P41R47

DBP37: Auger;Zenith - THE Cyberpunk Megawad! by @SuperCupcakeTactics, @40oz , @matador , @joe-ilya @Redead-ITA, @Lunch Lunch , @Fryuko , @valkiriforce , @WashingMachineEnthusiasts , @Chris Moyer, @JadingTsunami, @Peerdolius.
Completed on HNTR 18/07/2021
RATING: ***** (5/5)

Cyberpunk is a genre or theme we don't see much around Doom mapsets. Yes, we have the old Dystopia 3, STRAIN, HACX, and Mutiny, and those, except HACX, lean more into the dystopic sci-fi than into Cyberpunk. Aside from that, there are some insolated maps inside other mapset that made use of the aesthetic. Valiant has one map that occur on a virtual reality, Eviternity automated episode has glimpses of mechanized utopia, and just a few more play with the theme.

This mapset made by the DBP guys, is the first one that delves into the Blade Runner aesthetic-side of the Cyberpunk genre, one i usually call, Cybernoir, as it blends crime fiction with sci-fi speculative fiction, but without delving too much with the virtual reality.

From the get go this mapset is a pure joy to the eye, there is a complete set of new textures that made use of a new colorpal to maximize the neon fueled seizure inducing visual appeal.

The first map is an awesome introduction to the story that is behind the mapset. The whole mapset is full of incredible details that goes beyond the contextual storytelling. This mapset feels like an alive world, that suddenly got invaded. There are restaurants, flats, streets, all inmersed on blinding lights that constantly move from one side to another, and there are adds showing entertainments that play for laugh breaking the fourth wall but at the same time, going deeper onto the backstory of this mapset.

Those elements combined instill the feeling that we are on a different world, with it own rules and with it own idiosincracy. And this is a feeling i didn't get while playing Doom, almost never feel it to the heights this mapset take it.

That alone give the mapset a complete new point of view from where rate it.
The INMERSION on it, is far beyond anything made to this very day on the Doom modding scene.

Recommended to most players that want something else than just a good gameplay, and especially for those that really like atmospheric and moody mapsets.

This one could be totally the king of them all.

Map01: "Glass Messiah" by SuperCupcakesTactics.

The introductory maps start with an add announcement on the distance, and the totally awesome midi from Snatcher. This map serves as an introduction to the dehacked made breakable glass windows. Not all of them are breakable, and so, this map serves just right to teach that. It may feel visually jarring, with a lot of colours on screen, and even with a convulted progression, but after exploring it a little, the map comes full circle, offering  a great experience.
Its is kinda non-linear thanks to the great side areas. And has plenty of secrets to explore with pleasure.
Kudos to the add on the outside garden that has a referece to the movie Drive by Winding Refn

Map02: "Financial" by 40oz
The map starts on at the side of a subway train, then some streets and slowly the player made it to a set of offices. The streets are dark, with the textures being on a shade of blue and gray that plays marvelously to depict the lonelines and low-life of the outside. When we reach the offices, suddenly all is bright and ultra shining, contrasting perfectly with the previous streets.
This one is linear, but has great visuals to waste time looking at them.

Map03: "Starlight Square" by Matador.

Start inside the subway and we are then out on the commercial district, there are adds almost everywhere, and great use of verticallity showing how is the life near the floor and how raved up are the flats up there. Visually pleasing, with really good set of secrets, another outstanding  non-linear map.

Map04: "Meat Mincer" by Joe-Ilya.

Probably the weakest map of the set, a complete linear map that can be played like a obstacle course. The Sonic The Hedgehog midi on it helps infuse it a sense of speed that make its even shorter than it really is. It plays really well even when its not that visually interesting as the previous maps.

Map05: "Mega-city Vengeance" by SuperCupcakesTactics & Redead-ITA.
From the get go we are greeted with the words ''Judgement Time'', and in front of us, a shotgun, a soulsphere, and a mega armor. That only means one thing, a great challenge ahead.
We enter a building and it demon infested reception hall. A great fight to warm out. And then the whole map is a going up onto the different floors of the map, being in constant fire by the Mastermind.

Excellent maps, even when its linear, it delivers a great challenge.
The excellent midi from Streets of Rage 2 really adds to the constant movement nature of the map.

Map06: "Android District" by Lunch Lunch.

''No loger safe in android distric'', this is the first sight of the map. Outside the window of out flat, there is a downpour. The mood of this map is just awesome, and we are almost too confortable to go outside.

Linear with excellent side areas that connects our flat to the streets and to another buildings.
The rain trick is something i want to know, is it a midtexture, or a sprite with it added sound effect?

Map07: "Cyberkill" by Fryuko.

This maps start on the streets and into some commerces, even a bathroom with a hidden gloryhole room. So dirty and so funny!
This is the first map that give me problems, but mostly because i'm a sucker for the secrets. It has the first Arch-vile, i think, and an escalating challenge as we explore and found the different keys.
A linear map, but soo well detailed and designed that it doesn't seem like it.

