This is a fan-made modification, released on June 22, 2021, for the classic PC shooter. It was developed as a community mapping event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its parent game. The mod presents a collection of nine substantial levels, each featuring distinct themes and interconnected by a central hub. A defining characteristic of this mod is the "625" rule, which mandates the use of only six unique textures across all maps, serving as a tribute to the month of June (6) and the 25th anniversary. Players can anticipate encountering two surprise elements within the experience and will face five distinct enemy types, further reinforcing the anniversary theme.

Core Gameplay and Design Philosophy

The gameplay adheres to the established fast-paced shooter mechanics of its foundational title. Players navigate through meticulously crafted maps, engaging in combat against a variety of adversaries. The "625" rule, which restricts texture usage, promotes a unique visual aesthetic and emphasizes creative level design within these limitations. This approach challenges map creators to devise innovative methods for differentiating environments and sustaining player interest through level layout and atmosphere, rather than relying solely on visual diversity.

What Makes This Mod Unique?

The most prominent feature of this modification is its strict adherence to the "625" rule. By limiting the texture palette to a mere six distinct types, the creators have cultivated an environment where level architecture, lighting, and enemy placement become crucial to the player's experience. This constraint pushes the boundaries of visual design within a confined framework, offering a novel perspective on classic shooter environments.

Content and Structure

Sinister 625 comprises a total of nine large levels, each designed with a specific theme to ensure variety. These levels are accessed via a central hub, providing a cohesive structure to the mod's content. The mod does not include any additional downloadable content, expansions, remakes, or remasters.

Technical Details

This modification is exclusively available for PC (Microsoft Windows) and functions as a shooter genre experience.

What is the core gameplay loop?

Players explore themed levels, engage in combat with five distinct enemy types, and navigate using the fast-paced shooter mechanics inherent to the parent game. The progression is structured through a central hub that connects the nine unique maps.

What are the distinctive features of this mod?

The primary distinctive feature is the "625" texture restriction, limiting the visual palette to six textures. This encourages creative level design and emphasizes gameplay mechanics over visual complexity. Additionally, the mod includes two surprise elements and is built around a 25th-anniversary theme for its parent game.