The WADs reviewed here can be found easily on the Internet or, in some cases, online services such as America Online (Keyword: PC Games) and eWorld (Goto: Inside Games).
If you click on the screenshot before each WAD review, you will see an Internet address in URL format for downloading it.
Check the MacDoom Review home page at http://www.voicenet.com/~reeltime/mdr.html for convenient links, when they're available.
In the instance of some large patch WADs that (at this writing) require the use of SoftWindows or a PC to perform the conversion, the URL given may not be permanent. WADs that are pre-patched for convenient use with MacDoom are generally very large, and some Webmasters of MacDoom sites have limited space to store the files and move them offline to make room for new conversions.
Ratings:
 
Adrenaline
 
<-- Click on pictures for URLs
 
If you like action, Adrenaline is the WAD for you. This one is relentless -- it defines out of the frying pan, into the fire.
It starts out looking pretty easy. You're in a dark room with an unusual column in the corner. In front of you is a room packed with Imps and barrels of toxic waste, illuminated by a single flickering bulb. Once you fire your weapon, you set off a chain reaction that keeps you running for the rest of the level. Next thing you know, underarmed and even less prepared, you're going head to head with an unwelcome pairing of Hell Knight and Cacodemon. And that's just an hors d'oeuvre.
Adrenaline reminds me of one of my worst rollercoaster experiences. It wasn't the drops or the twists or the turns of the Texas Giant that got to me, it was the lack of places to catch your breath.
One of the few times you're able to take refuge is during an assault on a pair of Revenants and a couple of Hell Knights, with crossfire from way too many plasma-spewing spiders. They're all too far apart for you to lure them into fighting each other, so you'll have to take them out yourself -- mostly by taking potshots with a shotgun and chaingun.
Conserve ammo, you'll need it for the finale. It's killer.
ΓÇôDave Kramer
reeltime@voicenet.com
 
Barney
 
 
Of all the sprite patches to cross my Desktop to date, the Barney WAD is the best. The production values are fabulous, from the renderings of the characters you'll love to hunt to the sounds that accompany them.
Actually, Barney is not the only star of this very entertaining WAD file. The much-hated purple dinosaur is joined by a shotgun-toting Energizer Bunny and endlessly munching Demon replacement, a 3D Pacman.
There are no new maps in this patch, which in its PC form must be applied with a DOS machine or DOS emulator. (Already patched, this 3.8MB WAD will run with MacDoom flawlessly -- if you can stomach the hefty download.)
If you play with the default DOOM2.WAD, you won't see any of the new characters until the Bunny appears on Level 2 (Underhalls) and Pacman appears on Level 3 (The Gantlet). You'll hear strains of Barney's "I Love You" song several levels before his screen debut on Level 8 (Tricks & Traps).
Still, it's worth the wait.
ΓÇôDave Kramer
reeltime@voicenet.com
 
Diamonds
 
 
One of my biggest complaints about some of the WADs I've waded through on the 'Net is that they're too damn easy. All the ammo you need is liberally scattered around the first room or so of the level, and the rest is just a fragfest.
The thing that sets Diamonds apart from the rest of the class is the careful rationing of weapons and ammo. You'll want to save often, in case you take too many bullets or shells to kill a creature, leaving you unarmed save your hands or a chainsaw against missile-hurling Revenants and other assorted nasties. You may find that it's possible to kill certain creatures using weapons that are below what you previously considered the minimum -- playing it safe, that is. Go ahead, choose "Hurt me plenty" and get ready for some pain!
If you're the cheat codes type, this level is wasted on you. It's about pushing the limits, getting bloody, and, whenever possible, outsmarting your foes. Diamonds sports an excellent design with a few worthy puzzles to sort out -- like figuring out how to get the blue key.
Oh, and there are no actual "diamonds" to collect -- that's part of the mystery. You'll find out where the name comes from if you pause a moment to take in the big picture.
ΓÇôDave Kramer
reeltime@voicenet.com
 
Mortal Kombat Pit
 
 
The Mortal Kombat Pit WAD is one of the more ingenius WADs on the Internet. It's strangely simple in design, but be warned: Once you start, it can absolutely terrifying.
The WAD has one of the deepest and most wonderfully constructed pits I've ever seen in Doom. It is long, and absolutely riveting. There is only a thin catwalk on which to balance yourself while crossing the massive chasm, and added to that you have many monsters to fight. One false move and you will plummet to your death! Keep in mind that not using any cheat codes will greatly enhance the adventure of the level -- as well as the fear burning in your heart.
The MK Pit WAD is modeled after "The Pit" stage in the popular video game, Mortal Kombat, made by Midway. However, this is no ordinary pit, and it looks almost nothing like the stage in the video game.
Here's a little taste of the WAD in play:
You find yourself on the top of a thin catwalk that's about....oh, say
half a foot wide. To your immediate left and right sides of you is a pit. You look closer to see if you can make out bottom. Nay, dear fellow! (Perhaps you will someday, but it will be by unfortunate circumstances.) The awe of the pit is spectacular, and hard to stop looking at.
Suddenly you hear the murmur, that hideous murmur. You tear your eyes away from the bottomless pit to see an approaching Arch-Vile! You quickly turn to your left and find a fully loaded rocket launcher. Quick, kill him! KILL HIM, DAMN IT! You fire the rocket launcher desparately, only to be rewarded with the all-so-familiar fire incinerating your body. A half second later you are blown into the air. You catch a last fleeting glimpse of the laughing Archvile as you fly over the edge of the bridge and plunge down into the pit....
Sound good? It is.
ΓÇôJason Carter
wcarter@mindspring.com
 
Stadium
 
 
Cyberdemons are the demonic trademark of Doom. Now imagine a WAD which challenges you to an ultimate deathgame, against not two, not three, but five -- yes, five! -- fraggin' Cyberdemons!
When you start off, you are in a small room that is totally bare, save for a small sky teleporter to jump on. If you look closer, though, you'll see that you can take a difficult detour, and streak through a hall of deadly sewage to get what you need most in this WAD: The BFG 9000.
The reason you need that master weapon is due to the place you will inevitably end up at. Whether you take the hall or the transporter you suddenly will find yourself on the outer edge of a small but elegantly designed field. Directly in front of you lies a row of towering Cyberdemons. Their backs are to you,
and if you are completely silent, you think, then MAYBE they won't see you. But when you look closely, you find that the only place left to go is a dimly lit opening directly in front of the "big guys." It's either that, or start blasting.
Even though small and not very intricate, this WAD has a wonderful theme: "Run like hell!" I never knew Cyberdemons were intelligent enough to actually chase you, but after this WAD......*shiver*...... I know better.
It is possible to survive. There is plenty of ammo, backpacks and health to sustain you, but only if you use it very wisely. Gameplay improves in cooperative mode, where you have a fighting chance to even the odds. If anyone beats this great WAD with 100 percent kills, and no lives lost, please e-mail me.
ΓÇôJason Carter
wcarter@mindspring.com
 
Have a favorite PC WAD you want to bring to MDR's attention? Or, maybe you'd like to give your own review? Send comments, questions, and manuscripts to reeltime@voicenet.com.
