Ramp2025 Reviews, Part XI
What, they did another RAMP thing in 2025?! Golly!!!
Index of my Ramp2025 reviews on Google Docs.
Abandoned Medbase by Solmyr
Great layout, incredible fights, even an archvile fight that had a rhythm that I hadn't ever faced before. Not very abandoned though?! :O 5/5
UAC Mining Colony "Alkaline Storm" by racingstripeAV
Terrific layout, use of custom textures, and atmosphere make this a masterpiece even as an exploration. The only part I don't love is when monsters simply appear in front of you (there's a revenant in particular I'm thinking of here that is particularly unfair.) And then, like the cherry on the sundae, you have to get back through the level as archviles are expertly placed to resurrect big groups of creatures you killed on your way out. Never too many, not one goes awry. It's fantastic. Even the cyberdemon fight is good (was I just bad or did he have a health boost? Oh well...) An instant classic, a top 5 all time RAMP map. 5/5
Base Escape by Scrapz
Excellent jam map. I definitely can see where some additional polish would help clean up a few little things like misaligned textures, some jumps that could be made a bit easier, etc. I love the mixture of monsters in each encounter. 3.5/5
Rooted in Blood by Thundergod
A highly polished and atmospheric experience. It nails music, lighting and artistic expression without sacrificing the action core of the Doom experience. It has a classic-feeling difficulty curve, with each fight getting crazier and crazier as you gain resources. A complete triumph. 5/5
Cool Training by Meyland12
Ennh, I don't know how cool it is. The tightrope walking just slows stuff down and requires a precision that Doom isn't really about. What am I being trained for here? A level I won't like playing? 2/5
The Escape by IndieSunPraiser
Great little map. This is maybe the first map with this type of advanced lighting technology that really worked for me. I even liked the dark maze in the boxes, it was just big enough and just dark enough to be fun without being frustrating. The clipless furniture is also a simple solution to a perennial problem (how to get players and monsters around a complex environment.) Very solid experience. 4/5
Launch Control by Lonnon
A great theme and flow to this narratively-organized map. There were a few times I kinda got stuck in a hot situation but with a little more care and attempts I was able to do it all - a really effectively tuned difficulty. I immediately turned around and played it again, so what more could I want? 5/5
Babby's First Techbase by iti4
Not sure if this is actually his first techbase; it's really solid if it is. There were a couple of rooms and layouts where I thought "hm, have I seen this somewhere before?" But maybe it's just that I love doom levels and play a million of them. Just a solid, fun experience. 3.5 stars.
Techbase 23 by Paul Will
Looks great, the music is a banger, the only thing off is a single misaligned texture in the first room. Monster arenas are exciting, the whole thing holds together from beginning to end in a slow escalation. A great one level Doom experience. 5/5
Nodoria Mining Corp by Takeo Kurita
While the graphics look fantastic and the different areas are exceptionally well differentiated, I struggled mightily with the lack of ammo in the first area, and the order and speed that weapons unlock make what should be fun into a real slog. You've got all kinds of environmental traps and dangers, it's fine to just give us a shedload of ammo and weapons. I promise it'll be hard enough. 3/5
High Steaks by JustPlayn10
Ah, how I remember this level from Redneck Rampage....whoops! A cute opening and a hilarious ending makes this brief experience excellent. If only the final boss arena were 25 percent bigger. 4.5/5