The recent Quake 2 remaster by Nightdive Studios is arguably the best way to experience the classic 1997 shooter. But could it be better? That's what one modder thinks, who's currently working on a path tracing mod.

Reddit user mStewart207 (as spotted by DSO Gaming) recently uploaded some images from their upcoming "RTX Renderer" project, which will aim to implement even greater lighting algorithms to the revamped version of Quake 2.

[caption id="attachment_397928" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image via mStewart207/Reddit.[/caption]

Judging by the screenshots so far, it looks pretty great. The modder is aiming to publish it to GitHub "as soon as it's more or less playable." We don't know when that will be, though.

What is path tracing?

There are a lot of technical terms that get thrown around in this modern gaming era. From image upscaling to things like RTX and rasterization, it can be difficult to know what's going on when it comes to visual acuity.

Many of you may already be aware of ray tracing, which is – in a nutshell – a piece of AI that uses the position of the player to make light and shadows look more realistic. But is this any different to path tracing? According to TechSpot, "Path tracing differs from ray tracing in that instead of following lots of rays, throughout an entire scene, the algorithm only traces the most likely path for the light."

It's up to you to decide whether you understand that definition or not.

At the very least, it sounds like the remaster of Quake 2 could potentially look even better once this mod comes out. Who knew id Software's brown-and-gray FPS would get a second chance in the limelight?

The post Quake 2 remaster is now getting a path tracing mod as well appeared first on Destructoid.

I’ve never really gotten elbow-deep into the Quake series. Before the 2021 Quake remaster by Nightdive Studios, I was actually most familiar with Quake 4, and I really don’t remember that much about it. In 1996, I was into Duke Nukem 3D. And then after that, it was Goldeneye 007. I at least played Quake 2… The N64 version.

But after the first Quake was remastered and introduced me to the series, I held off on any more series exploration, anticipating the second one would eventually get the same treatment. My patience paid off, and the Quake II remaster has arrived. Once again, it’s a terrific introduction.

[caption id="attachment_396573" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Quake 2 (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: id Software, NightDive Studios, MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Released: August 10, 2023
MSRP: $9.99

After the development of the first game in the Quake series was beset by creative differences, many members of id Software departed, including Sandy Peterson and John Romero. This is considered by many to be the end of classic id Software, as it seemed like the heart had left the brain with an empty bed.

You can sort of feel that in Quake II. There was something of an anarchic directionlessness in Quake that is replaced with something a lot more cohesive. Quake still felt like a first-generation shooter like Doom. Quake 2 is a lot closer to Half-Life.

You can see this clearly in the narrative. Earth has been under attack by the Strogg and hasn’t been faring well. So, the meaty humans launch a counter-attack, taking the fight to the meat substitute Strogg’s homeworld of Stroggos. Quake II and all the expansions are set around this counter-attack as you take control of different space marines attempting to hinder the enemy’s ability to wage war on humanity.

The first Quake really didn’t have much of a narrative, and this is definitely not a continuation. This comes with its pros and cons. The biggest positive is that a more defined narrative gives you purpose that helps drive you through the game. The downside is that the Strogg don’t care much for interior design, and there’s little visual diversity throughout the campaigns.

https://youtu.be/cyxBE163n20

Out of item

Nightdive’s remaster is similar to their approaches to the original Quake and the recent Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition. They have gathered all the expansions into one package, added a newly created campaign, and transported everything to their more modern KEX Engine, bringing with it a number of extra visual and gameplay options. And then, after already doing more than most would expect, they continue on to polish up the graphics and gameplay without tampering with the overall feeling and aesthetic of the title.

It’s extensive. They even upscaled the cinematics. Then, somehow, they ported all of the N64 version of Quake II’s levels. For whatever reason, when Raster Productions handled the N64 port, they wound up remaking almost all of the levels. It’s just as much its own campaign as the other expansions. It seems like it would be quite an effort to re-port the N64 version back to PC, but it was very worth it. It contains visual flourishes that make it, at the very least, aesthetically worth exploring.

