Doom: Part 2 - Earth in Hell - Brand-new megawad from 1994

[Kam Tovalski]

                                                                                   

 

Imagine this scenario: It's mid-1994 and you get a copy of DOOM. You play this from beginning to end and with huge enjoyment of time well spent, you see an ending screen of episode 3, (you know, one with burning city and impaled Daisy). This is the moment you wonder 'Hey, actually how would the continuation of this look like?' Luckily, you have got a community-made editor, so you roll up your virtual sleeves and make your own vision of action located on Earth. You don't know about something called 'DOOM 2', because you live in a place, where internet connection is delivered in buckets, so any 'gaming news' is coming there as quite late.

 

This story is a background for the answer nobody asked for. Welcome to Doom: Part 2 - Earth in Hell megawad, which brings back early- and mid-1994 visuals and action to current times (or takes designers back in time - sort of). Let the Visplane Megaflow Team (@Kam Tovalski and @Walter confetti) be the host of this journey. Don't let the megawad's name fool you - this is all Doom 1 content, made so you can play it with early versions of Doom IWAD (including DOS-Doom, mostly).

 

Custom video and sfx content comes from such wads, like Galaxia, Eye of Beholder, JCM2-6.wad, Laura Beyer's Doom, and maybe more...
 

                                                                                      

 

SOME IMPORTANT INFO:

Spoiler

IWAD: doom.wad

Compatibility: Possibly with earliest versions of doom.wad
Editors used: Ultimate Doom Builder, Doom Builder X, SLADE 3, WadAuthor, Whacked

Tested with: CRL, Doom exe (v 1.9) on Dosbox

 

MAPSET:

Spoiler

Episode 1 - At Earth's Gate
E1M1 - Down to Earth (Kam)
E1M2 - Minor Computing Sector (Kam)
E1M3 - Parking Lot Invasion (Kam)
E1M4 - Atomic Violence (Walter)
E1M5 - RATS (Kam)
E1M6 - Teleportation Hub (Kam)
E1M7 - Techno Chinatown (Walter)
E1M8 - Airport (Walter)
E1M9 - Bad Red End (Kam)

Episode 2 - Wasteland City

E2M1 - Hard Landing (Kam)
E2M2 - Pump it down! (Kam)

E2M3 - Blood Inc. (Kam)

E2M4 - Asylum Danger (Kam)

E2M5 - Processing Core (Kam)

E2M6 - The Last Station (Walter)

E2M7 - Crescent Base (Kam)

E2M8 - Reol Wars of Mu (Walter)

E2M9 - Muse of Death (Kam)

 

Episode 3: Armageddon of Time

E3M1 - Klein Hell (Kam)

E3M2 - Devil's Cauldron (Walter)

E3M3 - Frontier (Walter)

E3M4 - Portals (Kam)

E3M5 - UAC Barracks (Walter)

E3M6 - Mirage (Kam)

E3M7 - Nursery (Walter)

E3M8 - All Known's Gone (Kam)

E3M9 - Doomenstein-3D (Kam)

 

MUSIC:

Spoiler

E1M1 - Doom - E2M1
E1M2 - 'Outdoor Sports' by Passport Designs Inc.
E1M3 - 'Orient Express' by Jean Michelle Jarre
E1M4 - stock
E1M5 - sentin.mid
E1M6 - 'Supaplex' theme by David Whittaker
E1M7 - 'Big in Japan' by Alphaville
E1M8 - stock
E1M9 - Shim Shin - You Are The Only One (taken from whitroom.wad)

E2M1 - The Phantom of the Opera (taken from Heroes 2)
E2M2 - 'Das Modell' by Kraftwerk

E2M3 - 'Strangelove' by Depeche Mode

E2M4 - E3M9 from megawad.wad

E2M5 - 'Mantis' by Mark Klem

E2M6 - 'Black Celebration' by Depeche Mode

E2M7 - Level 1 from Last Ninja 2

E2M8 - warmovie.mid

E2M9 - 'Rendez-Vous 2' by J. M. Jarre

E3M1 - kabbalah.mid

E3M2 - 'Death March' by Rich Nagel

E3M3 - D_E1M7 from pop.wad

E3M4 - 'Chronologie 2' by J.M. Jarre

E3M5 - E1M9 from Heroes

E3M6 - 'Das Boot' by U96

E3M7 - Stock

E3M8 - 'Final Countdown' by Europe

E3M9 - 'Funk You' from Wolfenstein 3-D (recreated by Kam)

 

INTRO - tokkata6.mid

INTER - gmbigcit.mid

ENDSCREEN - sentin.mid

Daisy screen - 'Moonlight Sonata' (edited by Kam)

 

You can listen to the OST right away here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gB_jg-FUME

 

SCREENSHOTS:

Spoiler

 

DROPBOX LINK:

Spoiler

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vn0ct5afhg4l24i30d4cq/DP2_EIH.zip?rlkey=7nviy972zuybb8gs81b00alaz&st=p492r1rv&dl=0

Contents of DP2_EIH.zip file:

- DP2_EIH.wad - the wad itself

- DP2_EIH.txt - ReadMe file

- DP2_EIH.deh - deHacked file (alteres automap text and text screens at the end of episodes)

- DP2_EIH.bat - batch file set for DSDA-Doom sourceport as default (easy to adjust)

 

VMT

Edited June 8 by Kam Tovalski

[Walter confetti]

I hope you people have fun as we have working on it! Tell us what do you think about this!

