Awesome / Doom II

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• Level 8: "Tricks and Traps" is quite a step up from the relatively standard levels before it. You're give 8 doors in the middle of an octagon chamber and each path is like its own adventure. The highlight is the room with Cyberdemons and a horde of Barons of Hell and the ensuing battle between the Cyber and the Barons. Once the winner is decided, you usually can finish the victors off with ease. One of the highlights of Sandy Petersen's levels.
• Level 13: "Downtown" gives a city-like adventure with huge towers to explore to unlock the exit as usual. It acted as a predecessor of sorts to custom metropolis levels that would further surpass it. "Odyssey of Noises" in Final Doom is a notable level following this style and stretching the presentation to the limits of the original version of the Doom engine. Another Sandy Petersen highlight.
• Level 14: "The Inmost Dens" was another community favorite, thanks to its unusual castle-like architecture unlike anything seen so far. So awe inspiring was the texture style that Quake may have been influenced by it and uses similar textures in its medieval-theme levels, even reusing some textures from Doom 2. This one got major Nostalgia Level in Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment ("Level 18: Neurosphere"). A major highlight of American Mcgee's mapping contributions.
• Level 29: "The Living End" was another fan favorite, being a huge underground cavern designed around exploring side chambers. So influential was this concept that Final Doom: The Plutonia Experiment has at least two levels bases upon its style. This one is a major contribution by John Romero.
• Once the Big Bad Icon of Sin (John Romero) gets iced, the epilogue states how it trashed hell in its death throes. Say what you will, but the result of that is that the Marine himself (the player) has effectively and indirectly destroyed Hell.
• QuakeCon 2013 Doom 2 (multi-player) Tournament is a nice call back in itself. But one of the real moments of awesome came during first round of the finale between Devastation and Jkist3_ as they go at it for $1,000, trading buckshots and BFG kills on an almost one-for-one basis. Then Jkist3_ pulls out a draw when Devastation unfortunately spawns right in front of him and ate a faceful of pellets WITH LESS THAN A SECOND LEFT ON THE CLOCK!!

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