Difference between revisions of "E2M8: Tower of Babel (Doom)"

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m (Speedrunning: Marked the players in the way "First name Last name (Handle)" and removed the slots of redundant runs.)
(Fixing to note that pacifist E2M8 is not impossible, however it is very luck-based)
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{{The Shores of Hell}}
 
{{The Shores of Hell}}
 
{{map|slot=E2M8}}
 
{{map|slot=E2M8}}
 +
'''E2M8: Tower of Babel''' is the final map of [[The Shores of Hell]] in [[Doom]]. It features a [[boss]] battle with the [[cyberdemon]]. This level was named after a tower to the heavens that God destroyed in the Bible. It was designed by [[Sandy Petersen]] and it uses the [[Doom music|music]] track "Nobody Told Me About Id".
  
'''E2M8: Tower of Babel''' is the final map of [[The Shores of Hell]] in [[Doom]]. It features a [[boss]] battle with the [[Cyberdemon]]. This level was named after a tower to the heavens that God destroyed in the Bible. It was designed by [[Sandy Petersen]] and it uses the [[Doom music|music]] track "Nobody Told Me About Id".
+
==Walkthrough==
 +
[[Image:E2M8 map.png|thumb|280px|Map of E2M8]]
 +
{{map spots}}
  
==Strategy==
+
===Essentials===
[[Image:E2M8 map.png|thumb|300px|Map of E2M8]] <br clear="left"/>
+
You start the level in a small octagonal room. Pick up the [[combat armor]] here before you do anything else. There is a short pillar in the center of this room with a switch on each of it four sides. Pressing one causes the stairs in front of it to raise. Press all four switches. Walk up any of the four sets of stairs until the wall with the crucified [[baron of Hell]] ahead of you opens, but '''do not''' walk through yet. Open the three remaining baron-walls in this manner as well -- this allows you to re-enter the starting area if you need to. Once they have all been opened, exit to the huge outdoor area. There are a number of [[lost soul]]s outside; you might want to destroy them so they do not get in your way later, but it is not necessary. Walk around the building until you find the [[cyberdemon]] -- or he finds you. Use the pillars for protection if you need to. He occasionally wanders into one of the four supply rooms adjoining the main building; lure him out if necessary. In addition to a [[rocket launcher]], these four rooms contain a total of 150 [[rockets]] and a pair of [[soul sphere]]s to replenish you. Do not be afraid to waste ammo, because this is the last level of the episode anyway. As there is no [[BFG9000]] in [[The Shores of Hell]], and you have plenty of rockets available, your battle with the cyberdemon will probably be a rocket-rocket fight. If you have a [[plasma gun]] with [[Energy cell (Doom)|energy cell]]s, do not hesitate to use it. Mastering [[circlestrafing]] will greatly increase your effectiveness. Once the cyberdemon dies, the level and episode both end.
 
 
===Walkthrough===
 
 
 
You start the level in a small octagonal room. Pick up the [[combat armor]] here before you do anything else. There is a short pillar in the center of this room with a switch on each of it four sides. Pressing one causes the stairs in front of it to raise. Press all four switches. Walk up any of the four sets of stairs until the wall with the crucified [[baron of Hell]] ahead of you opens, but '''do not''' walk through yet. Open the three remaining baron-walls in this manner as well -- this allows you to re-enter the starting area if you need to. Once they have all been opened, exit to the huge outdoor area. There are a number of [[lost soul]]s outside; you might want to destroy them so they do not get in your way later, but it is not necessary. Walk around the building until you find the [[cyberdemon]] -- or he finds you. Use the pillars for protection if you need to. He occasionally wanders into one of the four supply rooms adjoining the main building; lure him out if necessary. In addition to a [[rocket launcher]], these four rooms contain a total of 150 [[rockets]] and a pair of [[soul sphere]]s to replenish you. Do not be afraid to waste ammo, because this is the last level of the episode anyway. As there is no [[BFG9000]] in [[The Shores of Hell]], and you have plenty of rockets available, your battle with the cyberdemon will probably be a rocket-rocket fight. If you have a [[plasma gun]] with [[energy cell]]s, do not hesitate to use it. Mastering [[circlestrafing]] will greatly increase your effectiveness. Once the cyberdemon dies, the level, and episode both end.
 