[Async Unicorn]

Jeez, it's so authentic, that if you gave me these levels without context - I would say that it's definitely a wad from 1994-1995 shareware disc.
The fact that the levels are new gives only Dehacked, because in the 90s they were usually not taken care of, but in terms of design and music - it's like it was back then.

Good job, I like it, cause I'm that rare guy who sometimes likes to play 90s levels, whatever they are in comparison with the new ones, :D

 

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by Vanilla+Unicorn

[Walter confetti]

A run of the episode using Doom 1.1 with DosBox:

 

[Rudolph]

It looks alright, but I admit I am a bit disappointed that it is not a reimagining of Doom II for Doom. :S

[Kam Tovalski]

Quick wad update:
- Fixed the extra Ultimate Doom line actions in E1M3 and E1M5;
- Fixed the flipped switch linedef and slightly altered monster difficulty settings in E1M8.

New link in the top thread

[Walter confetti]

9 hours ago, Rudolph said:

It looks alright, but I admit I am a bit disappointed that it is not a reimagining of Doom II for Doom. :S

There's always time and occasions for that, even by other people lol

Also, you can keep E1M4 and E1M7 as poor men versions of MAP04 and MAP13 rofl

 

BTW, did you known:

Spoiler

That actually in the earliest brainstorming phase i asked to Kam if we can use the prerelease pictures of Doom 2 as base or inspiration for maps?

 

[Firedust]

Hell yeah, more classic doom maps for us!

 

Hopefully, you haven't abandoned your OG Doom megawad either KT xD

[Rudolph]

4 hours ago, Walter confetti said:

There's always time and occasions for that, even by other people lol

Also, you can keep E1M4 and E1M7 as poor men versions of MAP04 and MAP13 rofl

Oh, I am not really complaining. It is just that based on the screens alone, it looks like you are just reusing Knee-Deep In The Dead's skybox (which did not look like Phobos at all to begin with, I know) as well as its intermission screen. I guess I was expecting you to use Doom II's or even Thy Flesh Consumed's there, given how the mapset is supposed to be set on Earth.

Edited November 28, 2023 by Rudolph

[Noiser]

Oh my, this is really inspiring! It really looks like something made at that time, in the best way possible. The 90's flair is spot on and the layout seems very creative!

Edited November 29, 2023 by Noiser

[50milliarden]

This takes me back to 1993, when I played the shareware version of episode 1 and didn't know yet that I had found a game that would last me for the next 30 years...

Super nostalgic episode, great fun, I enjoyed it a lot!

It won't win any beauty contests and there's some minor issues here and there (misaligned textures in map 3 and nasty HOM in map 6), but gameplay is generally solid and that's what counts. Loved the plethora of clever secrets too - though while I found all official ones, I couldn't locate the secret exit to E1M9... are you supposed to IDCLEV into it?

[Walter confetti]

3 hours ago, Rudolph said:

Oh, I am not really complaining. 

Neither do I, i was just joking.

51 minutes ago, 50milliarden said:

I couldn't locate the secret exit to E1M9... are you supposed to IDCLEV into it?

No, a series of pillars opens up when you cross a line after you exit from locked yellow key room in the 1st story of parking lot (the central one in E1M3)

Spoiler

After you lower the wall in the "hidden" crate storage room in that area.

 

[Kam Tovalski]

7 hours ago, Firedust said:

Hell yeah, more classic doom maps for us!

 

Hopefully, you haven't abandoned your OG Doom megawad either KT xD

@FiredustNah, I don't think I have abandoned Target, although this will be developed again in the future, for right now I have other priorities. :)

 

4 hours ago, Rudolph said:

Oh, I am not really complaining. It is just that based on the screens alone, it looks like you are just reusing Knee-Deep In The Dead's skybox (which did not look like Phobos at all to begin with, I know) as well as its intermission screen. I guess I was expecting you to use Doom II's or even Thy Flesh Consumed's there, given how the mapset is supposed to be set on Earth.

@Rudolph We are going to limit to stock textures and flats in this project, just to stick more to the 'plot'. The intermission screens will be replaced in the final release, just I need to come up with some ideas to them :D

BTW: I did small update of teleporting lines at E1M1. Updated Dropbox link on top of thread.

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by Kam Tovalski

[Hyacsho]

Can't wait to give it a go!

[Rudolph]

On 11/28/2023 at 12:40 PM, Kam Tovalski said:

We are going to limit to stock textures and flats in this project, just to stick more to the 'plot'. The intermission screens will be replaced in the final release, just I need to come up with some ideas to them :D

So it is more like The Lost Episodes of Doom - only with better level design, hopefully?