The two expansions by Xatrix Entertainment and Rogue Entertainment are necessary inclusions, even if they mostly just feel like added content. Which, to be fair, is essentially what they were when they first released.

Meanwhile, the new campaign, Call of the Machine, by MachineGames is a great way of showing off the many successes of Quake 2 while minimizing its deficiencies. Visual variety is a lot better here, depicting a lot of different and interesting locales based on the Strogg War story but in places not shown in the games. It’s an effective way to demonstrate the outstanding gunplay, fast action, and interesting enemies without eliminating the unique flavor of the base game.

[caption id="attachment_396572" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Someone hang a poster

Which to be fair, as much as I hassle Quake 2 for its repetitive brown corridors, I do enjoy it. The main campaign is maybe a 6-8 hour romp. It kept my attention through to the end, even when similar games with shinier corridors failed to. Games like Dusk have demonstrated the lasting appeal of the clunkier and more straightforward games of yesteryear, and Quake 2 is an essential example of that.

But beyond that, Nightdive's remaster makes things a little more pleasant. One great feature is the compass, which draws a path to your next objective. It’s not that Quake 2 was obtuse beyond reason. Each of the “units” of the game is composed of a handful of small levels, so you’re destined to trip over what you’re looking for. It’s just a matter of how much backtracking you’ll have to endure.

For example, you might finish a secondary objective and see the message “turbine disabled.” Perhaps you won’t realize it’s talking about the fan that you just passed and can now bypass. So, you continue on your merry way, and then when you finally circle back, you say, “Ooooh. It was talking about this turbine.”

So, I mostly used the compass whenever I came back to a familiar-looking room and wanted to make sure I wasn’t just going in circles.

[caption id="attachment_396574" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

That's a lot of screens

As usual for Nightdive remasters, their all-encompassing approach to Quake II makes it the definitive way to play the game. Beyond just compiling all the expansions, certain features, such as AI, were buffed up, and cut content was restored. And then there’s also the multiplayer, which in some versions supports 8-player split-screen local. Or you can play online, if you don’t like sharing your screen.

But if, for whatever reason, none of that sounds good to you, the original versions are still available.

For me, it was a great introduction to Quake II. The PC version, I mean. It’s an oppressively brown shooter, but it still carries the speedy, lightweight combat that makes older FPS games still pop today. The changes that Nightdive brought in for the remaster make it even more enjoyable and accessible. It may not have the same experimental charm as Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition, but it more than makes up for it with its tight and gory gunfights.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

The post Review: Quake II (2023 Remaster) appeared first on Destructoid.

We all heard the news. Quake 2 has been officially remastered, and non-other than Nightdive Studios was responsible for its creation. While the contents of id Software's classic game are enough to keep us satiated (especially those of us who love the original 1997 release), there's something else to look forward to.

In a recent post on Twitter, Laced Records, a company that specializes in vinyl soundtracks for video games, is unleashing Quake 2's music. The tweet links to the website, which shows there are two versions, one of which will be a limited edition.

https://twitter.com/Laced_audio/status/1689683030313500672

While both of them will set you back $38 each, the limited edition press will feature "two solid red and orange A-side/B-side effect LPs," which looks pretty fancy judging by the images.

When can I get it?!

Hold your horses. This Quake 2 vinyl is not out just yet. The website says both versions will be released in January 2024, but you can pre-order yours now.

The soundtrack to the game is quite memorable, heading much more into rock/metal territory than the NIN ambient sounds of the first Quake game. Q2's music was conducted by Sonic Mayhem (who also did soundtracks to games like The Division and Deux Ex: Mankind Divided) and Jer Sypult. Horror director and musician Rob Zombie also contributed to the game's main theme.

It may be more than two and a half decades old, but Quake 2 is an important part of 90s gaming, especially in the FPS genre. Okay, it may not have had the same impact as the first Quake or the OG Doom entries, but it's still a classic, and now we have a remaster (and soon the vinyl) we can enjoy.

The post Quake 2 limited edition vinyl can be yours to own soon appeared first on Destructoid.

