blackmantis: There is indeed a checkpoint system, and the first map also does include the use of checkpoints. You should see a message representing the checkpoint show up on the screen when passing through one, such as "GADZOOKS". I hope this helps.
Thanks for the info. I will look if such messages come up when I play. But even if they do - my problem still remains. No matter in which difficulty I play, when getting killed, the map WILL start new from the beginning, no matter if I choose "Restart" or "Load Checkpoint".
Aside from my personal problems with the checkpoint system, the system itself is indeed not the best solution. As mentioned before - 90s shooters allowed the save whenever we wanted. Imagine Quake with a checkpoint system, it would have been only half the fun. And those stupid jumping parts make things much worse, especially since First Person Shooters are not the best medium for plattform games AND because the pace of the game and the controls are not exactly made for precision jumping. And installing a checkpoint after TWO terrible terrible jumping parts is either very thoughtless or plain wicked.
Things like this are suitable to completely ruin otherwise great or at least good games for me, since they create frustration instead of challenge and I have enough frustratiion in real life.