UnknDoomer's corner of ultra silence - Short WAD Reviews / Longplays / Hints

[UnknDoomer]

216. BITTER DREAM (2024 / 2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... n-idgames/

Wad of 10 levels, 9 main and 1 as an epilogue, built on the average principle - each subsequent level is more difficult than the previous one. The entourage is a combination, however here rather conditional, of a journey in a "bitter dream", mainly expressed in an abstract interpretation of local events and cold, deep space, represented both by the environment and the general unfriendliness of the local inhabitants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFmceTit-RE (trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvOsgi3Mprs (video)

The difficulty level can be assessed as quite high - the wad is generally a typical tribute to the modern fashion for killer and high-speed maps of the "slaughter" format with a large number of enemies, the number of which in some places can easily go beyond 1000 and 3000. Despite the fact that there are not many maps, the passage, without an emphasis on 100%, is quite easy, also a characteristic element of this kind of work, stretches out for several hours.

New monsters - green, exploding skulls.

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion will take ~ 5 hours.

[UnknDoomer]

217. OSTERITY (2024 / 2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... -of-texas/

The action of this wad, consisting of 8 levels, 7 main and 1 for the epilogue unfolds in the agreed Texas. The story starts with a completely ordinary study of a technogenic-scientific complex, lost somewhere in the mountains, where, as usual, something went wrong, but in the process the entourage is overgrown with a lot of other elements, in a wide range from inclusions of gothic and an abandoned mansion, western, some degree of surrealism, which alternates with more typical elements, mainly according to the principle first there is a large base / another location, then something extraordinary, but fleeting, then again a large-scale level. In one of the segments you will have to visit the id Software office, recreated based on the 1993 video.

There are custom textures and monsters. Of special note is the texture of the eyes with a green frame. In the original game, as in the vast majority of wads, these are just textures. Here, a number of others can spawn lost souls that will haunt the player until the ill-fated object itself is destroyed. In addition to this, there is a greenish fire, the specifics of whose origin are not revealed in any way, but the general essence of its work is approximately the same - it is usually impossible to get rid of it, and it can spawn almost the entire available roster of enemies, excluding the most lethal types of them. There are no bosses in the wad, the story ends with an ordinary skirmish with a single cyberdemon on a narrow flight of stairs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1qdmB2mjAs (trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgRnzjQHg2Y (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, UV difficulty.
* Full completion will take ~ 2,5-3 hours.

[UnknDoomer]

218. 99-99 (2024 / 2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... n-idgames/

Wad of 32 levels (2 secret), built on the principle of a maximum of 99 lines for building a location and a maximum of 99 monsters / items per location. Despite the given restrictions, there are quite intricate examples, and the overall timing is not so fleeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHMF17VmpQE (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion will take ~ 3 hours.

Secret levels.

---

M15 -> M31.
M31 -> M32.

[UnknDoomer]

219. The Casali Collection (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... ollection/

This wad is a compilation / collection of all known maps created at different times by the Casali brothers, who are better known to the public for the recognized official add-ons TNT - Evilution (1996) and The Plutonia Experiment (1996). In total, it includes a set of 8 single levels, 2 levels that duplicate those from the main set, but in which changes were made in the context of the roster of selected monsters, as well as 13 maps for the deathmatch mode, where, in some places, there are monsters.

Single levels are distinguished by a high level of difficulty, which in general significantly exceeds what could be seen in the aforementioned add-ons and, in fact, in many ways resemble a modern interpretation of what is called "slaughter maps". Otherwise, it can be noted that the map "Butcher" was later included in Plutonia under the name "Abattoire", "No Mercy" was planned to be included in Evilution, but during development this idea was abandoned, the map "Vault" appeared in the wad known as Requiem (1997), where it went under the name "Hatred", and "Punisher" is a significantly more complex, but easily recognizable M1 from the original Doom II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD8anRu9MbM (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion (8 maps) will take ~ 3 hours.

[UnknDoomer]

220. H384 (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... 4-heretic/

A wad of 9 (1 secret) levels for Heretic, notable for two features. The first is its compactness, the size of the maps does not exceed 384x384. The second is that despite this format, the work turned out to be of high quality, the maps are quite detailed, the balance of difficulty is maintained. In this sense, this wad is in no way inferior, and in some ways even superior, to the previously reviewed Confinement 256 (2017 / 2018) for Doom II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX6iHzYGvXY (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, difficulty 4/5.
* Complete completion will take ~ 20 minutes.

