/vr/ - Retro Games

ambush.wad - http://www.doomworld.com/idgames/?id=130

another puzzle wad that grew on me once i worked out how it was meant to be played (by, er, watching a demo. oh well.)

its main feature is a cyberdemon, and two large crowds, firstly of cacodemons, then of barons. the intention is to induce the former to wipe out the latter. you can't do this yourself; although the map is replete with ammunition it is only in the form of bullets (and a handful of dropped shotguns). on that subject, you absolutely cannot miss the jump at the start, or you will miss the only chaingun on the map, and it will be much more annoying to do with just a pistol.

aside from the final setpiece chamber, the remainder of the map consists mostly of tunnels and secret doors. considerable attention has been paid to light sources, which is nice to see in a wad this old. once having the knowing of the wad, its most irritating aspect was its use of those very slow perpetual lifts.

a satisfying wad to beat (even if i did have to cheat by watching someone else do it first), frustrating up until then. i couldn't recommend it to the typical player who just wants to run and gun, but i enjoyed it, eventually.