What are you reading this for? Nightdive’s rumored remaster of Quake II has been released, and you might already own it if you already had a version of Quake II on Steam or something. If the PC version is too good for you, then it’s also available on Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation platforms. What am I even writing this for?

Okay, because I’m expected to meet a certain word threshold to please the internet robots, I’ll tell you more. Bethesda and Nightdive dropped a remaster for the original 1996 Quake back in 2021, and it was an excellent source port of the classic game. It kind of felt like a similar Quake 2 remaster in the KEX Engine was an inevitability, but we only heard murmurings about it until today.

Quake 2 was initially released at the tail end of 1997, and featured a new, jazzed-up engine to take advantage of hardware acceleration. It wasn’t initially planned as a sequel to Quake, but gradually began shifting in that direction. Most notably, it has no narrative connection to the first game’s very loose story. Instead, it introduces a space war against the cyborg-like Strogg.

Quake is often considered to be the last game by id Software’s classic line-up. After some creative differences, a bunch of staff departed id, including John Romero. You can absolutely feel it in Quake 2, as it’s unusually cohesive for the studio. There was sort of a wild experimentation in early id games that kind of lags behind the technical wizardry in Quake II.

Okay, good enough? The Quake II remaster is now available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. It includes all its expansions, as well as a port of the N64 version’s campaign. Cool, bye!

The post Quake II’s Nightdive remaster is live right now appeared first on Destructoid.

Not only can you get Quake 2 (as well as other classic FPS games) for cheap at the moment, but there's a rumor that a remaster of id Software's classic could be announced soon. If you thought the era of remakes, remasters, and reboots was over, think again.

Speculation comes from a report on Dealabs (via VGC). The leaker says that, having gained access to some evaluation documents, a remaster of Quake 2 could be getting announced at this year's QuakeCon.

[caption id="attachment_395011" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image via is Software/Lightspeed Studios.[/caption]

The event is scheduled to run from August 10 to August 13, so news about this supposed reimagining of the 1997 shooter could be just over the horizon. The report from Dealabs goes on to say that "enhanced" and "remastered" are being tossed around to describe the alleged project, as well as giving information about potential platforms.

Already been suspected

Thanks to the video game rating board in Korea, we've already been made aware that Quake 2 could be making a comeback. We still don't know whether this is happening, but it's bound to stir up plenty of fans, especially the older ones.

While Quake 2 was a phenomenal hit when it released more than two and half decades ago, it did represent a bit of a shift for the developer. It was the first game the studio made without John Romero, so his influence is not to be found.

It was also a complete tonal shift from the original Quake. The first game had a darker and more gothic (almost horror) aspect about it, while the follow-up was much more "space marine", sci-fi action, with splashes of brown and gray.

Hopefully, we'll know more about this supposed Quake 2 remaster (or "enhanced" version), but for now, reel in those expectations until official confirmation.

The post Quake 2 remaster could be announced at this year’s QuakeCon appeared first on Destructoid.

Back in the '90s, id Software was the gaming company, responsible for bringing the world Doom and Quake. Two of the founding members of that company were John Carmack and John Romero, both now considered giants in their field.

However, since Romero's departure from id in 1996 (post-Quake 1), the two Johns have never come together to work on another project. And if you were hoping they would reform and create something together, Carmack has pretty much shot that idea down.

https://twitter.com/ID_AA_Carmack/status/1683542191350661120

In a post on his Twitter page recently, the former Doom developer praised Romero on the recent publication of his autobiography Doom Guy: A Life in First Person. Carmack then pre-empted an inevitable question about whether the two programmers would make anything together again.

And never the Johns shall meet

Unfortunately, the answer is no. He pretty much spells it out in black and white: "we aren’t planning to make a new game together." It's said in a good-natured way, though, and there doesn't appear to be any bad blood between the two.

It's possible that many were hopeful that something Doom-esque (or anything from the two legendary developers) would eventually come to fruition, thanks to a recent Reddit AMA from Romero.

