Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Demon Gate: 666 New Levels for Doom & Doom II delivers an immense breadth of fan-created maps that breathe fresh challenges into the classic shooters. The core run-and-gun mechanics of Doom remain intact, but with six hundred-plus new arenas to blast through, repetition is kept at bay. Each level introduces its own set of monster placements, secret rooms, and environmental puzzles that force players to adapt their strategies on the fly. Whether you’re facing a corridor teeming with imps or a sprawling outdoor realm hoarding hidden traps, the gameplay loop remains as addictive as ever.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The included EasyWAD utility streamlines the experience by letting you quickly sort, filter, and launch individual WADs. This means you’re never stuck trawling through dozens of files manually—just pick a level or sequence that suits your mood, and dive in. The interface is straightforward and responsive, catering both to newcomers and veteran map-hoppers who value efficiency. With EasyWAD, you can also bookmark favorite levels, making it simple to return to standout designs or particularly fiendish challenges.

Difficulty varies dramatically across the compilation. Some creators lean into classic studio-style pacing with moderate monster counts and health packs, while others crank the tension to maximum with gauntlets of revenants and arch-viles. This unpredictability is both the game’s greatest strength and occasional pitfall: new players might find certain WADs punishingly hard, but veterans eager for a test will appreciate the spike in challenge. Overall, the gameplay diversity ensures that Demon Gate never feels stale.

In terms of replay value, Demon Gate excels. The sheer volume of unique environments, from claustrophobic industrial complexes to twisted demonic castles, keeps each play session feeling novel. Secrets abound in almost every map, begging dedicated players to scour every corner and uncover shortcuts. With the flexibility to jump between campaigns and standalone levels, you can tailor your session length and intensity, making Demon Gate a must-have for anyone craving an expansive Doom experience beyond the original titles.

Graphics

Graphically, Demon Gate wears its fan-made roots on its sleeve. Each WAD brings its own palette tweaks, custom textures, and occasionally new sprite work, leading to a patchwork of visual styles. Some levels gleam with polished textures and consistent thematic elements, while others feel more rudimentary or reusing assets in inventive ways. This collage effect underscores the project’s community-driven nature: you’re essentially touring dozens of independent designers’ skillsets.

One consistent highlight is the variety of environments. From blood-stained catacombs to neon-lit tech bases, every corner of the compilation offers a new aesthetic challenge. Even when certain textures appear dated by modern standards, the level architecture often compensates with creative verticality and clever lighting effects. Many maps employ dynamic sectors—crushing ceilings, rising platforms, flickering torches—that heighten the mood and showcase just how far the Doom engine can be pushed.

Resolution support remains faithful to the original source, ensuring that pixel art and low-resolution textures retain their charm rather than being smoothed over. Purists will appreciate the authenticity, though some might wish for a few more high-res texture packs. Fortunately, the modding community’s existing enhancements can be layered atop Demon Gate, allowing players to customize the visual fidelity to their taste without sacrificing compatibility with the included levels.

Overall, the graphics package is a testament to the creativity of the Doom modding scene. While you won’t find the photorealism of modern shooters here, you will discover a kaleidoscope of imaginative designs that keep the visual experience varied. The trade-off between graphical polish and sheer volume of content is well worth it, making Demon Gate a visual smorgasbord for fans seeking nostalgia and novelty in equal measure.

Story

Given that Demon Gate is fundamentally a collection of disparate WADs, you shouldn’t expect a single, cohesive narrative thread running through all 666 levels. Instead, each addon often comes with its own minimal premise: rescue hostages in an abandoned fortress, seal hellish portals in a gothic cathedral, or survive as long as possible in an arena of endless monsters. While these bite-sized scenarios rarely rival the depth of a full-blown doom novel, they provide enough context to drive you forward.

Many levels rely on environmental storytelling—bloodstains narrate battles past, demon hieroglyphs hint at ancient rituals, and ruined laboratories suggest heinous experiments. In skilled hands, these visual cues deliver memorable moments: discovering a pentagram-scrawled shrine or stumbling across a secret chamber filled with torture devices can be more evocative than lengthy exposition. It’s a testament to how effective minimal storytelling can be when it plays to the strengths of a first-person action framework.

For players craving a throughline, Demon Gate’s arcade-style progression—completing one WAD then moving to the next—offers its own momentum. Beating a particularly brutal level rewards you with the satisfaction of victory, while the promise of yet more unknown challenges keeps you pressing ‘Next’ with childlike excitement. If a classic narrative structure is vital, you may find the jumpy nature of the collection a drawback, but for those who view Doom primarily as an adrenaline rush, the variety is invigorating.

Finally, the absence of a unified storyline encourages community engagement. Many of the original WAD creators left notes, hints, or custom lore files that you can discover in the installation directory. Surfacing these bits of behind-the-scenes trivia adds a layer of charm and helps you appreciate the devotion poured into each level. In this way, Demon Gate’s story is as much about the collective creativity of its contributors as it is about the demons you’re gunning down.

Overall Experience

Demon Gate: 666 New Levels for Doom & Doom II is an ambitious package that caters primarily to die-hard Doom enthusiasts and nostalgic PC gamers. Its strengths lie in the sheer volume and diversity of content: no two levels feel entirely the same, and the EasyWAD tool ensures seamless navigation through the vast library. If you’ve exhausted the original campaigns or simply crave fresh blood-splattered arenas, this anthology delivers an almost inexhaustible supply of carnage.

That said, the compilation isn’t without quirks. Quality control varies, meaning you’ll occasionally encounter maps that feel unbalanced or rough around the edges. The lack of a unified narrative and the inconsistent difficulty curve can lead to jarring transitions between levels. However, for many players, these quirks become part of the charm—each unexpected spike in challenge or sudden architectural twist sparks conversation and online discussion, extending the game’s lifespan beyond your initial playthrough.

Installation is straightforward, thanks to the disc’s menu and the EasyWAD utility, which together streamline WAD selection and mod management. Even without an internet connection, you can dive straight into new levels. For those who prefer to expand or refine the collection, EasyWAD also facilitates quick removal or reordering of specific WADs, making it easy to curate your ideal playlist of fan-made horrors.

In conclusion, Demon Gate stands as both a practical solution for offline mod enjoyment and a sprawling tribute to two of gaming’s most iconic shooters. It may lack the polish of a modern triple-A release, but its heart lies in the passion of countless Doom modders. If you’re on the hunt for endless demon-slaying adventures and enjoy sampling the wilder corners of the Doom community’s creativity, Demon Gate is an essential pick for your library.

Retro Replay Score

null/10