  
 
===Secrets===
 
===Secrets===
Line 16: Line 15:
 
==Areas / screenshots==
 
==Areas / screenshots==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:E2M8 start.png|One of the starting area's doors.
+
E2M8 start.png|One of the starting area's doors.
 +
E2M8 Battling Cyberdemon.png|Confronting the cyberdemon.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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===Current records===
 
===Current records===
 
 
The [[Compet-N]] records for the map are:
 
The [[Compet-N]] records for the map are:
 
{| {{prettytable}}
 
{| {{prettytable}}
 
!Run||Time||Player||Date||File||Notes
 
!Run||Time||Player||Date||File||Notes
 +
|-
 +
|[[UV speed]]|| || || || ||<sup>1</sup>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[NM speed]]||00:30||[[Laszlo Vecsei]]||2002-02-07||{{competnftp|doom/nmare/n2m8-030.zip|n2m8-030.zip}}||  
 
|[[NM speed]]||00:30||[[Laszlo Vecsei]]||2002-02-07||{{competnftp|doom/nmare/n2m8-030.zip|n2m8-030.zip}}||  
Line 35: Line 36:
 
|[[UV -fast]]||00:31||[[Laszlo Vecsei]]||2000-10-27||{{competnftp|doom/fast/f2m8-031.zip|f2m8-031.zip}}||  
 
|[[UV -fast]]||00:31||[[Laszlo Vecsei]]||2000-10-27||{{competnftp|doom/fast/f2m8-031.zip|f2m8-031.zip}}||  
 
|-
 
|-
|[[UV -respawn]]||00:42||[[Thomas Zajic (GoDfAtHeR)]]||1996-10-20||{{competnftp|doom/respawn/r2m8-042.zip|r2m8-042.zip}}||  
+
|[[UV -respawn]]|| || || || ||<sup>2</sup>
 +
|-
 +
|[[UV Tyson]]||28:10||[[Jim Leonard (Xit Vono)]]||2002-03-23||{{competnftp|doom/tyson/t2m82810.zip|t2m82810.zip}}||
 
|-
 
|-
|[[UV Tyson]]||28:10||[[Jim Leonard (Xit Vono)]]||2002-03-23||{{competnftp|doom/tyson/t2m82810.zip|t2m82810.zip}}||
+
|[[UV pacifist]]|| || || || ||<sup>3</sup> 
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
''The data was last verified in its entirety on November 16, 2012.''
 
''The data was last verified in its entirety on November 16, 2012.''
 +
 +
# UV speed runs do not differ from UV max runs on this level so only the latter is open for competition.
 +
# Compet-N does not maintain a UV -respawn competition for this level because of the run's similarity with UV max. [http://www.doom.com.hr/index.php?page=compet-n_rules]
 +
# This is possible if the cyberdemon becomes "asleep," which can be done by not shooting, getting the cyberdemon to infight with a lost soul, and then going out of the cyberdemon's line of sight so that it does not retarget the player after killing the lost soul. When the cyberdemon is in the sleeping state, it is possible to manipulate lost souls to attack it from the back without it awakening (which would only happen if the cyberdemon goes into its pain chance state). This would make pacifist possible, though it would require a large amount of luck as it would require many hits on the cyber that do not result in pain chance.
  
 
==Statistics==
 
==Statistics==
 
===Map data===
 
===Map data===
{| {{prettytable}}
+
{{mapdata|
|[[Things]]||66
+
  things=66|
|-
+
  vertexes=216|
|[[Vertices]]||216
+
  linedefs=218|
|-
+
  sidedefs=278|
|[[Linedefs]]||218
+
  sectors=27|
|-
+
  vertexbefore=186}}
|[[Sidedefs]]||278
 
|-
 
|[[Sectors]]||27
 
|}
 
  
 
===Things===
 
===Things===
Line 78: Line 81:
 
|[[Box of rockets|Rocket boxes]]||30||30||30
 
|[[Box of rockets|Rocket boxes]]||30||30||30
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
== Technical information ==
 +
A [[par time]] of 30 seconds is defined in the [[Doom source code|source code]] ({{c|g_game.c}}), but never actually displayed. Some [[source port]]s do generate [[intermission screen]]s for the original boss levels which include their par times.
  