In response to one question, Romero says the pair "could have stayed working together if we did things differently at the start of Quake." He also added that he and Carmack have talked about options, which features in his book.

John Romero is still active in the development world (it looks like he's in talks for a new FPS through a major publisher). Conversely, John Carmack has pretty much left video game creation behind, having been a major player at Oculus VR up until 2022, and now works on AGI—artificial general intelligence—under Keen Technologies.

The post Sadly, a new game from Doom’s co-creators is not happening appeared first on Destructoid.

It's gratifying to know that the FPS genre is still going strong. However, these whippersnappers wouldn't be anywhere without the granddaddy of all shooters that is the original Doom from 1993. The following year saw the release of a sequel, Doom II, which was equally impactful. So much so that people are still making mods for the game.

This one from Cheello is rather special indeed. While it's not out yet, their Voxel Doom 2 project is just around the corner. It may not look like much at a cursory glance, but it'll bring a more modern element to the iconic game without losing that original spark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQK8m41daAk

As the name suggests, this upcoming mod will implement 3D voxels into Doom 2. Specifically, enemies, weapons, and items are being swapped out for three-dimensional models. A recent trailer (with a kickass soundtrack to boot) shows that it's going to be releasing on August 1. You can also check out some additional content on Cheello's Twitter, as well as support them via their Patreon page.

The legacy continues

Look, if you've played Doom, chances are you've come across some mods in the past. Even if you haven't played any of them, you can appreciate that a series almost 30 years old still getting love and attention is quite something.

With the recent Myhouse.wad map craze, not to mention scientists now looking to grow neurons that could potentially play Doom, id Software's iconic FPS is a legendary part of video game history.

No matter which Doom you think is the best, the franchise will stay in the limelight so long as people like Cheello continue to tweak the formula and improve on the OG releases.

The post Doom 2 will be getting a 3D voxel mod in August appeared first on Destructoid.

Will it ever happen?

Older gamers will recall legendary developer John Romero's immortal words when he was promoting his new game (new for 2000, at least) Daikatana. Sadly (or perhaps not), no one was made to feel like the Doom co-creators "bitch," and his first release after leaving id Software proved to be a flop.

Was it the worst game launch in history? It's probably up there, but it's largely been clouded by much more contemporary titles like No Man's Sky, Cyberpunk 2077, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/15303b5/john_romero_ama_featuring_doom_guy_life_in_first/

However, according to a recent Reddit AMA, Romero would quite happily see Daikatana make a return at some point. In response to a question about the aged FPS, he said he would "support a remake." Replying to a similar question further down, Romero adds that, if it were to be remade, Daikatana "could be an exciting game, [more so] than the original."

A Daikatana remake is just a pipe dream, so far

This doesn't mean a remake or reboot is on the horizon, as far as we know. Plus, Romero did specify that he wouldn't be involved in such a project, though he would possibly be onboard as a consultant of some kind. We already know that he's working on a new FPS with a major publisher, which he restates in the Reddit thread. Pretty much nothing is known about this project, and the man himself even says he can't say anything about it.

John Romero is something of an icon in the video game industry. While he's been making games since the early 80s, it was 1993's Doom that helped set the scene for the early days of the first-person shooter. These days, he is still active in the gaming world, even making some new maps for Doom. As such, it'll be interesting to see what he's currently working on, and whether Daikatana will ever get a second chance.

The post John Romero is not opposed to a Daikatana remake appeared first on Destructoid.

For science!

Ah, Doom. Who knows where we'd be today if it weren't for the innovation that made you the granddaddy of first-person shooters? Probably one of the things that's helping to keep id Software's iconic game alive after all these years is the fact that it can be ported to just about anything. It's even possible to play Doom inside Doom itself.

As you can imagine, many people have attempted to see what crazy methods they can to play this legendary FPS. Now, some scientists are doing something a little different. Namely, they want to see if it's possible to grow their own neurons that can be taught to play games. And yes, they want to see if they will be able to control Doom.