MAP08: "Corporate Loophole" by Valkiriforce
A really nice view of the city from a balcony, and a chaingun between glass windows. An amazing map that totally feels like a corporate office with different sections and all. And even cool teleporters interconnectinf the different areas, for better movement of the employes, of course.

The final area is an ascending battle into the corporate tower. Really good map.

MAP09: "The Last Resort" by Washing Machine Enthusiasts

A hot start for a hot map. We are on a dancing club, and the atmosphere is drunkening. It may look a little simple, but the different areas are greatly designed. The resting area, the bathrooms, the VIP area, and even a cool Arch-vile DJ. But the queen of the dance floor is our multi-leged Mastermind. Albeit we are better, and smash it to the ground.

MAP10: "Photon Geyser" by Chris Moyer

At the rhythm of Escape from New York theme song, we jump to the streets of this decaying city, and enter a gigantic building. The areas are greatly detailed and interesting. The last fight arena is soo big and detailed that it even breaks the limit of limit-removing ports causing the allghost bug.

MAP11: "Neon Artifacts" by JadingTsunami
Episode ends with this amazing sandbox map that has nasty encounters at every corner. Waltzing at the streets of rage track we made our way into every building collecting the keys. Great set pieces of fights with a good Cyber fight at the end.

MAP12: "Altered States" by 40oz

This map is a reference to Afraid of Monster, a Half-Life Total Conversion that is a totally psychedelic trip. And this map is totally bonkers. Could be stright up taken out from A.L.T.
A bit linear, but a great trippy experience.

MAP13: "Lower Salt Lake City" by LunchLunch
Probably one of the few maps that use a quite track, and it deserves it. Great atmosphere and awesome areas to explore. The opening shot with the fire and the destroyed street is just amazing. The maps is really short, but it has great encounters that make it feel far longer.

MAP14: "Azure Wasteland" by JadingTsunami

We are in another night club, and this time things get really hot. The areas are smallers, and the dance is hardcore. There are some sewer-like side areas and a great last open fight at the end.

MAP15: "The Vinculum Gate" by SuperCupcakeTactics

This map is a collector like map, with different areas to tackle. There is an obvious reference that made me laugh out my ass from the seat. ''Guns, lots of Guns''. Good one Cuppy ;)
Excellent map.

MAP16: "Neo-Bronx Rumble" by Peerdolius

We start the maps on the streets and make our way into a factory of some sort, that, obviously, we dismantle. The music track is one of the boss songs from Streets of Rage, and it greatly enhances the menacing nature of the map.

MAP17: "Luminescent Synapse" by SuperCupcakeTactics
Every mapset has a mastodon map, and this is this map. The first time i played it (yes, i played it a second time when RC2 come out) took me almost an hour to complete it, second time just a 15 minutes as i knew my way through it.
Everything is on this map, every neat detail, the layout, the atmosphere, every thinkeable area that could be part of a cyberpunk metropolis is depicted on this map. SuperCupcakesTactics made not only an awesome map. One can just get lost on this map looking at all the amazing details and secrets on it.
And also, its a real treat, so the challenge and the fun are on par with the amazing design.

Best map of the set for me.

MAP18: "Miami Anomaly" by Fryuko

Don't know exactly why, but i love this map. Everything on this somewhat sandboxey map is cool. The views are just gorgeous and the secrets are top notch. The Streets of Rage beach track lift it to even more fun heights.

MAP19: "Sunset Plaza" by 40oz
Gigantic mall full of dangerous hitscanners and proyectile fire. There are a really good amount of secrets on it, and delivers a great experience even when its kinda monochromatic. The last area is kinda a let down as it promises an awesome fight, but i accidentally reached the ending line while circle strafing, so thats something to fix i think.

MAP20: "Electric Rave" by 40oz

We infiltrate a night club, and this one is the real treat. Another killer map full of great encounters. The visuals are really trippy, and the music track transform it on a LSD infused rave. There is no bad moment on this map. And the secret area that jokes with the original Doom II is just amazing.

MAP21: "The Cynet Reaper" by SuperCupcakeTactics
The last map. From the get go is a brutal fight to the top of a staircase, with fire from multiple angles. After that, comes a brutal live performance by us, just to please the insane crowd of monsters. The final fight is against the super computer that brought the demons to this realm, apparently. I love this map, even when its just a linear and brutal fight to the end area.

Map22: Credits Map
A greatly designed map showcasing the names of the authors of the different maps. There are some items to be retrieved from the cars we start on and on the sides. Not much to see aside from the amazing visuals to say goodbye to this amazing mapset.

Longs story short.
The Best DBP project so far for me. Making all the things that could be needed to inmerse the player on this cyberpunk world just right.