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The Sigma Core - Doom 3

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half Life 1, 2 and 3

Author’s Note

“I am proud to announce the release of my first Doom3 single player level, entitled The Sigma Core. The level has actually been completed for a few weeks now, but I was waiting for responses from people at the 2004 Computer Gaming Conference and other beta testers. So, here it is.”

Basic Details

Title: The Sigma Core

File Name: sigma_core.zip

Size : 27.56Mb

Author: Quaker-X

Date Released: 22 October 2004

Download: PlanetPhillip Filecloud Server

Reviews

Syndicated Reviews

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About this entry

Published:: 1st November 2006 at 2:43 pm

Category:: Doom 3, Single Player Mods and Maps

Responses:: 2 Comments (add)

Tags:: 3D Gamers Edge, Booman

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Rating: 95

Award: 3D Gamers Edge Gold Award Winner!

Good:
- Great atmosphere.
- Good architecture.
- Excellent layout.
- good PDA/email use.
- Great challenge.
- Some nice scripted events.
- Fun action and cool battles.

Bad:
- Getting stuck.
- Abrupt ending.

Review:
This map is an excellent little adventure. Sent to explore strange happenings, it becomes your task to power-up the sigma core, and of course all hell breaks loose while you are at it. I really enjoyed the slow paced opening moments where Ryan allows the player to wander around, soaking up the atmosphere and trying to figure out what is going on and what needs to be done. The use of PDA audio logs is also appreciated. Although the voice-acting was mediocre, and the sound quality poor, they were more than adequate in setting up the story and adding to the tension. When the action does finally break-out, it is paced well - slowly building as the player travels deeper into the sigma core. Item and enemy placement is well thought out, and while there are the prerequisite lone imps and soldiers, there are also many staged battles that require tactics and planning. The challenge is well balanced, making it difficult to progress while never becoming frustrating. This level manages to be what many amateur levels are not - *fun*.

What Ryan does exceedingly well in this map is create an atmosphere akin to that in the retail game. His use of ambient audio is exceptionally well polished. Creaks, sparks, booming laughter, whispers, ominous bass - it is all deftly integrated into this map, with a flair that is nothing short of professional. The layout, architecture and texture use also add to the atmosphere. This level is real, solid, tangible. The sigma core is an entirely believable location, in large part due to excellent architecture and Ryan?s attention to detail. This level is almost good enough to fit seamlessly into the retail game.

My complaints are few, and the only serious one is that this level contains a few too many ways for the player to get stuck. If you like to explore, you may find yourself jumping down in among the pipes below the floor in these maps. While this is occasionally rewarded with hidden items, it can also lead to your becoming trapped with no way out except for a re-load, or a noclip. This can happen in a few different areas, and is something i find to be very distracting. I’m a firm believer that if your map allows the player to get somewhere (without cheats), then they should be able to get out as well (without cheats). The last thing you want to do as a level designer is to punish a player who is taking the time to explore ever nook and cranny of your creation. Other minor complaints include the poor quality of the audio in the PDA logs, and the abrupt end of the level. This would be very well suited as the beginning of a multi-level episode.

That said, this level is an exceptional creation that any fan of single player Doom 3 should not be without.

Copyright:
This review was written by Tron and first appeared on 3D Gamers Edge and is republished by express permission.

3D Gamers Edge Syndicated Review 1st November 2006 at 14:50 1

Rating: 95

Award: 3D Gamers Edge Gold Award Winner!

Good:
- Great atmosphere.
- Good architecture.
- Excellent layout.
- good PDA/email use.
- Great challenge.
- Some nice scripted events.
- Fun action and cool battles.

Bad:
- Getting stuck.
- Abrupt ending.

