It was with expectations set high,
when I sat down to play this compilation of Christmas deathmatch levels. I
thought that I was dealing with something very innovative and special -in
terms of gameplay and design. I wanted it so badly; this to be a fresh
breeze in the world of DooM DM! However, it really wasn't. Yes, it had some
funny stuff and a lot of well designed elements such as the big amount of
new graphics. That just doesn't make up a good DM experience.
First of all, I would like to point
out that a Christmas theme like this demands a lot from the author, as he
has to spot the fine line between the ridiculous and the amusing; at that he
succeeded! Mr. Gimmer has blended the DooM action very well with the
craziness of a concept such as this. Especially due to the all the new and
improved elements the wad contains; a nice red present with yellow
ribbons instead of a rocket (!), snow on the players' shoulders, snowmen and
a frozen plasma rifle. It all adds up to the perfect illusion; Christmas has
hit DooM, and it's gonna be a bloody one! A lot of nice new textures are in
there too.
The big minus of X-Mas is sadly
enough the levels! They just aren't no fun. Plagued by big areas and a bad
amount of detail they offer little eyecandy. Or gameplay for that matter. Although
the use and placement of objects are of a middle class. The
gameplay is in no way able to compete with today's standards or
requirements. The author should have made fewer but better levels.
X-Mas gets three marines for the
graphics and innovative nature of the whole. The spirit of it is good,
preventing it from only getting two marines.