A video from the YouTube channel The Thought Emporium goes into detail about the hypothesis. The basic idea is to be able to hook up some lab-grown rat neurons to a computer that will be able to play Doom, at least in a rudimentary fashion.

https://youtu.be/bEXefdbQDjw

This latest video begins with the initial attempt at growing neurons (did you know you could just buy neurons off the internet?), which are fed specific chemicals in order to keep them healthy. A roadmap shows the steps that need to be taken in order to get this basic brain to play Doom.

How will the neurons know they're playing Doom?

Obviously, this is a very complicated process, and there are multiple steps (and sub-steps) before the desired result can be achieved. It also doesn't sound like it's going to be playing Doom the way you and I would.

In this instance, The Thought Emporium intends to "reward" the grown neurons through sound, as they won't be able to actually see what they're doing in the game. For example, a sound they'll "like" (in the loosest term) will be emitted when they kill a demon or do something they're supposed to do. Conversely, a sound they "dislike" will be emitted if they do something they shouldn't, such as falling into toxic waste and dying.

Back in 2021, another scientist wanted to see if rats could play Doom 2 by controlling a sphere that was hooked up to the game. What this newest experiment does is even more mind-melting. Actually growing neurons in a lab in order to play video games is something only the maddest of scientists with the craziest of hairstyles would ever attempt.

The post Scientists are trying to grow neurons that can play Doom appeared first on Destructoid.

Time to raise some hell — in Hell

Though it was Wolfenstein 3D that kickstarted the FPS genre, it's Doom that everybody loves the most. Doom's contributions to the gaming world go well beyond it just being an amazing game. It popularized not only 3D in games but also the concepts of shareware and modding. Doom invited everyone to first experience it, then to do better. This approach paved the way for loads of original games and legitimate careers in the games industry. Taking a look back at the early days of Doom is taking a look at a much less cynical time in the history of the gaming industry.

But which game in the Doom series sits atop the throne as the best we've ever seen? It's hard to rank the games of a 30-year-spanning series without causing disagreements between the very different people from very different generations who have played the games. Worry not, though, as our ranking of the Doom games is 100% correct.

[caption id="attachment_260000" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

10. Doom (1993)

The game that started it all (if you forget Wolfenstein 3D). Despite the technical prowess behind it, Doom was simple and efficient. No big plot, just a bunch of beautiful levels where a man faces insurmountable odds while armed solely with an insurmountability-proof arsenal. On top of its single-player campaign, the original Doom also introduced the concept of Deathmatch, paving the way for online gaming.

Though not technically 3D, Doom deserves credit for one of the most important moments in gaming history, the eventual shifting of most of the industry away from 2D. Did we mention that it was and still is a lot of fun?

Please don't feel bad that we're putting it last. It's just a statement regarding the series' continuous evolution.

Strengths: Though severely dated, it's still one hell of a lot of fun.

Weaknesses: We wouldn't dare call anything here a weakness.

[caption id="attachment_238065" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Bethesda[/caption]

9. Doom II (1994)

We used to ask a lot less from sequels back in the day. The bad news about Doom II is that it's just the original game with new maps, more enemy variety, and one more gun. The good news is that having a new gun and more stuff to use it on is pretty great when the game in question is already Doom.

The even better news is that the new gun in question is the Super Shotgun, which remains one of the more satisfying weapons we can use to turn demons into soup.

Doom II didn't really revolutionize the world as the first one did. Still, we must ask, could we have handled yet another revolution of such magnitude by then?

Strengths: It has more cool stuff than the original.

Weaknesses: It's basically just Doom, but we're not complaining.

[caption id="attachment_383807" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by MobyGames[/caption]

8. Final Doom (1996)

Despite its confusing name, Final Doom isn't the definitive version of the original Doom. It's an expansion for Doom II that serves as the culmination of the classic Doom games and feels like a massive treat for the fans of the original two games.

Final Doom adds two new episodes that amount to 32 new levels. It's great, but remember, this isn't your classic stroll through Hell. Final Doom is for Doom veterans, so expect difficulty that comes not just from combat but also from more complex levels.

