MAP17: Hell Keep (Console Doom)

MAP17: Hell Keep is a map that appears in the PlayStation, Saturn, Jaguar, 3DO, and Game Boy Advance versions of Doom. In spite of its title, it is not related to the original Hell Keep, and is an entirely new level. In the Game Boy Advance version, its title is rendered as Hell's Keep.

As the music track it uses "On the Hunt" in 3DO version and "Donna to the Rescue" in Game Boy Advance version composed by Robert Prince. In the PlayStation version, it uses the music track "In The Grip Of Madness" by Aubrey Hodges. The track "Digitized Pain" is used in the Sega Saturn version.

Essentials
Ammunition is very scarce in this map, and there are no chainsaws or berserk packs. Attempting to play this level from a pistol start will require monster infighting wherever possible. As many enemy groups consist of monsters of a single type -- such as imps or demons that do not attack their fellow creatures -- causing infighting can be challenging at times.

In the starting area, take the shotgun behind a tree on your left. Open the door to the north, to a room which is a fork. In front of you is a glimpse of a red keycard. Turn left and open the door. Two groups of imps will appear in the next room, and you can see a switch on the right side. Go forth and turn right, walk upstairs and turn rigth again. Press the aforementioned switch. The red key is now accessible. Go to the lowered pedestal with that key. Carefully take it preparing yourself for two ambushes. Dispatch the enemies and return to the fork room from where you glimpsed the key.

Take the third door. Turn left and descend to a lava hall. You see the red door ahead but first turn right and, bewaring a demon ambush, head to the zombiemen. Kill them and spare the barrels. Return to the red door and enter the teleporter. On the top of the ledge of dead zombies, head left to another ambush. Lure the given enemies closer to the spared barrels, drop off the ledge and blow them up. This will kill the enemies or at least injure them severely. Reuse the teleporter again to get back to the ledge. Head left and around. Take the blue keycard.

Leave the lava hall. Walk upstairs and turn left to a blue door. This will lead you to the southeast. Use a staircase. Prepare yourself for the hellspawn and take the yellow card. Several traps on the level will open. Dispatch the enemies. Enter the northern hellspawn trap and press the skull switch. This will open the door to the west. Go there and you will find yourself at the starting area. Dispatch more hellspawn here and take the yellow door. Press the switch to finish.

Other points of interest
When you get the blue keycard, drop down the ledge on which it resided. Get back to the starting area. A wall that concealed a plasma gun and cell charge pack is open.

Secrets
There are no official secrets in this level.

Trivia
This is considered one of the hardest official maps to play from a pistol start, especially on higher skill levels, due to a thorough paucity of ammo, armor, and weapons. The map does not appear to have been designed with such play in mind.