Secret level.

---

M6 -> M9.

[UnknDoomer]

221. DESECRATION (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... n-idgames/

A fairly standard Hexen wad, built on the classic formula of a hub and several branches. Puzzles are kept to a minimum, the narrative is generally linear, although in places you need to run back and forth, collecting individual items here is not much different from finding another key. Of the outstanding features, perhaps only the redesigned sky can be noted. To access the secret level, apparently, you need to find all the mushrooms scattered around the area. I was not in the mood for such an approach, so I used noclip. The level is nothing special, not to mention the peculiar rastafarian humor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IfjFONWXrs (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, difficulty 4/5.
* Walpurgis 1.0.
* Complete completion will take ~ 1,5 hours.

[UnknDoomer]

222. Necrosis: Reanimated (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... eanimated/

An updated version of the wad for Hexen, which I once talked about earlier and which was originally released in 2009. The main changes can be described by the well-known slogan - faster, higher, stronger. More levels, 12 instead of 9, including 2 secret ones, new types of enemies, etc. More detailed information on the local plot, enemy types and items can be found in this message from the author from 8.04.25. Otherwise, it can be noted that all three classes now operate with their standard, not modified weapons, and the structure of the previously created levels itself has not been radically adjusted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZQPFgRi65I (trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlAjcG1Z5UI (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, difficulty 4/5.
* Complete completion will take ~ 3 hours.

Secret levels.

---

M3 -> M6. Not far from the main exit, on the upper floor, you can find a chain. It will open a quite noticeable plate nearby.
M8 -> M12. After the skirmish with the gray ghosts, you need to go to the place where they appeared and press the chain. Pressing it will open a plate in the northwest of the map.

[UnknDoomer]

2. The Dark Host (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... oom-hexen/

A single map for Hexen, which is a large fortress. The main feature is the seriously limited ammunition - the emphasis is shifted from direct confrontation with monsters to the active use of consumables, namely, to the summoning of friendly malotaurs, which are available here in abundance. During the exploration, you can find several secrets. In the finale, a boss awaits, defeating which, however, given the available assistants, will not be difficult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMhroRc19So (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.1, difficulty 4/5.
* Complete completion will take ~ 1 hour.

[UnknDoomer]

223. Earthless (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... lease-v12/

A wad of 32 (2 secret) levels for Doom II, which took the author ~ 4,5 years to create. Now included in the list of official add-ons. It is a sequel to the previously reviewed Deathless (2018 / 2020). Demons, once again, left the inhabitants of the Earth without their own planet. A lone traveler goes to figure out what happened. Custom content is available in small quantities - the work as a whole is tailored according to the classic formula, with gradually increasing complexity. It is divided into six episodes of five levels each, the context and entourage of which also follows the usual standards - man-made bases are gradually replaced by other worlds. The thirty-second level stands apart from all the others, which is a puzzle lost in the rocks with a search for keys and switches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SFjCIADfa8 (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.2, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion will take ~ 8,5 hours.

Secret levels.

---

M15 -> M31. The Archvile encountered at the end can throw Doomguy over one of the barriers.
M31 -> M32. You can open the wall near the main exit - a pillar will appear. Then you need to launch a rocket at the last one so that the hero's body is thrown under the nearest opening.

[UnknDoomer]

224. Limit Buffet (2023).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... s-idgames/

A wad of 39 (2 secret and 7 bonus) levels created by a group of authors with the condition that each map had to be implemented according to certain restrictions, which can be found either in the corresponding topic at the link above, or on the title screen during the loading of the next location. Although the initial emphasis, apparently, was on run & gun gameplay and most of the maps correspond to this concept, there are also quite long segments here, to a greater extent conveying the spirit of combat puzzles, and the difficulty varies from moderate to, in the case of the last third of the wad, killer like. There is custom content, mainly represented by new types of monsters, including smaller but nimble cacodemons and barons, combining a regular attack with a missile launch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaNiEYEG_Y4 (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.2, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion will take ~ 7 hours.

Secret levels.

