessed this year, from talented well-known creators, to newcomers who arrived to greet us with the best of the bests 'first maps', so we go like "are you sure this is really your first map ever?" because holy shit, that is this incredible map. The quality of techbase realism, detail perfection, with things like a surgeon room (my fave) or a water dispenser, gave me CChest in steroids; the opulent zombie fiesta outside flew my mane off (as I missed the SSG, imagine my desperation holding just a chaingun for all of that lol), and the showstealer that was the final countdown (well yes, the mechanic functions as a countdown), though not to forget the pinky/rev brawl on the rocks, topped by archviles of course, or the elevator moment complete with appropriate music - two music changes in the same map! Yeah, chef kiss map. One can only wonder what's next after this...

Edited December 15, 2021 by galileo31dos01

[BetelgeuseSupergiant]

Atmospheric Extinction - beautiful megawad with 9 levels. It similar to Eviternity, what i really like. Detalisation and gameplay in this WAD are great! OTEX textures significantly improve the appearance of the maps. I can say that this is the best megawad this year :D

[LadyMistDragon]

Fear in Your Memories by Ghost Player

 

This map went completely ignored, but its definitely among the best single maps I've played this year. It's quite rough starting out in a tricky, vertical area, but things improve greatly from there, and I really liked up the Minecraft-esque castle. More than that, it just felt like a journey with an appropriately epic conclusion

 

CENTCOM from Fragor Portum by RiviTheWarlock

 

Epic final map that emerges after 4 mostly unchallenging maps comprising a vast array of sci-fi locations.

 

Deadly Attraction and On Her Majesty's Rowdy Service from March of the Speedemons by Peccatum Mizhamiz

 

A pair of epic and wonderfully creative maps. The former has this crazy elevator gimmick along with a not-so-epic gazebo fight with increasingly hyped-up messaging the longer it goes on. The latter is a literal ski adventure, just like the movie it's referencing with some chaotic combat toward the end.

 

Delirium Tremis from Luminous Gloom by lunchlunch

 

One of the best maps in a set with much surreal void-ness, this one packs a serious punch!

 

Last Ruin from Skulltiverse by Muumi

 

Awesomely sadistic traps and ambushes that are among the strongest this mapper has done set against the void back drop of this last episode

 

A Crack in the Skull from Skulltiverse by El Inferno

 

El Inferno is known more for brutally difficult slaughter maps, and while this isn't without challenge, it goes for a vibe completely against the grain of that. One time period is lively with life teeming everywhere, the other is far in the future after some catastrophe or another

 

Hell's Farthest Shore - Command Center by Lord Ent4opy

 

Huge and massive map that requires so much time to fully unravel, this is a largely fairly easy adventure, with the exception of a couple of huge fights (you'll know what they are if you've played this before)

 

Ventose from Deadly Standards 3 by Roofi

 

A little like Command Center, only using entirely vanilla texturing to create something as mysterious and haunting as you could imagine, with the music only boosting this perception. You could spend hours in here!

 

 

Gastroesophageal Junction from Metabolized by Soulless

 

I mean, you're inside a literal frickin' digestive cavity! The flesh episode of Skulltiverse is one thing, but this thing immerses you in a body a way that one never did!

 

 

Grotto of the Scorned by Valhen

 

Hot off the heels of Land of the Imps comes this epic adventure! Three different paths to choose from in any order with dynamics changing based on which one you travel, this is massive massive highlight with great differentiation between each zone.

 

System Failure from Old Still Life by Rednov

 

If you're gonna use "plasma" you'd better come loaded for bear regarding atmosphere, and this one does NOT disappoint. This space station is about as intricate and detailed as you could hope for. A rather tricky process to hunt down every switch so you can press them in order, this one is nevertheless quite fascinating, with some really cool secrets that reward the greatly observant. And if you're aware enough of your surroundings, you won't even need a map for the most part!

 

 

In Kasei Valles from 1000 Lines 3 by Aurelius

 

There's something interesting to me about someone gettting into the Mars theme so to speak, by looking up actual Martian geography. Idk, all I know is that among possibly the strongest megawad released this year I've played, this stands out. Awesome use of verticality, bits of combat puzzling, and zero hesitation in making skilled players pull out all the stops, it won't be one to forget anytime soon!

Edited December 15, 2021 by LadyMistDragon

[lunchlunch]

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Edited October 18, 2022 by lunchlunch

[Tarnsman]

-Get Shafted by Skillsaw (Heartland)

Fantastic vertical romp with cool tram sequence and great final fight.

 

-Waste Abandonment by Pavera (Arrival)

Pure fun. The best map 01.

 

-Alfonzo Throws Hands with the Purple People Eater by Breezeep (10 Years of Doom)

All around solid map in ever department with excellent use of color and atmosphere.

 

-Symbiotic Infestation by Lord_Z (Intergalactic Xenology 2)

Fun idea pulled off well.

 

-Heart Attack by Anonymous (HFFM)

Anything that reminds me of a Donkey Kong Country 2 level will always be top tier for me.

 

-Nameless by Jimmy (Single Map)

Great palette, great layout. Just good Jimmy stuff.

 

-Danger Lights by DMPhobos (Arceon)

Really every map from Arceon could be in this spot. They're all fantastic open flowing gems. This one just gets the nod for having a unique damaging floor concept.

 

-Cerulean Depths by Rayziik (Judgement)

Sexy blue and black sprawl reminiscent of Sunlust. Also having two blue ranges in your palette is always a good thing.

 

-Norwitch Lane by LunchLunch (Ad Mortem)

Nice atmospheric Halloween map with some very cool locales like the ending cathedral.

 

-The Cradle by Insane Gazebo (Haste)

Combines all the things I love above Insane Gazebo maps with a smaller Plutonia-esque monster count and run time that I also love. Also the super easy platforming section at the end puts a smile on my face after all the much more devious platforming IG maps tend to come with.

Edited December 25, 2021 by Tarnsman

[TheMagicMushroomMan]

Lullaby!

 

(Will explain when have time!)

Edited December 25, 2021 by TheMagicMushroomMan