Strengths: Higher difficulty. This is the perfect culmination for lovers of the two original games.

Weaknesses: Don't play it if you think Doom II feels old—or difficult.

[caption id="attachment_243808" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Romero Games[/caption]

7. Sigil (2019)

Sigil is an unofficial expansion containing nine new single-player levels and nine new multiplayer maps. It doesn't count as canon because it's not owned by Bethesda, but it was made by John Romero, the brain behind the original Doom levels, so it counts as canon in our hearts.

Sigil also introduces new weapons and a story with the guts to incorporate a Baphomet glitch into its plot. It's wild. Sigil doesn't revolutionize the Doom experience that we know and love, but its intricate level design highlights the experience John Romero has accumulated over the past 20 years.

Another really cool thing about Sigil is that you can either get it for free or in a luxuriously cool physical format.

Strengths: This is the original Doom II gameplay at its freshest. It's like an unreleased greatest hits album.

Weaknesses: More of the same.

Bonus: And if you're really into John Romero's work, you can buy his newest Doom II level, One Humanity. The money will go towards helping the people of Ukraine, the Red Cross, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.

[caption id="attachment_248700" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

6. Doom 64 (1997/2020)

Those who made the strange jump from the PC to the Nintendo 64 back in 1997 found in Doom 64 the graphical improvements that Doom II lacked.

Despite not being an id Software product, Doom 64 is a more than worthy successor to Doom II, a completely new game with a fresh campaign filled with amazing new levels. Anyone interested in this peculiar title will probably enjoy learning that we can finally experience it on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch if you want to be kind of a purist.

And if learning about the re-release gets you excited, we have even better news. Players who beat the campaign will gain access to something called "Lost Levels," an awesome new campaign hidden behind the old one. The new campaign rocks on its own but earns extra points by connecting the events of the older Doom games to the reboot from 2016.

Weirdly enough, though, Doom 64 doesn't feature any multiplayer options.

Strengths: Provides the graphical evolution that Doom II didn't.

Weaknesses: It's hard to forgive a Nintendo 64 game that doesn't feature local multiplayer.

[caption id="attachment_253197" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Bethesda[/caption]

5. Doom 3 (2004)

This is easily the most divisive entry in the series, and we understand.

On the one hand, it looked better than everything else on the market when it came out. Yes, younger readers, Doom 3 once blew us away with those weird, oily, and rubbery looks. On the other hand, the once-masterful graphical improvements didn't bring along an equally daunting gameplay upgrade. Doom 3's campaign feels dated when compared to even that of the original Half-Life. It's no wonder it didn't fare too well against Half-Life 2.

Still, we get the sense that Doom 3 gave us exactly what the developers wanted to create, and that was a slower and more intimate descent into Hell. Most don't give it enough credit in that regard, but Doom 3 not only mastered dark and creepy sci-fi environments. It also mastered the art of jump scares. Nobody ever puts Doom 3 in a "best of" horror games list, but it packed some serious scares back in the day—and it still does.

Strengths: It features beautiful environments and interesting reimaginings of classic enemies, and it gets scary as hell.

Weaknesses: Weirdly simplistic gameplay for something that looked so far ahead of its time.

[caption id="attachment_383811" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by MobyGames[/caption]

4. Doom 3: Resurrection Of Evil

Doom 3's sole expansion successfully dealt with some of the main game's weakest aspects. Resurrection Of Evil added a few new weapons and special abilities that spiced up the otherwise conservative original.

The most interesting addition is the grabber, a weapon that allows players to levitate and throw objects at enemies—or to simply fling their projectiles back at them. Sadly for fans of the evolving FPS genre at the time, however, all the cool new additions serve only combat purposes and don't really take the gameplay in any really imaginative direction.

More cynical minds could accuse Resurrection Of Evil of being no more than an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the gravity gun, but it's more than that. Resurrection Of Evil offers neat gameplay improvements that result in a nice mini-campaign. Also, ROE had to exist because it provides the closure to the story that  Doom 3 lacked.

