This is likely the definitive 'medieval' map of the time, set in a large 'ye olde towne', it feels very much like Hexen2 which hadn't even been released yet. For the time, the visuals were pretty good, it attempted to look like something and was consistent. The gameplay is pretty typical for the time, very much 'Quake the way id did it', and there are bits of non-linearity here too. The attempt at following a Lovecraft story is really cool as well.

But for all those positives... Why are the monsters green? They just look weird, and I don't think they add anything, even though I suppose it's meant to tie into the Lovecraft story? 

They are "mutated by the sea air."

Probably my favourite oldschool map, for the size, setpiece-based design, and nonlinearity. It also advanced the form and showed what the Quake engine could do in terms of outdoor areas (id's closest contender for wide open spaces was Ziggurat Vertigo, which indeed blew my socks off, but wasn't as large/open as Shadow).

/votes for Sock to remake Shadow 

in my opinion this was the Marcher Fortress of early 1997. In December of 1997 that title would go to either Mexx10 or ikspq5, but for most of the year this level loomed large over all the others.

Great sense of place, creepy quakiness, and also the perfect change of scenery for the finale. 

Will replay the level tomorrow. I vaguely remember it, the docks and I think underwater zombies...

I played another mod at the same time back then, but can't remember what it was called. It was another medieval thing that spanned over 5 levels or so and had puzzle game play in wizards towers and dark forest roaming with hub play... yes I just spent ten minutes looking for it.

That was hit and miss but I remember this being extremely solid.