Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

D!Zone 2 delivers an immense compilation of over 1,000 custom levels for Doom and Doom II, all neatly organized through the D! front end. From classic slaughter maps to tricky puzzle arenas, the sheer volume guarantees that no two play sessions feel the same. Whether you’re blasting through corridors teeming with demons or navigating secret passages to uncover hidden power-ups, the variety of map design keeps even veteran Doom fans on their toes.

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Each level brings its own unique layout and challenge, ranging from straightforward arena-style shootouts to intricate mazes requiring careful resource management. While some community-created maps lean toward unfair difficulty spikes, many others showcase clever architecture and balanced enemy placement. The D! front end makes it easy to search by map name, author, or difficulty, so you can skip anything that looks overly punishing.

Multiplayer enthusiasts will appreciate that the disc includes dozens of maps built specifically for cooperative and deathmatch modes. With built-in LAN support, you and your friends can load up custom arenas without fussing over manual WAD loading. That said, the underlying Doom engine’s age shows in some control quirks and hit-detection oddities—nothing game-breaking, but noticeable when precision matters.

Graphics

Graphically, D!Zone 2 relies entirely on the classic Doom engine, so you won’t find any modern shader effects or high-resolution textures here. Walls have that unmistakable 1990s pixelated charm, and enemy sprites maintain their blocky, nostalgic appeal. If you’re looking for updated visuals, you’ll need to run a source port separately; the included disc sticks to vanilla DOS-era fidelity.

Despite the dated look, many map authors have harnessed creative texture swaps and palette tweaks to give their levels a fresh coat of paint. Flashy light and dark contrasts can turn a familiar marble hall into an eerie crypt, while custom skyboxes in certain WADs simulate stormy skies or alien vistas. These small artistic flourishes elevate the viewing experience beyond a straight port of the original game.

On the downside, graphical bugs sometimes creep in when poorly optimized WADs are loaded. You may encounter missing textures, flickering walls, or sprites that pop in unexpectedly. Thankfully, the D! front end allows you to disable individual levels or entire packs, so troublesome maps can be skipped entirely without uninstalling the whole disc.

Story

Given that D!Zone 2 is a compilation of community-made levels, there’s no unified narrative tying the experience together. Instead, you get a mosaic of mini-stories: one map might drop you in a military base under siege, while the next transports you to a demonic citadel on Mars. This shifting context can feel disjointed, but it also keeps each session feeling like a new adventure.

Some level designers have gone the extra mile to script environmental storytelling—abandoned labs littered with warning signs, graffiti scrawled across bloodstained walls, or hidden logs that flesh out local lore. These creative touches help certain maps stand out, offering brief glimpses into isolated narratives before you charge headlong into the next demon horde.

For players seeking a coherent storyline or character development, this disc won’t satisfy traditional expectations. However, if you view it as a buffet of bite-sized scenarios—each with its own atmosphere and implied backstory—the anthology format can be quite appealing. The lack of overarching plot simply emphasizes raw, unfiltered action.

Overall Experience

D!Zone 2 shines as a time capsule of mid-90s shovelware culture, appealing to collectors and completionists who want every Doom fan creation imaginable in one convenient package. The D! front end streamlines navigation and lets you dive straight into action without manually managing WAD files, which is a big plus for casual players or LAN party hosts.

That said, the quality across these 1,000+ levels is wildly inconsistent. You’ll uncover gems that rival official id Software maps in creativity and design, but you’ll also stumble into slapdash creations that feel rushed or unplayable. Patience and selective filtering are key—be prepared to skip through dozens of boring or broken maps to find the true standouts.

In sum, D!Zone 2 is best suited for die-hard Doom enthusiasts, mod collectors, and multiplayer groups looking for endless variety on a budget. If you crave a polished, narrative-driven shooter or expect modern graphics, you may feel underwhelmed. But for those willing to sift through the noise, the disc delivers a staggering array of Doom-based mayhem that keeps the engine—and the chaos—alive.

Retro Replay Score

null/10