Nostalgic Entropy: Neo Retro [MBF21] v1.1

[AshtralFiend]

 

 

As the sun sets on the horizon, the last rays of light fade in the sky, like dancing ambers of a half-forgotten memory.
This place feels strange yet familiar in a nostalgic way. But you know not all memories are good, so steel yourself for the journey ahead.

 

 

Welcome to the Neon Circles of Hell! Nostalgic Entropy: Neo-Retro is a large non-linear Vaporwave map where the architecture twists and turns into familiar structures of a future that wasn't meant to be.
 
- Experience a variety of combat scenarios, from classic coincidental encounters to gimmicky mini-game-like ones;
- All roads lead to your destiny: There are several options to reach your objective; 
- Only one of two keys is needed to exit; 
- Sunset Violence means hard. If you are having a bad time, don't be discouraged to lower the difficulty;
- Exploration is highly rewarded: More resources and challenges await you behind these sunset-kissed walls.

 

Misc info:

- Tested in DSDA and GZDoom;
- The first 100% playthrough takes around one to two hours (uv max);
- All difficulties implemented;
- Co-op starts implemented (untested);
- While jumping will probably break the maps, feel free to use Freelook;
- Custom Color Palette: "Sunset" by me;

- New textures and sprites by me;
- Project started November 2023;

 

Dehacked Info:

- Cyberdemons have reduced health: 2500 ;
- Spiderdemons have reduced health: 2500;
- Lost Souls have reduced health: 20;
- Pain Elementals explode when killed (keep your distance)

 

Edit v1.1 change log:

 

Spoiler

-New Title Music by DiR;
-New Status Bar by Skelegant;
-Switched Intermission music;
-Better ammo and health balance;
-Minor detailing and texture changes;
-Vending machines now provide feedback when used;
-Vending machines now also dispense medikits in UV;
-Fixed soft lock at the start of the lounge area;
-Slightly changed "Weapon Store" ambush;
-Changed geometry to prevent item bumping of "Weapon Store" displays;
-Changed behavior of enemies in the "shooting gallery"
-Fixed "TV BOX ROOM" soft lock;
-Fixed the possibility of enemies falling from platforms in the "library" secret room;
-Added soul sphere to blue key fight;

 

 

- Title Screen: "Nostalgic Entropy" by DiR;
- Map 01: "Run As Administrator" by DiR;
- Intermission Screen: "Crystalline" by Psyrus
- Cast sequence: "Catch The Late Night Flight" by Dir;

- Plasma rifle sound from Sunlust.

- Status bar by Skelegant

 

 

A special thanks to all the playtesters who helped me realize this project:

 

@mancubian_candidate

@Arrowhead

@Dynamo

@Biodegradable

@Matt Eldrydge

@Treehouseminis

Also, a huge thanks to @DiR for composing the main theme for the map and Skelegant for the amazing status bar.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/afwxpdmjms50jcjazugja/NE.zip?rlkey=mcc331d0nu1yldd3u6smcq9co&st=8eyx9mls&dl=0

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Edited August 14 by AshtralFiend : New file version

[rafael2100]

after 15 years, we finally got it, the legendary dropbox link is waiting to be clicked

 

And what is this ? a magnificent palette ? tons of cool new textures ? The thrill of discovering the secret areas ? A huge map full of tiny details that give an unwavering sensation of activity and life ? a banger midi ? a very well executed and consistent neo-futuristic theme ? unfair chaingunner placements ? and exploding pain elementals ??? urk, i'd rather play Timmy's first ever map and listen to my favorite midi "running from evil", this masterpiece has no right to be shining in the catacombs of doomworld

 

So did I pick UV ?

yes.

Did I get my ass kicked ?

yes.

Did I give up and prematurely finish the map even with cheats ?

yes.

 

Will I do it again ?

yes.

 

rating : 10000%

[Treehouseminis]

Thjs map is very good.  It's very fun to explore.  I had a great time with it, and now I can maybe use it's custom assets someday lol. 

[Dynamo]

Congrats on finally getting this out the door! An amazing map that kept me engaged for a long time, looking forward to revisiting it :)

[TheGreenZap]

Oh my, this looks like it is full of 80s goodness. I know what I'm playing tonight!

 

[Matt Eldrydge]

Can't go wrong with this one, folks! Playtesting it was fun, if a bit long and occasionally tricky due to my skill deficit and the map's sheer size - there's a lot to see, a lot to do, a lot to gawk at and just a lot to fight. It's very much the right dose of Doom for an afternoon or evening. :)

[stochastic]

10/10 for the Shining carpet and the custom palette alone. Congrats on the release, man! Looking forward to losing myself in this later this evening.

[SpartaKiss]

This looks really good. I dont want to compare it Augur Zenith but it does have that type of flair to it.

[deadEric]

I just dipped my toes in, this is eye popping can't wait to dig in.

[DoomGappy]

A first playthrough with lots of cool moments. I died a lot, but the only part that felt frustrating was the room with the cacos, pain elementals and Hell Knights. I will definitely revisit this, but probably in a lower difficulty, to explore everything.
 

 

I hope to see this in the opening post by the end of the year:
 

[apichatpong]

Well... I'm not at all a fan of nostalgic 80's revival (as in Stranger things, for instance)... but I must say this map is not bad.

And when I say not bad, I mean freaking awesome.

 

I'm still on my way through the map on HNTR, took also a peak on UV, it's very well implemented, HNTR is literally not too rough, the mall is insanely detailed, it's really like this movie by Spielberg, don't remember its name, but made well !

 

Spoiler

I'm far from having found all the secrets, not speaking of the secrets secrets, but I got PacMan and it was very cool !!!