Review:
This map is an excellent little adventure. Sent to explore strange happenings, it becomes your task to power-up the sigma core, and of course all hell breaks loose while you are at it. I really enjoyed the slow paced opening moments where Ryan allows the player to wander around, soaking up the atmosphere and trying to figure out what is going on and what needs to be done. The use of PDA audio logs is also appreciated. Although the voice-acting was mediocre, and the sound quality poor, they were more than adequate in setting up the story and adding to the tension. When the action does finally break-out, it is paced well - slowly building as the player travels deeper into the sigma core. Item and enemy placement is well thought out, and while there are the prerequisite lone imps and soldiers, there are also many staged battles that require tactics and planning. The challenge is well balanced, making it difficult to progress while never becoming frustrating. This level manages to be what many amateur levels are not - *fun*.

What Ryan does exceedingly well in this map is create an atmosphere akin to that in the retail game. His use of ambient audio is exceptionally well polished. Creaks, sparks, booming laughter, whispers, ominous bass - it is all deftly integrated into this map, with a flair that is nothing short of professional. The layout, architecture and texture use also add to the atmosphere. This level is real, solid, tangible. The sigma core is an entirely believable location, in large part due to excellent architecture and Ryan?s attention to detail. This level is almost good enough to fit seamlessly into the retail game.

My complaints are few, and the only serious one is that this level contains a few too many ways for the player to get stuck. If you like to explore, you may find yourself jumping down in among the pipes below the floor in these maps. While this is occasionally rewarded with hidden items, it can also lead to your becoming trapped with no way out except for a re-load, or a noclip. This can happen in a few different areas, and is something i find to be very distracting. I’m a firm believer that if your map allows the player to get somewhere (without cheats), then they should be able to get out as well (without cheats). The last thing you want to do as a level designer is to punish a player who is taking the time to explore ever nook and cranny of your creation. Other minor complaints include the poor quality of the audio in the PDA logs, and the abrupt end of the level. This would be very well suited as the beginning of a multi-level episode.

That said, this level is an exceptional creation that any fan of single player Doom 3 should not be without.

Copyright:
This review was written by Tron and first appeared on 3D Gamers Edge and is republished by express permission.
Booman - PlanetPhillip Review Team 11th July 2007 at 11:27 2

Review
The Sigma Core (Doom 3) is more of a side story right from the original game. After playing it, I felt like The Sigma Core should have been in the game. It flows perfectly, building suspense and allowing you to discover what really happened. Don’t get a false impression from the beginning of the first map. It may seem empty but this is the only time you will have to relax before the storm comes. If you loved Doom 3, you will feel right at home.

Each level presents itself with dark corridors, rusted pipes, scripted scenes, brief storyline and all the intense action any gamer could want. There are some secret areas where you can pick up some extra health and plenty of objects for cover. I enjoyed the area in screenshot 6 (Above) where you end up in a hallway with door on each end. When you get to one side the lights begin to turn off one at a time (just like in a sci-fi movie) and you are left with only light from the windows. I won’t spoil the rest, but rest assured, you will need a lot of ammo. This mod requires the player to use your weapons wisely. You won’t get away with using the plasma gun through each level. There is a large variety of ammo placed around the maps so you can use each weapon in the right situation.

Graphically, all the models and textures are recycled from Doom 3, but are brilliantly used to create a whole new world. The Sigma Core maps consist of dark hallways/offices, underground subways, corridors filled with pipes and steam, bloody storage rooms, and tight ventilation shafts. Each element was created with great attention to detail. I love how they use panels and fencing to cast shadows on the floors (screenshot 7 & 8).

You will also meet vast amounts of monster from the original Doom 3 game. You might be greeted by a Revenant when you open a door or blasted by a Mancubus from across a room. Some monsters are scripted to teleport after you killed the last one, so instead of reloading you may have to switch to a different weapon due to time restraints. I absolutely enjoyed the amount of action and terror in The Sigma Core. There wasn’t a dull moment, even in the beginning when you have to search for a weapon.

Negatives
- May be too difficult in some areas

Positives
- Extreme replayability
- Lots and lots of action
- Very creative levels and mapping

Conclusion
I don’t even remember if the Sigma Core was mentioned in the original Doom 3 but I wished it had been there. It fulfils every Doom lover’s expectation and takes you on another journey to remedy something else the UAC messed up. I’m keeping this one on my list of favorites.

My Recommendation

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