Dear John Romero this is my very first time playing Doom and the level I chose to analyze was “Nuclear Plant.”
The reason i chose this level is because is simply because i suck at the game and it took me over 4 hours to beat the first part of the game. So the second level was enough for me.
In this level you are presented with the opportunity to either to explore a large room (of course filled with those evil gun-holding martians). In this room you meet your best friend, the shotgun. This OP weapon gives you the power to kill your enemies in one blow with having to be perfectly center. Best weapon in the game, yup, even better than the rocket launcher that kept getting me killed.
The enormity of the room, is a little shocking for me personally. I never expected games to be this advanced for its time. Having to find keys to open specific doors, ride elevators, invisible monsters was more than I expected for a game that came out before i was born.
This level design in this episode is well thought out. In the first room you have to decide weather to go straight, left or right. On both sides you have doors but you can not access the left door without grabbing the access card that is found on the right side. One of the most important features however is located ahead of you, on the a hidden elevator inside the small tunnel.
Once you get the access card, you are able to then access the red door on the left. I love how once you enter these next rooms, the lighting change drastically , these rooms are darker and have a lot of acid that could potentially kill you.
The second to last room is by far the scariest in the level, especially with my screen resolution. The room was pitch black and a horde of monsters are there waiting to destroy you. Especially since i tried this level in the hardest setting (once).
Over all the game, specially this level, is very difficult especially with the outdated controls. But its a great game for its time.