 

[mancubian_candidate]

Well done Ash, had a blast playtesting this! Will give this another go now that it's released 😄

[Scuba Steve]

Imagine you took my love of everything pop culture, combined it in a Petri dish and used that slurry of neon 80s capitalism to cultivated the perfect Doom map...

[Scuba Steve]

Also, jumping will break the map. You should disable it in MapInfo.

[knifeworld]

I knew all the teasers in the texture and screenshots threads were leading to something big! Right to the front of my to play backlog.

[SportsterV90]

You just created a masterpiese. Again. Thank You!

[DreadWanderer]

I just finished watching Manc's playthrough and I think it's a wonderful creation. The comparisons with stuff like Auger Zenith, Beyond Sunset, or more generally the vaporwave and cyberpunk aesthetics are self-evident so there's not much to add here.

What I find most compelling is the conceptual foundation of the wad and the kind of narrative it builds. Steve is correct to point out that it's anti-capitalist at its core, and it reminds me of the late great Mark Fisher's analysis of nostalgia, hauntology, and lost futures. The emphasis on retro vibes is, in a way, our need to have a space of possibility: imagining a future that was promised by capitalism but will never be delivered, while romanticizing about better (or at least simpler) times, and using that fantasy past as a creative ramp for overcoming the cynicism of the present. There's a bit of risk of getting lost in this a bit too much, but broadly speaking it's a healthy way of dreaming and I find that to be kind of beautiful. Of course in 2024, Doom is, ironically, part of that legacy and that dream space. The intermission text is in this respect very poignant, encapsulating the message: "The sun sets once again, you look back at the fading memories of a future that never was".

Beautiful work that is intellectually stimulating. I'd say that he only thing it needs is a custom status bar, but all in all it's fantastic.

[TheShep]

Juicy af. Gonna check it!

[S3M_XM]

Congratulations on the release, loving those textures from post your textures thread.

 

Spoiler

Are the platforms from the Claw of Doom secret aren't monster blocking? Imp/Revenants can fall off from the platforms where you have to use splash damage if they fall down there. (Linedefs 3623, 25898, 26133, 32667, 32764, 32774, 32912, 33047, 36222, 36308, & 36317)

 

[AshtralFiend]

A huge thanks for all the kind comments and feedback so far! I'm happy that this project resonates with the community.

 

On 8/1/2024 at 4:44 PM, DoomGappy said:

On 8/1/2024 at 4:44 PM, DoomGappy said:

 

I hope to see this in the opening post by the end of the year:
 

 

It's an honor that you think this project deserves it :D

 

On 8/2/2024 at 1:25 PM, DreadWanderer said:

On 8/2/2024 at 1:25 PM, DreadWanderer said:

Beautiful work that is intellectually stimulating. I'd say that he only thing it needs is a custom status bar, but all in all it's fantastic.

 

Thank you! This map was indeed born from my love of the concept of "nostalgia" and "retro", something that I also try to present in my other artistic works.

I had several other names for it, such as "Undeveloped Futures". But I think in the end, the word entropy better fits the resulting amalgamation of "places" and "ideas" that it tries to convey.

That last suggestion may be in the works :P

 

15 hours ago, S3M_XM said:

Congratulations on the release, loving those textures from post your textures thread.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Are the platforms from the Claw of Doom secret aren't monster blocking? Imp/Revenants can fall off from the platforms where you have to use splash damage if they fall down there. (Linedefs 3623, 25898, 26133, 32667, 32764, 32774, 32912, 33047, 36222, 36308, & 36317)

 

Thank you! And thanks for the heads up! I'm gathering feedback for a possible version 1.1.

[BlueMancubus]

Played it on UV and I beat it once with the red key, I'll definitely play it again and beat it with the other key...certainly are areas and tons of monsters I missed.  I really enjoyed it, looks great.  It would be awesome to eventually see a follow up of some sort.

[Oxyde]

 

Crazy aesthetics, fun and creative gameplay, atmosphere is top notch, what a level!

 

Though, as a softlock connoisseur, I'd raise awareness with one I found; You can softlock yourself by going forward at the start, climb either staircase, and jump on the bush (sectors 3056/3058), falling in a corner will have you locked there.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if this one gets a certain statue of a golden monster by the end of the year!

[Beubeu]

This is the kind of thing that makes everything else look ridiculous

[Blacklight]

WOW! This Map is just awesome! Anyway, this is one of the best works this year! I think I should play all your works and write an article about them! In «VENOM VENDETTA» I was playing. Also a good job!

 

I don't know if the «Cacoward» map will get it, but it should be included in the list of worthy projects!

[dmnwizard]

Oh god, it is so beautiful S2 S2 S2 S2 S2
Vaporwave, Sinthwave, Retrowave... i love wads like this.

Thank you for creating it, @AshtralFiend!

[Scuba Steve]

The aesthetics of the Voxel Doom monsters feel right at home in this map.

[SitarA]

Personally I'm too much of a 90's / early 2000's kid myself to be able to be enamored by the 80's aesthethic. 

 

I do think it's charming, however.

[UnknDoomer]

 

* Sound is missing here due to audio issues that were noticed late.

[lunchlunch]

This was the most fun I've had playing DOOM in awhile, I suspect this will be one of the more memorable wads of recent years. Amazing on all fronts.

Personally I think it could be rebalanced just a touch, I was constantly full on shotgun shells and almost always <40% health. 

The items behind the case at the gun store can be picked up by just running against the glass.

[deadEric]

Pretty fun play through, eye popping and nostalgic fun,  definitely tough in spots, I have gotten 6 of 8 secrets and am looking for the other two.  Certainly worth an EOY nod...
 

Spoiler

Loved, the arcade secret and the cyber demon with the MS Paint thing.  Pretty sure one of the secrets is a teleporter to a secret area but not sure of the other one that I have not found.