DOOM Tips
From: Fred Horvat (aa778@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 09/21/96-07:36:45 AM Z
From: aa778@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Fred Horvat)
Subject: DOOM Tips
Date: Sat Sep 21 07:36:45 1996
====================================
Unofficial DOOM Basic Strategy Guide
====================================
(C) Copyright 1995 Steve Watkins. This document is solely intended for the
use of CIS Atari Gaming and Video Games Forum members. No re-printing,
re-writing or re-posting on any BBS without written permission from author.
Sounds kinda mean, huh? <G>
SPECIAL THANKS: Steve Bernhard (74134,2022) of GameWare Express for providing
a review copy of DOOM to make this guide possible and for fully supporting
the Jaguar.
DOOM is a trademark of id Software, Inc.
DISCLAIMER: All the information provided is from my personal knowledge and
exploration of the game, except where noted in the CHEAT section. I accept
full credit and blame for the information provided. I'm sure much of it is
obvious in different spots for different people. Don't e-mail me and tell
me!!! I know. <G>
========
CONTENTS
========
Part I - Strategy - Basic
Part II - Strategy - Dealing with the bad guys
Part III - Level checks
Part IV - Hints/Cheats
Part V - Bugs
========================
PART I - STATEGY - BASIC
========================
Doom isn't too tough if you're patient, even on UltraViolence.
Nightmare, however, is a different story and I leave you in charge of your
survival at that level. The manual does a decent job of providing key pointers
on staying alive, but I thought I'd add a few of my own to the mix anyway.
- Be extra patient when looking for secret doors in walls. The game is
very picky and you may think you've searched a wall segment when in fact
Doom thinks otherwise. Try to line up straight with the wall you're
searching and avoid running along them while you search. Usually the
secret doors are pretty obvious (discolored, dead-ends, etc.), but a few
will surprise you. I still haven't some of them on several levels, but then
again I don't care about them. :)
- Use the map to locate secret doors. If there's an obvious gap between
rooms, search away, otherwise move on. Still, some 'secrets' are nothing
more than a cubby hole, so go back and search non-obvious areas if you
don't get the 100% at the end.
- There are many places in the game where secret doors are located in
rooms found by revealing other secret doors. Search everywhere.
- *DON'T PICK UP* Health Potions or Spiritual Armor if you're under 100%
for the stats they enhance. If you are near death or finished with a level,
then you should pick them up. These bonuses are the only way (without Combat
Armor or a Soul Sphere) to increase your Armor/Health above 100%, so use the
plentiful Security Armor and Medical kits to raise stats to 100% before you
use the bonuses.
- Try not to use a SOUL SPHERE until your Health percentage is near or at
100%. Better yet, save them (and Combat Armor) for collection until after
you've completed the level and only need to exit.
- Enemies love to hide around corners, so use the Strafe option (button C)
to slide sideways around corners and be prepared to blast away. Also, you
can kill enemies hiding around corners, even if only a fraction of their
body is showing. Use this to your advantage. No need to let enemies
'see' you if it's not necessary.
==============================================
PART II - STRATEGY - DEALING WITH THE BAD GUYS
==============================================
Here are some basic pointers for fighting the enemies in DOOM. This is
in no way a list of the "right" way to fight. Everyone has their own
strategies and preferences.
BASIC:
-=-=-=
- Corners are your friends, especially against fireball firing enemies.
Move around a corner enough to see an enemy, then blast it. If he's only
wounded, move back and hug the wall and wait for the enemy to come
around the corner. Blast away.
- If there are barrels around you and you don't have any use for them (no
enemies to roast), then blast them. Nothing is more annoying than being
next to a barrel when a surprise enemy projectile detonates it.
- The manual says you need to "create dissension among demons by
maneuvering them into a crossfire." Heed this advice - you must use it to
survive on the highest difficulty settings. The best way to do this is to
RUN brazenly into a room full of enemies and then quickly run backwards
out of it to safety. Listen to them fight and be ready for stragglers that
come after you.
- Master the Berserker punch. Line up enemies straight-on, then step
toward them at the same moment you throw your punch. If you time it
right, the enemy will walk right into it and you'll take zero or minimal
damage.
- Don't pick up crates of weapons if your ammo supply is nearly full.
That's a good way to waste *precious* ammo in the tough levels. You will
die if you don't ration your ammo like Scrooge with a bag of gold coins.
- Notice that the Chaingun fires rapidly enough to prevent enemies from
getting off shots easily. It is, even on tough levels, one of my favorite
weapons.
- Fighting CACODEMONS: If you don't have much (or any) powerful ammo, you
can kill them with 5 to 8 shotgun blasts. Keep a half dozen body lengths
away from them, then wait for them to fire at you. Sidestep using the C
button (Strafe) and blast it until it lines up with you and shoots at you
again. Sidestep the shot and repeat until it's dead.
- Keep in mind areas you've cleared and the layouts of the levels, because
BACKTRACKING is the most important strategy. It allows you to get easy,
close range shots as enemies walk around corners and it lets you keep far
enough away from projectile firing enemies to dodge their shots.