 
== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
* On the [[The Shores of Hell|Episode 2]] [[intermission screen]], the tower [[:Image:twrbuild.gif|can be seen being built]] as the player progresses through the episode.
+
[[Image:Twrbuild.gif|thumb|right|260px|The new owners of [[Deimos]] build [[Cyberdemon|their lord]]'s tower as the [[Doom's protagonist|marine]] approaches it.]]
* The "Tower of Babel" is an ironic Biblical reference (Genesis 11:1-9), told in the Bible as a physical pathway to the Heavens. In Doom, the level is the pathway to [[Hell]], as explained in [[The Shores of Hell|Episode 2]]'s ending text. See [[Wikipedia:Tower of Babel]].
+
* On the [[The Shores of Hell|Episode 2]] intermission screen, the tower [[:Image:twrbuild.gif|can be seen being built]] as the player progresses through the episode.
* Some console ports (except the [[Super NES|SNES]], [[Sony PlayStation|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]], [[Xbox]] and [[Xbox 360]] ports) use a different map that does not include the cyberdemon.
+
* The "Tower of Babel" is an ironic Biblical reference (Genesis 11:1-9). The {{wp|Tower of Babel}} in the Bible is a physical pathway to the Heavens constructed by man and destroyed by God. In Doom, the level is a pathway to [[Hell]], constructed by demons and destroyed by a man, as explained in [[The Shores of Hell|Episode 2]]'s ending text.
*This is the first level in Doom to not include any [[imp]]s; while [[E1M8: Phobos Anomaly (Doom)|E1M8]] includes imps, they are only behind the teleporter.
+
* This is the first level in Doom to not include any [[imp]]s; while [[E1M8: Phobos Anomaly (Doom)|E1M8]] includes imps, they are only behind the teleporter.
*This is also the only level in the episode to not have a [[plasma gun]] available.
+
* This is also the only level in the episode to not have a [[plasma gun]] available.
*In the Playstation/Saturn port of Doom, this is at the end of the [[Inferno]] stages, taking place chronologically after [[E3M7: Limbo]].  Several [[Mancubi]] also populate the main courtyard where the player does battle with the Cyberdemon.
+
* In the [[Sony PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]] ports of Doom, this level occurs at the end of the [[Inferno]] stages, taking place chronologically after [[E3M7: Limbo]].  Several [[mancubi]] also populate the main courtyard where the player does battle with the cyberdemon.
 +
* On some console ports, including the [[Atari Jaguar]], [[3DO]], and [[Game Boy Advance]], the name is used for a [[MAP16: Tower of Babel (Console Doom)|different map]] that does not include the cyberdemon.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 +
* {{competnmap|1|129|E2M8|nouvs=|nonmc=|nouvr=|nouvp=}}
 +
* {{dsda|id=947|mapid=128|title=E2M8 demos}}
 +
* [http://ian-albert.com/misc/doommaps.php Top-down perspective view of all Doom levels] by Ian Albert
 
* [http://classicdoom.com/pce2m8.htm ClassicDoom: how to beat the cyberdemon]
 
* [http://classicdoom.com/pce2m8.htm ClassicDoom: how to beat the cyberdemon]
* [http://www.doom2.net/~compet-n/database/cn.cgi?map:udoom:28 E2M8 demos from the Compet-n database]
+
 
* [http://ian-albert.com/misc/doommaps.php Top-down perspective view of all Doom levels] by Ian Albert
 
 
[[Category:Levels by name|Tower of Babel (Doom)]]
 
[[Category:Levels by name|Tower of Babel (Doom)]]
 
[[Category:Sandy Petersen levels]]
 
[[Category:Sandy Petersen levels]]

Revision as of 01:49, 12 June 2016

Ultimate Doom maps
Knee-Deep in the Dead

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9

Inferno

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9

Thy Flesh Consumed

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9

This level occupies the map slot E2M8. For other maps which occupy this slot, see Category:E2M8.

E2M8: Tower of Babel is the final map of The Shores of Hell in Doom. It features a boss battle with the cyberdemon. This level was named after a tower to the heavens that God destroyed in the Bible. It was designed by Sandy Petersen and it uses the music track "Nobody Told Me About Id".

Walkthrough

Map of E2M8
Letters in italics refer to marked spots on the map. Sector, thing, and linedef numbers in boldface are secrets which count toward the end-of-level tally.

