Not bad! Not the best either. A bit short for a Doom II map set. Usually they end up being 32 maps long, but this one keeps to the old formula of the original Doom's nine.
There doesn't seem to be much of a story here. It was just an attempt to make a set of really interesting maps. The thing that stood out to me was the way enemies sort of phased into each area. Like, I kept finding rooms that appeared either empty or with just a few enemies in them, and then a whole lot of other enemies would sort of bank around the edges or come from behind pillars. This happened a hell of a lot.
Also... do you like Shotgunners? This map set has Shotgunners. They are everywhere and in almost every single room. I personally love the shotgunner enemy. To seasoned Doom players, they are basically shotgun-shell dispensers. I think that may be my favorite thing about this map set. I love seeing them, and I got to see them all over the place.
The maps themselves were fun to explore, but they generally felt like classic doom maps that didn't really feel like actual places. Remember that this map set came out a couple years after the original Doom II. People had not quite figured out how to be clever with the maps yet. It felt like a step back from all the more modern ones I had been playing, but honestly it's no big deal.
The final map was another Icon of Sin fight... OR WAS IT?! Actually it was a direct fight with the severed head of John Romero... who technically is the Icon of Sin. They had him going up and down an elevator with little windows that gave you a chance to shoot at him. It was a silly ending, but I had fun. I think they gave him more health in this one too.
Either way, I liked "The Troopers' Playground, if anything for the abundance of Shotgunners. I do recommend it. It is listed as a featured mod in the excellent Doom+Doom II Remaster by NightDive Studios. If you are a fan of the shotgun, then download this one.
This blog was written on March 11, 2025.
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Only a HERO in the classical sense would be glad for droves of enemies! Only against the extraordinary are the ordinary as enemies a good source for ammunition. The Icon of Sin seems to be the fan favorite Final Boss.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Icon of Sin got picked a lot because it was the only legitimate boss in the entire engine. It has to be fought in a very specific way. Even the Cyberdemon is just another monster with a set amount of hitpoints.
DeleteThe thing about a shotgun is you have less shots, but they do more damage. Close up, the effect is devastating. With more shooters, it is much harder to evade.
ReplyDeleteThe shotgun is the most fun gun in the entire game, in my opinion.
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