- Conserve ammo by lining up as many enemies in your sights as possible
before firing.
-=-=-=-=-
FIGHTING:
-=-=-=-=-
Former Humans:
These guys are punks. You don't need a strategy.
- BEST WEAPON(S): Shotgun or Chaingun - don't waste powerful ammo.
Former Human Sergeants:
Slightly tougher punks. If they shoot you at close range, you will be
one hurting puppy. It's for that reason that you should avoid hand-to-hand
fighting with them, even with the Berserker punch. They are great to use for
starting fights among the various enemies.
- BEST WEAPON(S): Shotgun or Chaingun - don't waste powerful ammo.
Imps:
Fight them from a distance and don't use Berserker punches on them unless
you have to. Use corners to fight them whenever possible. Imps are GREAT for
creating fighting among enemies.
- BEST WEAPON(S): Shotgun or chaingun - don't waste powerful ammo.
Demons:
Demons are great for tearing apart enemies that mistakenly shoot them.
Avoid close fighting if you DON'T have the Berserker punch. If you have
to fight them close up and personal, move up then back, up then back, up
then back as you fire to keep them from stopping and chewing on you. You
can beat them with a pistol in a tiny dead-end corridor with this strategy
(hint, hint, hint).
- BEST WEAPON(S): Berserker punch. See the strategy for mastering the punch.
To survive on Level 19 on UltraViolence and Nightmare you will NEED to use
the Berserker punch extensively.
Second choice is the Chainsaw. If you are on stairs, then the first
choice is chainsaw, since the uneven level seems to keep them from biting
you effectively.
Lost Souls:
They are dumb, but they are a major hassle if they get behind you or
corner you. Kill them as soon as you see them. A few quick pistol shots
will do it or a blast from the shotgun.
- BEST WEAPON(S): Shotgun. You can take a couple out at the same time
fairly quickly.
Cacodemons:
Slow but tough. They HATE hand-to-hand combat and will turn away and
try to get away from you if you stand next to them. If you are quick on
the directional pad, you can use the chainsaw to chew them up as they try
to maneuver away from you. Don't use Berserker unless you're Invulnerable.
- BEST WEAPON(S): Rocket Launcher or Plasma Rifle from a distance.
Shotgun, if you are good at strafing and are in an area in which you can
maneuver easily.
Barons of Hell:
If you fight them hand-to-hand (without Invulnerability) you'll be
toast faster than Pee Wee Herman asking Cindy Crawford for a date. You
need open space to manuever. Also, quick reflexes for moving around
corners and firing while you backtrack helps. If you don't have room to
fight - RUN to a place you can move freely. If at all possible, get other
enemies to fight them before they come after you.
I've beaten the two Barons on level 8 - set on Nightmare - with only the
shotgun, so quick reflexes will get you through the toughest spots in the
game.
- BEST WEAPON(S): BFG 9000. It is a slow firing weapon, so make sure you
have room/time to move. Second choice would be the Rocket Launcher.
=======================
PART III - Level Checks
=======================
I decided to do something similar to a section in the Alien vs. Predator
sheets I did a while back (AVPHNT.DOC & AVPCHT.DOC). I thought if I provided
a list of weapons and items found on each level that it would make searching
for secret doors and obscure areas less of a chore. After all, if you know
you have everything on the level, why bother searching for every secret?
NOTE: This list is for HURT ME PLENTY level only. Keep in mind that the
tougher levels have less Radiation Suits and Shotguns, among other differences.
The Berserker Pack is a weapon AND an item (medical), but I'm listing it as a
weapon. I'm fairly certain I found all the important items, but, since I'm
sick of Doom, I'm sure I overlooked a couple things.
Abreviations:
SG = Shotgun SA = Security Armor (Green)
CG = Chaingun CA = Combat Armor (Blue)
CS = Chainsaw RS = Radiation Suit
PR = Plasma Rifle CM = Computer Map
RL = Rocket Launcher SS = Soul Sphere
BP = Berserker Pack IA = Invulnerability Artifact
BFG = BFG 9000 PACK = Backpack
LVL 1 - HANGAR
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1)
LVL 2 - PLANT
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; CG; CS
ITEMS : SA(3); PACK(2); SS(1)
LVL 3 - TOXIN REFINERY
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CG; RL; CS
ITEMS : SA(3); CA(1); PACK(1); SS(2)
LVL 4 - COMMAND CONTROL
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; CG; RL
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); PACK(1); RS(1); SS(1)
LVL 5 - PHOBOS LAB
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CS; RL
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(2); RS(1); SS(1)
LVL 6 - CENTRAL PROCESSING
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG
ITEMS : SA(2); CA(1); RS(3); SS(2); PACK(2)
LVL 7 - COMPUTER STATION
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CS; CG; RL
ITEMS : SA(2); CA(1); RS(1); SS(2); PACK(1)
LVL 8 - PHOBOS ANOMALY
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CG
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); CM; SS(1)
LVL 9 - DEIMOS ANOMALY
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; PR
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1), CM
LVL 10 - CONTAINMENT AREA
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CG; PR; RL
ITEMS : SA(3); CA(1); BP(1); SS(1); PACK(1)
LVL 11 - REFINERY
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; CG; PR; BP(1); BFG
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); RS(2); SS(1); PACK(1)
LVL 12 - DEIMOS LAB
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; PR; BP(2); CG
ITEMS : SA(3); CA(1); CM; RS(2); SS(2); PACK(1)
LVL 13 - COMMAND CENTER
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; BP(1); CG; CS
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); CM; RS(1); PACK(1)
LVL 14 - HALLS OF THE DAMNED
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; BP(2); CS; PR; RL
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); PACK
LVL 15 - SPAWNING VATS
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; CG; CS; PR; RL
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1); IA(1)
LVL 16 - TOWER OF BABEL
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEAPONS : SG; PR; RL; BP(1)
ITEMS : CA(1); SS(1)
LVL 17 - HELL KEEP
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; CG; PR
ITEMS : ZIP. NADDA. Good luck.
