Overload Deathmatches

Overload Deathmatches is a 16-level megawad for Doom II that focuses on tight multiplayer duels. It was created by a team of four Swedish level designers, with project lead Ola Björling (ukiro) providing a new texture set and Nicklas Linnes writing its MIDI soundtrack. From June 23, 1998 until its release over two months later, Doomworld posted a series of Overload features to their new events section. This included preview screenshots, an interview with Ola, a WAD review, and an IRC release party that was organized in channel #doomroom. The PWAD was uploaded to the idgames archive on August 28, 1998.

Each level features a symmetrical deathmatch arena that many would deem too small for three or four players. Generally played as a 1v1 duel, each player is in line-of-sight or aware of their opponent's location at all times. The level exits are also hidden from view like a typical secret area found in single player levels.

Authors
Levels for the WAD were made by:


 * Ola Björling (ukiro)
 * Tobias Forsberg
 * Martin Friberg (Cocoon)
 * Nicklas Linnes

Music for the WAD was written by:


 * Nicklas Linnes

Textures and graphics for the WAD were created by:


 * Ola Björling

Levels

 * MAP01: Fragtastic by Ola Björling
 * MAP02: Deja Vu by Ola Björling
 * MAP03: Close Quakecounters by Ola Björling
 * MAP04: Threesome by Ola Björling
 * MAP05: Fort Fury by Ola Björling
 * MAP06: Satans Circus by Nicklas Linnes and Ola Björling
 * MAP07: Frag Isle by Nicklas Linnes
 * MAP08: Panic Is My Name by Tobias Forsberg and Ola Björling
 * MAP09: Satans Sewers by Tobias Forsberg
 * MAP10: Ruins Of Valhalla by Nicklas Linnes
 * MAP11: Paranoia by Ola Björling
 * MAP12: LLAWEHTNIELOH by Tobias Forsberg
 * MAP13: Screaming Fury by Martin Friberg and Ola Björling
 * MAP14: Frag-Mentation by Nicklas Linnes
 * MAP15: High Fragquency by Nicklas Linnes
 * MAP31: Fragmageddon by Tobias Forsberg

Soundtrack
Each level features an untitled song by Nicklas Linnes.

Textures
The medieval castle-themed levels are built from weathered brick, grainy wood, and corroded metal materials. The megawad has been noted for having a sharp look as it features a narrow set of textures containing only 36 patches and 11 flats.

Trivia

 * The Overload texture lump was later included in OTEX, a standalone texture set released by Ola Björling in 2018, making it OTEX's oldest artwork.