Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
hey everyone!
i go back to the 90's to cover a few standout maps from an odd, somewhat dated, but still interesting/unique entry into the "classic Doom Megawad" canon with 1997's STRAIN by the... *sigh*... "Alpha Dog Alliance"
in particular i focus on three maps: Charlie Patterson's (the founder of said, uh, "alliance") memorable gimmick MAP 10 - Entryway that is one trap after another and quite brutal from pistol start. then i look at the second part of a two-parter, Bill McClendon's pretty chill explory underground map "Power Station" aka MAP 12. then finally i jump far ahead to the wildest and weirdest map of the set, Björn Hermans (of Serenity/Eternity/Infinity fame)'s bizarre sci-fi clusterfuck and possibly extremely cursed map, "Unknown" aka MAP 28.
STRAIN is overall is a set that tries to experiment with some new monsters and textures and other gameplay hacks (weird imps, super fast pistol etc) to the standard Doom gameplay in an era when Doom mapping was starting to fall out of fashion. whether or not it fully works is up to you - though i do think it contains a lot of compelling ideas. it features a sort of 90's edgy sci-fi barf aesthetic which can at times look cool and at other times look off-putting and amateurish and may or may not be your thing. i wouldn't give it a glowing endorsement due to the aesthetic sort of wearing on me after awhile (among other things) but it is definitely worth checking out regardless.
you can download STRAIN here: doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/megawads/strain10
STRAIN's doomwiki entry is here: doomwiki.org/wiki/STRAIN
the official STRAIN webpage (which includes the interview i read from) can be found here: doomworld.com/ricrob/strain/strain.shtml
Bill McClendon's 90's era doom wad designer handbook he co-wrote with Ron Allen can be found here: doomworld.com/idgames/docs/editing/handbk21
Holger and Björn's extremely 90's throwback Doom website can be found here: hermans.org/doom/index.html
if you like this video, please consider supporting me on Patreon at:
patreon.com/ellaguro
twitter: twitter.com/ellaguro
blog: ellaguro.blogspot.com
URL: ellaguro.com
- liz
hey everyone!
i go back to the 90's to cover a few standout maps from an odd, somewhat dated, but still interesting/unique entry into the "classic Doom Megawad" canon with 1997's STRAIN by the... *sigh*... "Alpha Dog Alliance"
in particular i focus on three maps: Charlie Patterson's (the founder of said, uh, "alliance") memorable gimmick MAP 10 - Entryway that is one trap after another and quite brutal from pistol start. then i look at the second part of a two-parter, Bill McClendon's pretty chill explory underground map "Power Station" aka MAP 12. then finally i jump far ahead to the wildest and weirdest map of the set, Björn Hermans (of Serenity/Eternity/Infinity fame)'s bizarre sci-fi clusterfuck and possibly extremely cursed map, "Unknown" aka MAP 28.
STRAIN is overall is a set that tries to experiment with some new monsters and textures and other gameplay hacks (weird imps, super fast pistol etc) to the standard Doom gameplay in an era when Doom mapping was starting to fall out of fashion. whether or not it fully works is up to you - though i do think it contains a lot of compelling ideas. it features a sort of 90's edgy sci-fi barf aesthetic which can at times look cool and at other times look off-putting and amateurish and may or may not be your thing. i wouldn't give it a glowing endorsement due to the aesthetic sort of wearing on me after awhile (among other things) but it is definitely worth checking out regardless.
you can download STRAIN here: doomworld.com/idgames/levels/doom2/megawads/strain10
STRAIN's doomwiki entry is here: doomwiki.org/wiki/STRAIN
the official STRAIN webpage (which includes the interview i read from) can be found here: doomworld.com/ricrob/strain/strain.shtml
Bill McClendon's 90's era doom wad designer handbook he co-wrote with Ron Allen can be found here: doomworld.com/idgames/docs/editing/handbk21
Holger and Björn's extremely 90's throwback Doom website can be found here: hermans.org/doom/index.html
if you like this video, please consider supporting me on Patreon at:
patreon.com/ellaguro
twitter: twitter.com/ellaguro
blog: ellaguro.blogspot.com
URL: ellaguro.com
- liz
