Waffnuffly wrote:Ah, I didn't even realize runes mattered for anything.
Runes are the way the game keeps track of which episodes you've completed. You have to have all four to open the final level.
Waffnuffly wrote:I'm on Episode 4 now, Azure Agony... some of the levels in this episode have been pretty terrible as far as horrible level design (no warnings for massive piles of enemies and inadequate room to maneuver, especially The Pain Maze's stupid push-you-into-room-full-of-purple-exploding-blob-things trick. That was pretty annoying). Azure Agony isn't so bad, but some of the ones before it were.
Yes, I agree that Sandy Petersen's designs are patchy. E4M2, "The Tower of Hate" (I think that's what it's called; the really dark one, anyway) is the worst offender. There are some cool bits, too, though, like the graveyard in E4M3 "The Elder God Shrine".
...and yes, I've always rather hated The Pain Maze. For that sequence with the exploding Spawns, I'd have recommended using the Thunderbolt.
Waffnuffly wrote:Anyway, overall it's been pretty good. Is there any way to kill those homing explode ball things the spider demon things shoot at you?
Nope. Try to get them to hit the scenery.
EDIT: The last map is puzzle-based. If in doubt, consult a walkthrough (I'm going offline now).