While I'm doing nothing at work I thought I'd write a review of a Where is All the Data file called Valiant.
This WAD caught my attention on a Dean of Doom YouTube video I had playing in the background (great channel for Doom wad reviews btw), it cut to a clip of John Romero himself stating that Valiant is a "bigger, badder, better version of Doom". Firstly, I laughed at how much Johnny R looks like Beavis (see below), but then I thought I'd give it a go.
I'm glad I did. It doesn't mess around, and it isn't trying to be anything fancy. It's pure combat. The pacing is mostly good, the ammo and health drops are decent too. It's difficult, but it's not obnoxious, it ramps up in an organic way as the player get used to the kind of skirmishes it lays on.
One aspect I really enjoy is the in-fighting. It's pretty much required in some fights, the maps are built to navigate quite freely and in such a way as to easily get them thinning their own ranks. There's not much in the way of puzzles, and no "where the fuck do I go?" moments - this suits me nicely as I'm not the most cerebral player.
There's a decent selection of old school vanilla map types. It even has some city levels for the discerning and cultured Doom Enjoyer. There's real character in the levels, they are visually stunning, and make great use of verticality in a way both free lookers and purists can enjoy. One standout for me so far is the MAP07: The Mancubian Candidate. I like how it communicates exactly what to do, or not to do, and it gives you a little peak of the hell you're in for if you mess up. The love for the project shines through on this one.
I found that Valiant to be an excellent bridge from being a n00b to being able to handle some serious hardcore action.
8/10 would play again (on ultra-violence next time...)