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While perhaps not as visually splendid as many other recent wads, the Gut-Father makes up for this with an aspect of level design that seems to have slipped from the minds of many level designers: playability. The Gut-Father is about intense monster-mashing, which is, after all, why the majority of people play Doom. 

The level design is simple but effective. From your starting position you have 2 teleporters to choose from and a pack of demons to contend with. As you progress through the level, you will eventually have 4 teleporters to choose from, although you only need to warp through 3 of them to finish the level. The rooms that you warp into are quite small, but well designed, and they make for intense monster killing action. Texture usage is also good, with no detectable misalignments within the level. 

Difficulty settings have been implemented, and while UV is probably too hard for the majority of doomers, HMP caters more for the average doomer, while still providing an adequate challenge. Although there are only a small number of monsters on the level, they way in which they are crammed into the small rooms, makes it feel as though there are more of them. Monster placement within the level is pretty good, and on UV there are some pretty fierce fights that occur (especially near the end). 

All in all, if you are after a quick intense game of doom, then the Gut-Father is the level for you. Despite the fact it doesn't have any new fangled Boom effects to gawk at, it makes up for this in the fun and action stakes. The Gut-Father should appeal to the majority of doomers out there (if it doesn't, what the hell is wrong with you people ?) and is definitely worthy of a download (especially considering its small size).

As far as I am concerned, Gut Father certainly lives up to its' name.  The absolute best thing about this level has to be the way he made the layout of the level a specific advantage to the monsters, making even a room with only a mancubus and two chaingunners tough to kill.  It was even tough to fight off six demons with a shotgun!!! I won't tell you when you'll encounter that, but you sure will find out soon after you start the game =)

The texture placement was perfect. Not only was there no texture mis-alignments or errors whatsoever, but the textures were perfectly placed, meaning he placed the right kind of textures at the right places.  Lighting was well done. He put the right kind of lighting in the right plaaces as well.  I wish he would have made this a Boom-only wad.  Why you ask?  IN the text he said he would have implemented quake style lighting, but he took them out due to VPO errors =(

There weren't too many flaws. The most major one would have to be the overall size of the level, which isn't too bad, but he lost points for it.  Another thing he didn't do well were the items in the secrets.  One of the secrets had a berserk pack while the other had a blue armor.  These items were way too much for the player at least in this level. If he replaced those with a medikit and a green armor, then the items placement would have recieved a higher score.  Also, he placed a useless chainsaw by a rocket launcher.  I have no idea why he did that.

All  in all, this level is tough enough to be more than a challenge for the hardcore doomer, while still keeping playability and (somewhat) fairness.  This level isn't excactly the wind beneath my wings, but it is defeanately a must to download for anyone searching for a tough level.  If you do download this, make sure you don't get spooked by the barons, like i did ;-)