MAP33: Hexsoil (Doom 2 the Way id Did)

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Doom 2 the Way id Did secret maps

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Secret maps

This level occupies the map slot MAP33. For other maps which occupy this slot, see Category:MAP33.

MAP33: Hexsoil is the Easter-egg secret map of Doom 2 the Way id Did, and is a secret level included as a parody of MAP33: Betray. It was designed by Paul Bates (Blackgaze) and uses the music track "Read Me While Listening to This" by Robert Prince, from Doom II. It was, however, planned to use "Getting Too Tense", according to the MAPINFO lump of its original release.

It can be accessed from MAP02: The Compound as long as the user is using a compatible source port such as ZDoom or the Eternity Engine. While many others can load the level using the idclev33 cheat code or the -warp command line parameter, finishing the map may cause the program to crash afterwards. The par time defined in MAPINFO is 7:00 (8:00, in the original release).

Unlike other maps in Doom 2 the Way id Did, this map requires a limit-removing source port to successfully run, as the usage of most textures causes the tutti-frutti effect in vanilla Doom and Chocolate Doom, and will even bomb out with a visplane overflow in the large cavern beyond the yellow locked door. Additionally, Chocolate Doom incorrectly titles the map as Level 1: Congo on the automap.

Completing this map takes the player to MAP03: Water Main.

Walkthrough[edit]

Map of Hexsoil
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[edit]

Pull any of the skull levers around you to lower the surrounding walls, revealing a large square hub overlooked by caged imps, along with four wooden bridges that lead to the keys and the exit. The bridges must be crossed in a specific order.

Blue key[edit]

Cross the western bridge and open the door on the other side, then drop down a hole to enter a square room with a rocket launcher guarded by two revenants (plus shotgun guys on Hurt Me Plenty (HMP) skill levels). Climb up the steps on either side of the room then continue west up a staircase, opening the door at the top to enter a skin room guarded by one to three arachnotrons along with other monsters. Climb the staircase on the south side of the room to the top, then step north-east to drop down to a brown floor and follow the path round until you find a super shotgun in a magma crack. Use this weapon to kill the approaching zombiemen, demons and Hell knights, press the eye switch by the south-east wall then climb up the now-open staircase by the north-east wall to get the blue skull key.

Taking the key opens a closet behind you containing demons, as well as a second closet at ground level with shotgun guys, cacodemons and revenants (plus spectres on HMP or higher). Drop to the ground below and open the blue skull bars by the south-west wall, then press the button behind them to lower part of the wall and reveal a teleporter back to the hub.

Yellow key[edit]

Back in the hub, cross the southern bridge to a blue door and open it to find a radiation shielding suit, then drop down another hole to land in a circular nukage tunnel. Follow the tunnel anti-clockwise, killing any imps and cacodemons that block your path, until you get to a skull switch and press it to open a wall behind you, revealing knights (and barons of Hell on HMP or higher) along with a supercharge. Take the supercharge to lower a wall to the south, then step through it to see a large brick structure ahead that has numerous zombies on its steps. Use the lifts to climb up to the top floor, then head south-west to a door and open it to enter a room with two cages that hold lost souls and multiple pain elementals. Step on the left and right sides of the white teleporter between the cages to enter them, then go to the north ends of each cage to find a gargoyle switch that you need to press.

After pressing both switches, go back outside to see that the nukage-fall on top of the structure has lowered to reveal another teleporter. Step on it to go to the dark ledge surrounding the structure, then follow the ledge round to its south side to find an eye switch that will lower the pedestal with the yellow skull key, along with several platforms holding arachnotrons. Lowering the yellow key also lowers a wall behind it, revealing a teleporter (guarded by knights and barons on HMP or higher) that goes back to the hub.