Strengths: Shows more of Doom 3's beautiful hell realm. A new weapon that allows players to control physics.

Weaknesses: It's very short. Resurrection Of Evil's use of physics pales in comparison to what Valve had achieved with Half-Life 2's gravity gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPyq0jFgVjI

3. Brutal Doom (2010)

Disclaimer: We know Brutal Doom isn't an official entry in the series. We also know we would be doing such a mod-friendly series a disservice if we were to ignore its greatest mod. Putting the word Brutal in front of Doom might seem unnecessary, but this mod by Marcos "Sargeant Mark IV" Abenante isn't kidding around.

Brutal Doom doesn't just greatly increase the amount of blood and guts seen in the original Doom. It modernizes its entire gunplay without messing up its beautiful surface. It also adds melee combat, glory-kill animations, stealth elements, and headshots. Don't think this will be a walk in the park, though, as Brutal Doom also makes enemies much faster and more capable.

Strengths: It brings the gameplay of the original Doom to new heights—and speeds.

Weaknesses: It mostly looks like the old Doom if you count that as a problem.

[caption id="attachment_205367" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Bethesda[/caption]

2. Doom (2016)

Though Doom 3 hit many of the right beats, it failed to reach the series' full potential in the eyes of fans. The Doom reboot had a long and arduous development cycle, one that nearly ended with it becoming a Call Of Duty clone. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, and we ended up getting one of the best reboots of all time.

The reboot did away with the slow pace of Doom 3, and with that alone, created a completely new thing. Doom was no longer about scaring the player. It was now about the player making Hell itself feel afraid. How did the devs do that? By empowering the Doom Slayer in all sorts of marvelous ways and thus turning the new Doom into one of the most fast-paced and brutal shooters ever made.

Strengths: Doom redesigned as a series of ever-harder arenas was an ace move. Aside from the pistol, all the weapons are extremely fun to use. The game looks gorgeous and runs very well on weaker hardware.

Weaknesses: The first level of the game only gives players access to the basic pistol. That doesn't do a great job of enticing players for what is to come. We forgive the devs, though, because they give us a Shotgun right at the start of...

[caption id="attachment_258088" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image by Bethesda[/caption]

1. Doom Eternal (2020)

We're not going to hold it against anyone who puts the Doom reboot above Doom Eternal. It comes down to a matter of preference. Gameplay or plot? The reboot features a better plot in the sense the developers understood nobody cares about the plot in these games, so there mostly isn't one. In the reboot, the Doom Slayer actively disregards learning about important story elements, whereas Doom Eternal makes him fully invested in what's happening, down to giving him a backstory. We're not thrilled about that, especially after Doom nailed the character so well.

And yet, like overly nice parents who encourage their kids with treats whenever they want them to study, the developers got our backs. Though they invited us to sit through a bland story, they made up with all kinds of excellent gameplay additions. We got a hook, a shoulder cannon, a dash, an insta-kill sword, and a new replenishment system that made the game more hectic than ever before.

Also, who could forget the Marauder, an enemy in a Doom game that requires players to think? The Marauder rocks, not just because it's the most interesting enemy in the history of Doom but because it might pave the way for sequels filled with way more challenging enemies. Doom might never beat the Half-Life series in terms of level design or puzzle ingenuity, but it could further surpass its rivals in its approach to combat.

And maybe, just maybe, the uninteresting plot isn't the terrible feature we think it is. Maybe it's just the developers' way to make us skip it—just like the real Doom Slayer would.

Strengths: The most refined and hectic gameplay in the entire series. The most fun arsenal and the best enemies to use it on. One of the enemies, the Marauder, provides the most fun challenge we've ever seen in the series. Absolutely glorious soundtrack.

Weaknesses: One of the few instances in which a bigger emphasis on plot and backstory doesn't pay off. A sad mistake after they aced the approach to the plot in Doom (2016).

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A new development in the ongoing Doom controversy

Last week, video game composer Mick Gordon issued a lengthy statement detailing his side of the behind-the-scenes details of Doom Eternal's soundtrack. Today, Bethesda issued its response.

