interesting wads with original gameplay

[Gendo]

preferrably for ZDoom but not necessarily. can anyone recommend anything? i mean, levels with non-linear gameplay, interactive environment, possibly strife-like (or better) conversation elements? i've seen very few such wads...

[Phobus]

The City of the Damned: Apocalypse by T667 would be a good one there. Enjay's Marine Assault and Operation Overlord are very novel when compared to the usual fare. ZPack has a few (particularly most maps in Episode 2 are different, and of course E3M0). Aside from that, not too many come to mind. My wads general have novel additions, so I guess Twisted Joke and White Light are rather original in that respect.

[Gendo]

ok thanks, also for pimping your own wads no, really. i never played your maps, i think.

[Wills]

Cyberdreams. Rather than running and gunning, you're left with only a pistol versus Cyberdemons, often two or three at once. You have to be creative and use the environment around you (and, of course, your own lightning-fast reflexes) to kill the Cyberdemons. Very original and tough.

[Project Shadowcat]

I would have also mentioned Cyberdreams until Wills beat me to it. Good shit, will play again.

I kind of thought that the wrench Super Sonic Doom threw into the normal Doom formula was pretty cool. Instead of Sonic in Doom, it was Doom in Sonic; lots of maps were inspired by the Sonic mode of gameplay, even going so far as to use the Speed Boots powerup as a sort of puzzle item at times. Score, Timer, lots of great things all piled in.
It sort of made sure that Doom wasn't super-serious, though it had a decent plot and even prompted you to explore. It's one of my favorite mods, and I was sort of let down it only got a Runner-Up slot in the Cacowards that year.

[Unknown_Assassin]

I believe Phocas Island and Phocas Island 2 had plenty of non-linearity.

[Remmirath]

Action Doom 1 and 2, IMO.

[Gendo]

thanks for recommendations. i know and like AD a lot, tho. AD2 didn't impress me really...

[chronoteeth]

A fantastic wad with great original gameplay is spacedm5. It's the adventure of a life time, and a thrill ride you won't soon forget!

[Caz]

Spacedm5 is a fantastic choice. I was very close to pimping my good friend Zap610's WIP, but after seeing the suggestion of spacedm5 I feel deeply overshadowed.

[Gendo]

pimp/recommended anything that fits the topic

[Caz]

But it's not done.

[Gendo]

well, preferrably finished stuff, but i hope that one gets done sometime as well

[Ceeb]

ZPortal is about as original as you can get. I also heartily recommend Super Sonic Doom and Cyberdreams. Like the others said, they're worth your time.

[Gendo]

i played cyberdreams a good while ago, the puzzles were indeed quite challenging at times