MAP31: Festering Wicked Helix Sectors (Resurgence)

MAP31: Festering Wicked Helix Sectors is the first secret level of Resurgence, accessed from. It was designed by Josh Sealy (Joshy) in the style of Xaser Acheron, and uses the music track "Day of Mourning," composed by Stuart Rynn (stewboy) specifically for the level.

The level takes place around a large Gothic-themed structure, castle-like in design, with plenty of large pools of blood. Situated near the structure is a huge tower, which the player must get to. However, the level features a twist: In the vein of Xaser's Wicked Garden, and TNT: Evilution MAP04, a second version of the level exists, which is darker and mostly abandoned. This alternative version appears at the very end of the level, and it is here that the tower is accessible.

Inspiration and development
The level was originally designed for the led by Brian Knox (Snakes), in which mappers would be assigned to another mapper, and have to make a level in the style of the mapper they were assigned to. After signing up to the project, Sealy was assigned to Xaser Acheron. Sealy carefully studied MAP15 and MAP25 of PRCP, E3M0 of ZPack, and E2M26 of Back to Saturn X to learn the main features of Xaser's maps. The name of the final product is an amalgamation of the names of these maps. A full description of the development of the level is included at the end of Resurgence's text file.

Secrets
All secrets apply to the first part of the map. The corresponding areas in the second part are empty, and do not count as secrets.
 * 1) Sector 33: As soon as the map begins, you will see a soulsphere on a ledge next to some imps. The ledge is in front of a window, which you can jump through from the staircase inside the entrance. It can be difficult to run through the window, and even on successful attempts, overshooting is likely, so this can be a difficult secret to be obtain, despite being very simple in concept.
 * 2) Sector 281: Next to the yellow skull key is a tall plinth with a BFG9000. When you are in the process of accessing the yellow key, you will come to a narrow hallway, at the end of which are three torches, one of which is green. Press the left-hand wall (linedef 1719) of the green torch's sector. This will partially lower the BFG's plinth, such that when you take the yellow key, running forward will cause you to skim the plinth, taking the BFG and triggering the secret.
 * 3) Sector 421: After taking the yellow key, run backward to land on the walkway leading to a lift. Go up the lift, then turn left through the opening, and move towards the railing opposite. Move close to the railing, and carefully drop down to the right. You should land on an energy cell pack.

Speedrunning
The records for this map on the Doomed Speed Demos Archive are:

Last updated on 1 August, 2015.