---

M15 -> M31. The secret teleport is located next to the main one and is opened by pressing the switch in the long corridor.
M31 -> M32.

[UnknDoomer]

225. ColdWire (2025).

https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/1 ... -coldwire/

Wad of 13 levels (1 slot each for the introduction and credits, i.e. actually 11), with a predominance of cold tones, combined with urban development. As a result of an extraordinary unsuccessful experiment on the UAC side, the local area becomes deserted and the ruins of an abstract city, executed in a constructionist key, are filled with demons. The locations are mostly moderate in size, the same can be said about the number of opponents. There is a good atmospheric soundtrack, there are inclusions of custom elements, a couple of unique types of monsters - flying imps and zombies with rockets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HkkczAcsvM (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.2, UV difficulty.
* Complete completion will take ~ 3 hours.

[UnknDoomer]

226. Doom 64 for Doom II (2019). 111 in the community top.

A free remake of Doom 64, consisting of 32 (2 secret) levels, transferring all the key elements of the original, including the final boss, to the realities of Doom II. Runes were left overboard, at the same time, there are elements that were initially absent - missing types of monsters, such as archviles, increased dynamics of the gameplay. Work on the wad initially began in 2013, but the final version was able to see the light of day only six years later, in 2019.

https://youtu.be/-f2vBW9GMZU (trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtDE128A-vk (video)

Settings and features:

* GzDoom 4.14.2, UV difficulty.
* Full completion will take ~ 5,5 hours.

Secret levels.

---

M15 -> M31. In the north of the map it makes sense to pay attention to a peculiar arrow and the wall it points to.
M31 -> M32. You will need to get all three colored skulls.

[UnknDoomer]

227. Faith Renewed (2025).

The line of remasters released by Nightdive Studios, 8.08.25 quite naturally reached Heretic and Hexen. The standard set of transformations of classic games for such cases was accompanied by the release of two wads. The first one, for Heretic, consists of 9 (1 secret) levels and, by and large, does not offer anything fundamentally new against the background of what could be seen over the past few years in various fan works. Among the authors, there were several names of mapmakers widely known in narrow circles, among which is Not Jabba. Of the new content, two types of monsters were brought in, which are a reworked sprite of local mummies and ettins taken from Hexen, which here turned into a more formidable force when it comes to close-range combat (at the same time, additional materials indicate that both types of monsters are cut content from early builds of the game)
. There is one new ultimate staff, which is a weapon similar to the one used in the original D'Sparil. From other content, there is an option to include a remix version instead of the original soundtrack. The structure of the original levels remains the same, but stylistically they have been updated.

https://youtu.be/jnzow2f3Rt4Trailer (trailer) https://youtu.be/-k7pU91u4N4 (video)

Settings and features:

* Difficulty 4/5.
* Complete completion will take ~ 3-3,5 hours.

Secret level.

---

M6 -> M9. You will need to find two secrets in sequence, picking up the urn will open a secret exit.

[UnknDoomer]

228. Vestiges Of Grandeur (2025).

The second work from Nightdive Studios is a wad for Hexen, generally tailored according to the usual principle - there is an introductory part, an epilogue, and between them a hub, from which the path to four relatively simply structured and stylistically varying levels lies. As always, you will have to run there and back as much as you want, there is enough backtracking, collect items and solve puzzles that do not raise any special questions here. The cleric is weak at the start, but is the ultimate in obtaining the last weapon (he can defeat Corax in less than 5 seconds), the mage is universal. You will encounter intermediate bosses several times. There are two global innovations. First, the map has designations of key items and a marker where you should go next. Second, as you progress, in specially designated places, you can switch to another class.

Overall, a well-tailored wad. On the one hand, it doesn’t stand out in any special way and doesn’t offer anything fundamentally new against the background of a number of more remarkable fan works of recent years, on the other hand, at a qualitative level, it feels more interesting than the previously reviewed work for Heretic.

BTW. The original Hexen itself now has updated cutscenes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9ywJOB6Fk (video)

Settings and features:

* Difficulty 4/5.
* Complete completion will take ~ 7 hours.

Secret level.

---

Each branch from the hub hides one chain. If you switch all four, a switch will appear in the hub, which is also a teleporter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnQf6TkYQzQ (video)