The Ultimate Doom (MS-DOS, 1995) // Episode 4 Explained

Hey Retro Gamers!
In today’s episode, I am going to talk about the Fourth episode in Doom. As we all know and remember, the original Doom was released with three episodes in total.
The fourth episode, Thy Flesh Consumed, was first introduced in 1995, when updated and expanded version of the original Doom, called The Ultimate Doom was released. As you could expect, it serves as an interquel between the events of the first three episodes and the sequel, Doom II: Hell on Earth.
But what is this fourth episode all about? And why was it made?
Let’s talk about the plot first.
Episode 4 picks up immediately after our hero, the Doom Marine had defeated the Spider Mastermind at the end of Episode 3. The Doom Marine believes that he has won and can return to Earth, but upon his return, he finds that Hell has already begun its invasion.
The episode starts with the Doom Marine finding himself in a brutal and punishing environment, suggesting that Hell's forces are relentless and more powerful than ever.
After fighting through the brutal levels and defeating the final boss, the Doom Marine learns that while he has managed to survive and fight off Hell's forces for now, the battle is far from over. Hell's invasion of Earth has already begun in earnest, leading directly into the events of Doom II, where the Marine will have to defend the Earth from the full-scale invasion.
What can we say about the fourth episode?
Thy Flesh Consumed is notably more difficult than the original three episodes, providing a greater challenge to players. The levels in episode 4 were praised for their intricate design and creativity. John Romero's "Perfect Hatred" is often highlighted as a standout map with its complex layout and intense combat scenarios.Some maps however, were criticized for being overly punishing or having layouts that were difficult to navigate. Other than that, episode 4 or The Ultimate Doom in general, did not add any new characters or weapons into the game. Just new levels with increased difficulty.
But why was this episode made?
Thy Flesh Consumed was made to fill in the gap between the original Doom and Doom II, explaining how Hell's forces gained a foothold on Earth. By the time The Ultimate Doom was released in 1995, Doom had achieved legendary status in the gaming community. Episode 4 was a way to celebrate and capitalize on this success. It was also an easy way to keep the community alive.
Is it worth to play?
If you are afraid of high difficulty or don’t want to commit too much time, you should better skip it. There are no new characters or weapons in this episode. However, if you are a true fan of the franchise, you have to play it. I mean, someone has to pay for what happened with Daisy, your pet rabbit!
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