[Kam Tovalski]

52 minutes ago, Rudolph said:

So it is more like The Lost Episodes of Doom - only with better level design, hopefully?

Walter said me couple time, that there are some small similarites to 'The Lost Episodes...', although I did them unintentionally :D
There will be maps, that could also work as standalone wads as well.
So I guess statement is kinda true.

[Hyacsho]

Played the first few levels of the wad, pretty awesome! Hope you enjoy the gameplay:

 

[Walter confetti]

On 12/1/2023 at 4:11 PM, Rudolph said:

So it is more like The Lost Episodes of Doom - only with better level design, hopefully?

More something like a WAD compilation like Heroes or Wadpak series, at least i use this concept while making the maps...

 

Also, fun streaming @Hyacsho!

Edited December 2, 2023 by Walter confetti

[Rudolph]

Okay, I finally started giving a shot, but already, I cannot help but notice something wrong with the level names.

 

For some reason, they do not quite match the names given in the OP. e.g. "E4M1: Earth" instead of "Down To Earth".

[Walter confetti]

Because for vanilla Doom there's a charatchers limit in Dehacked editing, so for compromizing these limits i wrote the map names in that shortened way.

[Rudolph]

Okay, but why the "E4Mx" part? Is Episode 1 supposed to be replacing Episode 4?

[Kam Tovalski]

2 hours ago, Rudolph said:

Okay, but why the "E4Mx" part? Is Episode 1 supposed to be replacing Episode 4?

@Rudolph Since we make it as a 'continuation' of original episodes 1-3, naming Ep. 1 as kind of episode 4 seems sensible. Just nice Walter's touch for details.

Also, If we name it as Episode 4 right away, you might seek for "Thy Flesh Consumed" at first sight.

And we don't call it as a replacement for Ep. 4, because in our timeline "TFC" didn't exist yet ;)

[Rudolph]

Then would it not make more sense to make it a Thy Flesh Consumed replacement? This would free some characters for the level names.

[Kam Tovalski]

2 minutes ago, Rudolph said:

Then would it not make more sense to make it a Thy Flesh Consumed replacement? This would free some characters for the level names.

There will be more episodes: 5 and 6 ;)
(Or ep. 2 and 3 respectively)

Edited December 4, 2023 by Kam Tovalski

[Rudolph]

5 hours ago, Walter confetti said:

Because for vanilla Doom there's a character limit in Dehacked editing, so for compromizing these limits i wrote the map names in that shortened way.

I think you can increase the character number by editing the second numerical value (Text xx xx) to match the new level name's character count (including spaces). I managed to do make "Down to Earth" appear entirely by changing the vanilla value "11" to "13".

Edited December 4, 2023 by Rudolph

[Bri0che]

I am a big fan this far :D

I always loved this charm of old maps done by very amateurish people that didn't knew anything about level design standards or level design by itself, but just made maps because they damn liked the game. Such maps really had a soul, despite sometimes being frustrating… You really kept that feeling, and "watered down" the frustrating part if I may say so. Really good work !

[Hyacsho]

On 12/2/2023 at 10:08 PM, Walter confetti said:

More something like a WAD compilation like Heroes or Wadpak series, at least i use this concept while making the maps...

 

Also, fun streaming @Hyacsho!

AMazing experience, and I really want to finish it and make more videos on it. I'm never disappointed in anything I've seen from Tova, and so pleased to have found your work too!

[Roofi]

Well, I began to play and record this map on DOOM.EXE and this is pure lovely stuff. I played the first three levels for now and it manages to catch the charm of cheesy 1994's tropes without caricaturing them as the maps have way more intuitive design than the actual maps made in 1994. I also really like how easy the maps are, it's the kind of stuff which exist to make you feel chill and nostalgic.

 

E1M3 is my favourite  map, damn those poorly rendered cars are cute and the idea to create fake overlapping floors with teleporters is neat ! Kam also seems to have good musical taste by choosing a music by Jean-Michel Jarre. His compositions really suit that old-school feel.

 

Now about the bugs :

 

E1M1

 

- Spotted some obvious tutti-fruttis (check at : 0:26 ; the step at 3:05 and the computer at 3:08 of the video)

- buggy midtex at 1:53

 

E1M3

 

- Some missing textures on steps near the blue key (check at 9:26 and 9:07)

- A buggy sector at the upper part of the parking (check at 5:30)

 

Keep it up men !

 

My videos so far :

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by Roofi

[Walter confetti]

Aren't tutti-frutti, HOM and missing textures add to the 1994 charm? At least i see It in this way... Thanks for playing, waiting to see what do you say for the next maps!

[Roofi]

2 minutes ago, Walter confetti said:

Aren't tutti-frutti, HOM and missing textures add to the 1994 charm? At least i see It in this way... Thanks for playing, waiting to see what do you say for the next maps!

 

Maybe for the tutti-fruttis, but the missing textures and HOMS are still bugs that need to be fixed to me, no matter when the wad is released.