[Gargoyle]

Entrance to the spinblade trap section, ROTT shareware E1A2.
Back in the day I had a saved game at this spot. Had a lot of struggle (and fun) riding the traps probably because I was playing with keyboard only so this view has stuck ever since. The shareware episode had memorable set pieces but Foggy Mountain was on another level. Beyond the gold key door each room was different and recognizable. The registered game didn't have as memorable and captivating design as the shareware did except for the first area.




The fenced weapons, ROTT shareware E1A8.
Another room that evokes a strong "ah, this part" feel, especially those two alcoves with the mercury mode secrets. Something about here feels distantly familiar, like a real life location. I visited this room often to replenish missile ammo so I could take out those enforcers. Oddly resonating.




180° for storage bunker, Terminal Velocity stage 2-1.
Played this recently after a long time and this dead end still hasn't left my memory for some reason.




Down the pit, Monster Bash 1 level 1.
Memory unlocked despite knowing this part since the beginning. I played this game a lot when I was 6 so maybe it's a flashback from that time.



Have you had any similar thoughts when replaying a game?

[MrFlibble]

Oh yes, thanks for the lovely topic! I have my fair share of nostalgia evoked by ROTT shareware as well.

I actually only played the majority of Apogee games sometime in the mid-late 2000s. The shareware episode of Blake Stone was also very nice and nostalgic (I mean, it felt like a fresh throwback to the early-mid 90s to me when I played it, I guess in 2006?). I liked it better than Wolf3D for the richer atmosphere and more colourful level designs, interesting secrets and the option to revisit previous levels. But revisiting Wolf3D -- which, unlike Blake Stone, I did play as a kid in the 90s, if only a little -- was also a nice experience too. I guess the first level and the secret level in shareware are the most memorable.

I have a clear memory of myself playing Terminal Velocity on the old laptop sometime in December 2010. Loved the music, gameplay not so much, so I never really got past the snowy planet. But it was fun nonetheless.

When I first played Shadow Warrior in the early 2000s, I was really scared of the jumping part in the mountain area of level 3. I mean, I'd even switch to the overhead map view in order to not jump in the first person. It's only much later that I discovered the "follow the rabbit" secret. But Zilla Construction is awesome in its own way, with lots of visual storytelling -- but back then I found the level layout very confusing.

Duke Nukem 3D is full of memorable moments, but what sticks most from my earliest playthroughs (E1 aside) is, for some reason, Flood Zone, and to a bit lesser extent, Bank Roll. I would have loved Bank Roll even better, were the outdoor sections less claustrophobic and more detailed. I love a good piece of urban landscape in my FPS games, but sadly E3 has them very cramped most of the time, even compared to E1. Flood Zone gives you a much grander sense of scale without relying on vast open areas, or at least this is how I perceived it back then.

In the Atomic Edition, nothing trumps E4L1, with its acute sense of adventure and this feel that you're playing brand-new, cool and detailed Duke Nukem 3D levels.