Red key and exit[edit]

Back in the hub, cross the northern bridge to a yellow door and open it, then drop down a hole to land in a tunnel that leads to a lava cave. Head north-east across a series of small islands, which are overlooked by mancubi, until you reach a lift and activate it to climb into a metal building. Open the door in the north wall to face two barons (on Ultra-Violence and Nightmare), then press the eye switch at the end of the passage to lower the red skull key so you can collect it. Go back to the building and open the red bars in front of you to reach a bridge, which is now guarded by a large number of monsters, then fight your way to the other side and climb up the rock steps to a dark tunnel. Follow the tunnel past some imps until you reach a cavern with a teleporter that leads back to the hub; note the word "RUN" written on the floor at the entrance, as arachnotrons (and spectres on HMP or higher) will be released on either side when you enter the cavern.

Back in the hub, cross the eastern bridge to a red door and open it, then drop down a hole to land in a water tunnel. Follow the tunnel past imps and one or more arachnotrons (plus barons on HMP or higher) until you enter a columned hall. Press the skull switch at the north end of the hall to lower the large bloodfalls behind you and reveal two barons (or arch-viles on HMP or higher), then press the eye switches that were hidden behind both bloodfalls to lower a set of flesh barriers at the north end of the hall. Enter the star-shaped patch of sky behind the barriers to finish the level.

Other points of interest[edit]

Secrets[edit]

  1. In the hub, drop into the south-west blood pit then go to its north-east corner to see a tiny red teleporter. This teleporter goes to a cross-shaped room with health bonuses, armor bonuses and a supercharge. (sector 253)
  2. After pressing the blue button in the blue key area, go back to the entrance to this room and climb up the southern staircase again. A compartment with energy cells, two boxes of rockets and a BFG9000 has opened at the top. (sector 256) On HMP or lower, this secret also holds a megaarmor.
  3. In the yellow key area, head around the back of the large brick structure to find a skull switch. Press it, then run back to the north side of this area where two compartments containing secrets #3 and #4 have opened. Secret #3 is the north-west compartment and holds six health bonuses, one or two boxes of bullets, a computer area map and a medikit. (sector 258)
  4. See secret #3. The north-east compartment holds six armor bonuses, one or two boxes of shotgun shells, a light amplification visor and a medikit. (sector 262)
  5. As you step across the islands in the lava cave, you will see some islands going west. Step across these islands to reach the rock formation on the north-west side, then climb on top of the formation to find a satyr switch. Press it, then go to the metal building on the north side of the cave to see that a compartment has opened next to the door, holding large ammo pickups as well as a megaarmor and a partial invisibility. (sector 426)
  6. Hug the north wall as you fall down the hole behind the red door, and you should land in an alcove with an invulnerability. (sector 511)

Bugs[edit]

Demo files[edit]

Areas / screenshots[edit]

Speedrunning[edit]

Routes and tricks[edit]

Current records[edit]

The records for the map at the Doom Speed Demo Archive are:

Run Time Player Date File Notes
UV speed
NM speed
UV max
NM 100S
UV -fast
UV -respawn
UV Tyson
UV pacifist
NoMo 2:21.94 Aleksey Kamenev (4shockblast) 2015-03-26 id33o221.zip

The data was last verified in its entirety on January 13, 2022.

Deathmatch[edit]

Player spawns[edit]

This level contains seven spawn points:

  1. facing south. (thing 727)
  2. facing south. (thing 728)
  3. facing north. (thing 729)
  4. facing south. (thing 733)
  5. facing south. (thing 734)
  6. facing north. (thing 802)
  7. facing north. (thing 803)

Statistics[edit]

Map data[edit]

Things 860
Vertices 3176*
Linedefs 3065
Sidedefs 5354
Sectors 569
* The vertex count without the effect of node building is 2574.

Things[edit]

This level contains the following numbers of things per skill level:

Technical information[edit]

Inspiration and development[edit]

It was originally designed as a serious attempt at a late-progression Hell-themed level.

Trivia[edit]

  • The map's author did not plan for its inclusion.[1]

See also[edit]

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Blackgaze (15 February 2024). Hi, I'm the creator of map33 "Hexsoil".... Doomworld forums. Retrieved 16 February 2024.