LVL 18 - PANDEMONIUM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEAPONS : SG; CG; RL; BP(1); BFG
ITEMS : SA(1); CA(1);any Demons that attack and run away from the BARONS and
CACODEMONS to protect yourself, as the let the enemies in the large room tear
each other apart. Go back into the large room to fight the remaining
enemies. If you're lucky, some will start fighting each other again. If it
doesn't work, try, try again. <G> PS - Don't forget the two medkits!!
- LEVEL 23 - DIS.
Don't bother picking up the weapons scattered about the first room.
The BARONS will corner you and rip you apart. If you have the BFG and/or
the Plasma Rifle, Chaingun and Rocket Launcher with full ammo, you might want
to try and kill them. If you don't have the fire power or you're having
trouble in general, follow me...
As you start the level, backup a step to get the Combat Armor. Turn and
RUN to the door. Open the door quickly and move to the left side (north)
of the CACODEMON room. Pick up the BERSERKER PACK. Now, RUN to the middle and
pick up the SOUL SPHERE. Next, RUN to the middle of the EAST wall and open the
secret door (it's the wall opposite where you came in). Hit the switch to open
the first door. Now it's simply a matter of running around opening doors and
picking up the door keys to get to the exit.
Good luck, you're going to need it!
- Surviving NIGHTMARE levels:
1) Go very slowly.
2) Create dissention among enemies AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
3) Since there are few shotguns to be found lying around, you need to LURE
Sergeants close to your position by shooting them to upset them and then
waiting for them to approach.
4) Strictly ration your health and ammo.
5) If possible, don't bother with areas you don't need to explore - unless
you need a more powerful weapon or need health kits.
6) Pray. Some of the levels are ridiculously difficult starting with a
pistol. I finished about half starting with a pistol and have no
interest in doing the rest.
CHEATS:
- Level 24, the "Hidden level," is located on level 3. It is an alternate
exit.
[NOTE: These codes were posted by John L. Moore Jr. Thanks to him for posting.
All codes should be entered after starting a game, not from the title or
selection screen.]
- To get 100% Health and Invincibility:
Press & HOLD Pause
Press & HOLD Option
Press * on the keypad
Unpause and play
- To get all weapons with full ammo, all keys and 200% armor:
Press & HOLD Pause
Press & HOLD Option
Press # on the keypad
Unpause and play
YOU CAN DO BOTH BY PRESSING * and # SIMULTANEOUSLY.
- To start on levels 1 through 8:
Press & HOLD Pause
Press & HOLD Option
On the keypad, press the number of the level you want to start on.
- To start on level 10:
Press & HOLD Pause
Press & HOLD Option
Press the A button
- To start on level 20:
Press & HOLD Pause
Press & HOLD Option
Press the B button
[Steve's NOTE: I disovered you can start on other levels by pressing an
additional number on the keypad simultaneously with the A or B button.
For example, to start on level 23, press & hold Pause, then press and
hold option then simultaneously press the B button and 3 on the keypad.
To start on level 13 you would press the A button and 3 on the keypad.
Be patient, you may have to try several times before getting it to work
perfectly. You CAN get the secret level this way as well. For added fun,
try accessing levels that don't exist and watch what happens. :)]
=============
PART V - BUGS
=============
BUGS:
- On level 19 you do *NOT* need the Red Key (Skull) to open the Red Door.
- My game locked/crashed during Nightmare mode. Very annoying, to say the
least, since I had to start from scratch. I've heard other reports of
crashes during solo play as well, so exchanging the cart is not likely to
solve this random problem.
- Word circulating is that the Head-to-Head hook-up is full of network
errors and won't run for long before messing up. I don't have two Jags,
so I can't confirm.
--
Novell DOS 7.0 and IBM OS/2 user Fred Horvat
Atari TT030 / MagiC 4.0 + Ease 4.0 Free-Net Atari Portfolio Sigop
Atari Classic/LYNX/Jaguar gamer
-----------------------------------------
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