MAP28: The Absolution (Doom 64)

MAP28: The Absolution is the last level of Doom 64. The background music is the same heard in level 11, Terror Core. The layout is simple: You start off in a room containing all the weapons including the Unmaker and a large amount of ammunition. Leaving the room (the door cannot be re-opened after leaving), you will enter a courtyard with a pillar-like object in the center and 3 small "rooms" which cannot be entered and have a switch each next to them. The focus of the map: survive an onslaught of enemies, and then fight the Motherdemon. The key strategy will depend on whether or not you got the demon artifacts. The three unique switches are positioned north, east, and west of your position of entry to the courtyard.

The only way to activate the switches is with the demon artifacts (you do not lose the artifacts from your inventory). The more artifacts you have, the better your survival, since the switches open doors with switches that close some of the demons entry points. Closing all demon entry points will instantly lower the center pillar (it lowers normally if all demons are killed), revealing a soulsphere that respawns indefinitely. The soulsphere also occasionally switches to megaarmor. The Motherdemon follows shortly after the pillar lowers. The only cover from her attacks are the pillar with the soulsphere and the "rooms" in which the hordes of enemies spawned from.

If you had the three artifacts, this level shouldn't be too difficult. Grab the Invulnerability upgrade, head into the arena, and close off the teleports before too many monsters arrive. Use the rocket launcher to destroy any enemies that might have spawned into the arena. Once all enemies are dead, the Motherdemon will present herself from the center pillars.

To kill the Motherdemon, use the fully-powered Unmaker or the BFG9000. The boss should be killed easily provided you have both weapons in your arsenal. The rocket launcher is also an effective weapon against her if you ran out of ammunition for the two aforementioned weapons, but be prepared for a far more difficult battle.

Routes and tricks

 * It is highly recommended that you possess all three Demon Artifacts, as you will not have to fight the monster gauntlet before battling the Mother Demon, which will save you a lot of time and ammunition.