Big Woodchip is a single map by James "Phobus" Cresswell for Doom II. Requiring a limit removing port, this map provides some interesting combat situations that should keep even a veteran player on their toes.

Difficulty: 7

While not overly challenging, even on UV, it's hard not to take a bitchslap in this map. With the way the map is laid out, I found myself making a lot of stupid mistakes, often taking an imp fireball or a revenant rocket while I'm not paying attention. There aren't a whole lot of traps around Big Woodchip, but there are plenty of nooks and crannies for enemies to hide. If it's not revenants beating you down or chaingunners jumping from the shadows after the door locks behind you, it's the imps and shotgunners out on the ledges.

With a bit of patience and perserverence, learning their locations and using your chaingun in short bursts, you should have no problem taking them out. After you take a couple of beatings and introduce yourself to the dirt a few times, of course.

It's tempting to go after that mastermind right toward the end of the map, but you don't really have enough ammo to take it on. So naturally, your second instinct would be to just keep moving, right? Well, meet Mr. Archvile and his brother, Mr. Archvile. It's not necessarily too difficult to take them out and make a bee-line for the exit after, but with a mastermind gunning you down in a cavern with a strobe light effect, you'll be dodging fire from multiple places on this one. Good luck.

Design: 5

As far as the structure of the map goes, it seems to be designed to provide a challenge, and not to replicate a specific location. This is a bit of a good thing, and also a bad thing. I found that, while yes, I did enjoy taking down those bastards hiding in the corners and at long range with the shotgun, at the same time, the map lacked immersion. That's one of the key things I find to be important when making a map - Does this place feel like it could actually exist somewhere?

I also found the level of detail a bit lacking and unimpressive. But then again, if it was designed to provide a combat challenge, does it really matter how pretty it looks? I dunno, maybe I've been spoiled on other wads. Or maybe I'm not a fan of wooden themed areas.

Playability: 6

Here's where I have a minor issue with this map. Phobus does a bit of a naughty thing toward the beginning of the map, letting the player wander onto some burning hellstone right after walking out of the entrance. While it does communicate, "Hey, you shouldn't be standing on this stuff like a dumbass," having the player navigate across the stuff to find an exit door without shielding or armor, and with shotgunners no less than trigger happy on the ledges before you probably isn't the best way to bring the player into the map. Just saying.

Aside from that and the beatdowns from the baddies in corners (and of course, Mr. Revenant), the map is quite playable. But is it replayable? Probably not for me, but if you enjoy this sort of thing, you may very well want to keep this one around.

Overall (Not an Average): 6

Somehow, I feel like this would have fit in quite well in a community wad of some sorts, but it does feel a little strange on its own. Big Woodchip provides some good challenge, at the cost of some detailing and some design choices that may make you want to mouth the words, "Dick move." It's worth checking out if you've got some free time this weekend.