Doomed Speed Demos Archive
http://doomedsda.us/

Pwad:      http://youfailit.net/pub/idgames/levels/doom/d-f/dmcity.zip
Pwad name: CITY.WAD [author unknown]
Maps:      E1M1
Skill:     4
Category:  Max / Speed
Exe:       Doom.exe v1.9 (Ultimate Doom)

Time:      6:59 (UV max)
            :15 (UV speed w/ normal exit)
            :34 (UV speed w/ secret exit)
           2:17 (UV speed w/ normal exit and intended route; see comments)
           2:38 (UV speed w/ secret exit and intended route; see comments)

Author:    Eric "The Green Herring" Baker
Email:     eabaker@san.rr.com
YouTube:   http://youtube.com/user/TheGreenHerring

Comments:  
Sadly, we've stumbled upon yet another level without a known author.  I say
"sadly" because this one isn't all that bad.  While the texture alignment isn't
all that hot, and the Doom stock textures /still/ aren't all that adequate for a
city, it's more interesting than Simo Malinen's "Downtown," perhaps because it's
not as monotonous.  It's also quite undersized for a city, though, but nevermind
that.  While the opposition is rather easy, the progression is interesting and
height can vary pretty significantly.  The exception to this ease is the
cyberdemon, who can destroy you as you're opening the doors leading to the exit.

That is, of course, if you don't take advantage of a nasty design error.  It's
possible to reach the exit early by jumping through the window to the last of
those four rooms, and opening the last door.  Where this enters "design error"
territory is that you can do this simply by stepping onto the pavement and
walking towards the window.  No fancy jump tricks, no rocket jumps, nothing; you
just climb through the window and that's it.  There's also an imp stuck inside
another imp at one point, but this bug is far graver, as it makes the entire
level redundant.  He could have at least moved the street so that you can't jump
in as easily, but it's too late now.

That would be why I included two sets of UV speed demos.  I say "two sets"
because it's another level that has a secret exit in it despite not being in a
map slot where it makes sense.  The first set uses the bug, while the second set
gets all three keys and uses the level's intended route -- as "intended" as you
can get with a switch-from-below trick. It's much harder because of how easily
the cyberdemon can crush your run right at the end.  Both of those demos are
first exits, though, because I just wanted to show that it was possible.  My
previous exit times for the normal UV speed demos were 0:16 for the normal exit
and 0:35 for the secret one.  The secret exit demo in particular is something
you ought to watch, because something seriously freaky happens in it that I've
never seen before.  I won't spoil what it is; all I'm going to say is that it's
a known glitch that occurs in an unexpected way!

Meanwhile, UV max is generally easy.  The monsters are spread thin, and assuming
you use the bug, there's not much in the way of serious obstacles.  The most
decisive factor in the speed of such a demo is how quickly you dispatch the
cyberdemon; I recommend taking advantage of the unavoidable wait periods (from
the stairs and one of the elevators) to weaken him without losing time.  After
that, you swipe the plasma gun from the secret exit, unleash it on him, and hope
that all 160 cells kill him.  Or, failing that, hope that he dies quickly from
your other weapons afterward.  My first exit was 7:21; my target time was 7:00,
and the fact that I broke it was why I stopped at 6:59, despite a few mistakes.
Oh, and before you ask: Yes, you /have/ to go through that chain of teleporters
twice if you want to get both the red key and the pillar secret in a single run.
In any case, enjoy.

- Eric "The Green Herring" Baker -
- eabaker@san.rr.com -
- March 21, 2011 -
