Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
After shutting down the Processing Plant (PC version) or destroying the Security Grid (PSX version), Bitterman finds himself once again at the doors of a facility, in this case, the Strogg Reactor.
The levels composing this unit are "Power Plant", "The Reactor", "Cooling Facility" (PC version only), "Toxic Waste Dump", "Pumping Station 1" and "Pumping Station 2", and the overall objective is to destroy the main Strogg Power Reactor.
Followed by the Big Gun unit (PC version) and the Hangar unit (PSX version, which also contains the Big Gun unit under a different name).
These levels show examples of:
- Ability Required to Proceed:
- The Red Key in "Power Plant" unlocks the regular (non-Secret) exit from the level.
- The Data CD in "The Reactor" unlocks the passage that leads to the eponymous reactor.
- The Blue Key in "Pumping Station 2" unlocks the door to the end of the level.
- Adapted Out: The Playstation version eschews the level "Cooling Facility".
- Broken Bridge: Access to the next unit is behind a permanently locked door in "The Reactor" which is destroyed once the Reactor itself is taken down, and the explosion also takes down this door.
- Compressed Adaptation: In addition to the removal of "Cooling Facility", "The Reactor" lost its outer area and "Toxic Waste Dump" was split in two: the first run is the usual, except for the lack of a slime pit at the end. The second part (the last area's overall slime pit except the passage to the secret) as well as all parts related to the return to "The Reactor" in the PC version, is now named "Waste Disposal Area". Finally, once the Reactor is destroyed, rather than going straight to the Big Gun level, you go to the Hangar unit via an elevator to "Launch Command" (which in this version is called instead "Defence Command").
- Cosmetic Award: Completing the unit in the 2023 remastered edition nets the "Destroy Strogg Main Reactor" achievement.
- Deadly Rotary Fan: Two located at the bottom of a slime pit the player must cross in order to reach the end of the "Pumping Station 2" level.
- Easter Egg: In the PC version only, found in the level "Cooling Facility":
- In the original release, a gutted Dopefish appears in a hidden room by completing all of the objectives of the unit and returning to the final area of the level, with the text "Design is Law" (John Romero's catchphrase).
- In the 2023 remastered version of the level, the Dopefish appears again, but this time in its Commander Keen Episode 4: Goodbye Galaxy self, with the background of his area being the texture extracted from said game, akin to a similar Easter Egg back in Quake's "E2M3: The Crypt of Decay".
- Easy Level Trick:
- The fastest way to reach "The Reactor" is by shooting at some Explosive Barrels in the main building that are surrounding a crack, thus revealing a secret, and then reaching the balcony and jumping onto the exit to the level. The trick still appears in the PSX version, however the shortcut now requires a Red Key.
- "Pumping Station 2" can be finished quickly by taking care not to explode any of the barrels in the pumps area with the two Tanks, and then using said barrels to get to the upper area and pick up the key. Or just using a good ol' Rocket Jump.
- Grimy Water: The coolant pools of "The Reactor" drain health if anybody steps on them. After activating the coolant pumps, said coolant is removed and these "pools" become Death Traps. After activating the pumping stations, these pools are filled with slime.
- Highly Visible Landmark: The Big Gun appears in the skybox of the "Power Plant" unit, right after entering the level.
- Hollywood Acid: Acid pits are a regular occurrence in the levels of this unit such as "Cooling Facility" and "Pumping Station 2". Near the end, the same is true for the level "The Reactor".
- Monster Closet:
- Two sections of the floor of the first room in "Power Plant" reveal two Iron Maidens, one per section.
- "The Reactor":
- Picking up the Data CD blows up two sections of the surrounding walls, revealing a Gladiator and two Iron Maidens.
- After using said CD, the player will eventually stumble upon a platform. The ceiling of this area explodes upon reaching the highest level, revealing three Flyers.
- "Cooling Facility": After completing all of the objectives, eventually the player must return to an area near the beginning of the level, which contains a bunch of boxes. The bigger pile will explode, revealing a Gladiator.
- "Toxic Waste Dump": Entering into the main building has the player facing a set of stairs to the upper level, with an Iron Maiden at each level. Stepping into these stairs triggers a wall explosion that reveals a pair of Berserkers.
