Say if someone happened to do a list akin to the Top 100 Doomworld Most Memorable Maps but for Quake... what would your list be?
They can be memorable for both good and bad reasons, memorable simply means that it immediately comes to mind- you can remember many aspects about it, it stands out to you as special in some way. I'll start us off, here's my top 10.
They can be memorable for both good and bad reasons, memorable simply means that it immediately comes to mind- you can remember many aspects about it, it stands out to you as special in some way. I'll start us off, here's my top 10.
1. Eternal Return by Bal (Xmasjam 2020)
While it's small and stays humble, the map concept is simply executed perfectly first try. No other Quake map tries the concept and nails it so well, I can't think of a better format for a map like this, and a worse mapper could have made this much worse. Bonus memorability points for the multiple endings, crazy polish, and secret encounters all shoveled into this tiny box.
2. Binding Tower by Albert
When I joined the community, this one kind of came out of nowhere. A new mapper (to me), some very cozy and well thought-out visuals, and the fact that the map has a little teleport hub, it all felt very memorable. When I think of 2019 in Quake, this is the map that springs to mind.
3. Ghost Town by CZG (Honey)
The left-field nature of this ending threw me for a loop. I'd honestly thought I'd reached some kind of easter egg... but nope! It's just a super cute reward for getting to the end of a great pack, and that level of humor is something you don't see often in Quake.
4. The C.G.L Project by Nolcoz
Speaking of left-field and humorous, Nolcoz has to be the king of both. His maps always feel like they're mainly there to simply make you smile, and this one stands on top of the rest for the level of effort and boldness in being as silly as could be. If you haven't played this one, please do- it was sorely overlooked upon release.
5. Egyptoagula by Qmaster
This map doesn't particularly speak to me in any gameplay sense, the hunting down for buttons gets a bit tedious, and some of the monster usage can get grating, but damn. The concept of the map is simply stunning, and the fact that it functions as a map at all is crazy. Just upon seeing that first screenshot you know you're in for a ride, and overall it doesn't disappoint with how often you're getting new views of this huge collection of floating oddities.
6. With Deference in Eminence by Orl (Ter Shibboleth pt2)
I mean, do I really need to point out why this one is memorable? As soon as you step foot in the map it's daunting, and even though my overall opinion of the scale and uncompromising nature of Ter Shibboleth as a whole will never budge, that's part of the charm, right? No other Quake map comes close to the feeling of loading in to this one and just looking around, even with noclip you're doomed to slow and scenic flythrough without the use of host_timescale, that's got to be at least memorable, right?
7. Otsegolation by Markie (Reliquary)
I can't really think of another fight in any other map that comes close to the feeling that the slime area in this map has. The rest of the map could be mush for all I care, as soon as I finished that map on Very Hard I knew it was sticking with me for a while. It's good then that the rest of the map keeps its luster throughout the runtime, and while in the overall Reliquary package I may enjoy Majestic Miasma more, this one hit me like a hurricane and I'll never forget it.
8. Telefragged by Ijed (Rubicon Rumble Pack)
When I think of the definitive 'adventure' map for me, it's got to be this one. The creativity behind the 'Telefragged' portion alone would make for a memorable map, but then it's followed up by the typical Ijed fare, but spruced-up for a more modern era. Plus, you can't beat a literal 'T-minus 1 minute till self destruct' for memorability, can you?
9. Death by 1000 Cuts by Sock
This map holds a special place in my heart. I remember when I was just being introduced to Quake through Daz's Custom Gamer channel, I fell in love with the concept of this map. Searching it up, I obsessed over it's entry on Sock's website, and finally getting my source port together to play the map... god. This is obviously a very personal pick, but I can't-not mention the effect it's had on me. Maybe if not for this map, I wouldn't be doing what I do now.
10. ANOXIA by Paul Cook
Regardless of the community, everyone needs their wow.wad equivalent. The punching bag that everyone rates a single star, the map created by a vanished name, memorable for it's sheer incompetency above all else. We love you ANOXIA, we truly do.