Essentials

You start the level in a small octagonal room. Pick up the combat armor here before you do anything else. There is a short pillar in the center of this room with a switch on each of it four sides. Pressing one causes the stairs in front of it to raise. Press all four switches. Walk up any of the four sets of stairs until the wall with the crucified baron of Hell ahead of you opens, but do not walk through yet. Open the three remaining baron-walls in this manner as well -- this allows you to re-enter the starting area if you need to. Once they have all been opened, exit to the huge outdoor area. There are a number of lost souls outside; you might want to destroy them so they do not get in your way later, but it is not necessary. Walk around the building until you find the cyberdemon -- or he finds you. Use the pillars for protection if you need to. He occasionally wanders into one of the four supply rooms adjoining the main building; lure him out if necessary. In addition to a rocket launcher, these four rooms contain a total of 150 rockets and a pair of soul spheres to replenish you. Do not be afraid to waste ammo, because this is the last level of the episode anyway. As there is no BFG9000 in The Shores of Hell, and you have plenty of rockets available, your battle with the cyberdemon will probably be a rocket-rocket fight. If you have a plasma gun with energy cells, do not hesitate to use it. Mastering circlestrafing will greatly increase your effectiveness. Once the cyberdemon dies, the level and episode both end.

Secrets

There are no official secrets in this level.

Areas / screenshots

Speedrunning

Routes and tricks

Current records

The Compet-N records for the map are:

Run Time Player Date File Notes
UV speed 1
NM speed 00:30 Laszlo Vecsei 2002-02-07 n2m8-030.zip
UV max 00:31 Laszlo Vecsei 2000-10-25 e2m8-031.zip
UV -fast 00:31 Laszlo Vecsei 2000-10-27 f2m8-031.zip
UV -respawn 2
UV Tyson 28:10 Jim Leonard (Xit Vono) 2002-03-23 t2m82810.zip
UV pacifist 3

The data was last verified in its entirety on November 16, 2012.

  1. UV speed runs do not differ from UV max runs on this level so only the latter is open for competition.
  2. Compet-N does not maintain a UV -respawn competition for this level because of the run's similarity with UV max. [1]
  3. This is possible if the cyberdemon becomes "asleep," which can be done by not shooting, getting the cyberdemon to infight with a lost soul, and then going out of the cyberdemon's line of sight so that it does not retarget the player after killing the lost soul. When the cyberdemon is in the sleeping state, it is possible to manipulate lost souls to attack it from the back without it awakening (which would only happen if the cyberdemon goes into its pain chance state). This would make pacifist possible, though it would require a large amount of luck as it would require many hits on the cyber that do not result in pain chance.

Statistics

Map data

Things 66
Vertices 216*
Linedefs 218
Sidedefs 278
Sectors 27
* The vertex count without the effect of node building is 186.

Things

Monsters ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Cyberdemons 1 1 1
Lost Souls 0 4 20
Powerups ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Soul spheres 2 2 2
Blue armors 1 1 1
Weapons ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Rocket launchers 1 1 1
Ammunition ITYTD and HNTR HMP UV and NM
Rocket boxes 30 30 30

Technical information

A par time of 30 seconds is defined in the source code (g_game.c), but never actually displayed. Some source ports do generate intermission screens for the original boss levels which include their par times.

Trivia

The new owners of Deimos build their lord's tower as the marine approaches it.
  • On the Episode 2 intermission screen, the tower can be seen being built as the player progresses through the episode.
  • The "Tower of Babel" is an ironic Biblical reference (Genesis 11:1-9). The Tower of Babel in the Bible is a physical pathway to the Heavens constructed by man and destroyed by God. In Doom, the level is a pathway to Hell, constructed by demons and destroyed by a man, as explained in Episode 2's ending text.
  • This is the first level in Doom to not include any imps; while E1M8 includes imps, they are only behind the teleporter.
  • This is also the only level in the episode to not have a plasma gun available.
  • In the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn ports of Doom, this level occurs at the end of the Inferno stages, taking place chronologically after E3M7: Limbo. Several mancubi also populate the main courtyard where the player does battle with the cyberdemon.
  • On some console ports, including the Atari Jaguar, 3DO, and Game Boy Advance, the name is used for a different map that does not include the cyberdemon.

External links