- New Weapon Target Range: The BFG10K is introduced in a secret in "Power Plant". Its ability to clean out entire rooms will surely come in handy when the area is picked up on contains a Gladiator and several Icaruses.
- Rewarding Vandalism: "Pumping Station 1" has a cracked tube near the end of the level. Shooting at it and entering it will lead the player to a whole new area with other secrets, more enemies and more items.
- Sidetrack Bonus:
- "Power Plant":
- In the PC version, right after entering the building, shooting a light reveals a hidden cache. In the PSX version, in this same area, instead of a specific light, you need to shoot walls that reveal two hidden caches, one in each extreme.
- In both versions, destroying the barrels at the left of the first chamber rewards you with a secret shortcut to the end of the level.
- In the PSX version, dropping to the lower floor on the first outdoors area leads you to a chamber with a Red Key. This Key is then used to access the previous shortcut.
- One that doesn't count as a secret, at both sides of the entrance to "The Reactor" there are ammo and health boxes.
- "The Reactor":
- Dropping to the lower level and going to the path that leads to the titular Reactor has you to a room with a structure in the middle. There's a part that's sunk lower than the rest. It's a secret chamber holding a BFG and an Adrenaline pack. It also contains a return path to the upper level, next to the Red Key door.
- There are ammo packs below the stairs on the outdoors area.
- In the Data CD room there are two Monster Closets with some powerful cache that are triggered once you pick up the Data CD.
- "Cooling Facility":
- After dropping to the beginning of the current, going to the very beginning rewards you with some nice ammo and health packs.
- In the dropdown area, you can exit the current and find a secret room with an Ammo Pack and an Adrenaline pack.
- In the big pool area, one of the ledges hides a Megahealth.
- In one of the turns going for the pumps (the one with a Gunner ambushing you) there's a pair of Grenades.
- Turning both pumps makes a wall explode, with some powerful items being stored in a chamber.
- After completing all the missions and returning to the level, a new secret room with an Easter Egg opens in the big outdoors pool.
- "Toxic Waste Dump":
- Entering into the big building and turning into the stairs opens up a wall with a pair of Berserkers which also contains a good cache.
- The lower level of the room with the Tank contains several goodies. The upper level has some tubes that lead to an Ammo Pack.
- Exiting to the outdoors area and dropping to a slime current leads to a secret room with an Environment Suit and a few other goodies.
- Dropping to the pool next to the Environment Suit and swimming to a certain extent leads to a secret area. An extra portion of the area opens when you return from "Pumping Station 2" and enter from the button that triggers the bridge.
- The exit to "The Reactor" near the slime pool has a missable Grenade pack.
- "Pumping Station 1":
- There's an entire area hidden behind a broken pipe which contains a Power Shield, a BFG and a Quad Damage, among other goodies, as well as some enemies such as a Technician, a Tank, and a pair of Gunners. When you return to the main area, you also have a sidepath that leads to a Combat Armor.
- In the area with the broken tube, there's another secret: an Adrenaline pack inside a crate that's revealed once you shoot a specific light.
- "Pumping Station 2":
- Right after the ramps, there's a secret Body Armor in a shootable wall. In the original version it's not counted as a secret due to a bug. Source ports and the 2023 remastered edition fix this bug.
- Provided you engage in the Easy Level Trick, there's a whole area hidden behind the floor that's broken by shooting at the exploding barrels that leads you to a pair of secrets (one right there, a secret Invulnerability), and another not too far, a secret Power Shield after a slime pool, as well as a Megahealth pickup that's not counted as a secret.
- After the Red Key door, turning right instead of going forward leads to a room with baddies and an Environment Suit that leads to the second secret above via another shortcut.
- In the final slime pit, the one with the fans, there's a secret Quad Damage in a small chamber.
- "Power Plant":
- Suspiciously Cracked Wall: Right after entering the main building in "Power Plant", you'll notice a cracked wall surrounded by explosive barrels. Destroying either the wall or the barrels reveal a new secret area with some enemies, the BFG10K and a shortcut to "The Reactor".
- Teleporting Keycard Squad: After activating the pumps, returning to previously explored areas in the "Toxic Waste Dump" level will have new Strogg units (mostly Gunners but also Iron Maidens and Weapon Guards) attacking from newly spawned barriers.