In Gordon's post, the composer alleges that id Software failed to pay him for part of the game's soundtrack. He also specifically cites executive producer Marty Stratton's letter from 2020 as a statement full of "lies, disinformation, and innuendo." Issues arose after fans noted sound mixing discrepancies in the Doom Eternal soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a9E3n_VZRQ

Gordon's statement is lengthy, going into detail about the harassment he received from fans following the statement. He also alleges crunch and being berated over a call during the development process. In his conclusion, Gordon says that he has afforded Stratton and the company "ample opportunity" to address the issue, and by publishing the blog, he's exercising his right to defend himself.

"I never quit Doom," wrote Gordon. "I quit a toxic client."

Bethesda responds

Today, Bethesda issued an official statement on its social channels. In it, the company says Gordon "both mischaracrerized and misrepresented the team at id Software, the development of Doom Eternal, Marty Stratton, and Chad Mossholder" with his account. The studio goes on to say the professional relationship is irreparable, and says statements online have incited harassment and threats of violence.

Gordon did post a follow-up, on November 10, saying that the team's work deserves celebration, and "their efforts should not be the target of a protest."

https://twitter.com/bethesda/status/1592971214817222656?t=YNQT9SUW12AvqW142mOKig

Bethesda, in its statement, backs Stratton, Mossholder, and id Software. "We reject the distortion of the truth and selective presentation of incomplete 'facts,'" said the company. "We stand ready with full and complete documented evidence to disclose in an appropriate venue as needed."

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Id Software is making sure you can play the classics

Yes, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory is getting some new servers in the year 2022. As more players are hopping on thanks to its free availability, id Software has deployed dedicated servers with a classic ruleset for players to run.

Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory was made available on Steam earlier this year, as part of the Bethesda launcher going away. And it's also free on the Microsoft Store, too.

With the new platform and popularity likely comes players wanting to either experience the game properly, or rekindle their old memories. And so id Software has announced that it's deployed some official dedicated servers for Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, to facilitate all the nostalgic carnage.

These servers are running the vanilla Enemy Territory Campaign ruleset, with all six original maps and no mods. While id says there are servers with a variety of mods and custom maps that it highly recommends, some folks want to play the classics.

The classic, vanilla dedicated servers are set up across multiple regions, so players around the world can hop in. Four official servers have been deployed: Texas, the Netherlands, Canberra, and London.

All servers will even have a message of the day, saying the following:

"Official & Vanilla Servers hosted by id Software. Enjoy! These servers are unmoderated. For issues, help.bethesda.net"

Back to the past

It's really cool to see id Software supporting renewed interest in an older game like this. Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory was a bit of an outlier, from what I remember of its launch. Its class system and in-match experience might not seem strange now, but it was a cool take when it launched in 2003.

Now players have an easy way to dive in and play it just like it was back then.

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Time to return to Wolfenstein and more

QuakeCon 2022 kicked off digitally today, featuring streams and spotlights on a ton of Bethesda and id Software's games. And while new games are being celebrated, the hits are getting their fair share too. Several classics hit Xbox Game Pass for PC today.

These games range from the fourth entry in the Quake series to much, much further back, like The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard, Battlespire, and a few Wolfenstein games.

If you want something a little bit more modern, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perks now unlock all champions for use in Quake Champions.

https://twitter.com/bethesda/status/1560312695546847232

Quake Champions is actually free right now on the Microsoft Store, alongside a few other games. The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall are up for download on the Microsoft Store for the low, low cost of nothing. And Heretic: Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel are all on sale.

Add on Doom 64 as one of the current Epic Games freebies, and it's a heck of a week to pick up some older games for cheap.

Let's do the time warp again

Quake actually received an update today, and yes, I mean the classic Quake. Threewave Capture the Flag hits Quake today, bringing back the classic mode and nine resurrected maps.

The Bethesda blog covers some of the history behind Threewave CTF, a mod that wound up being quite influential over the history of Quake. Now, the mod is available for free as part of the enhanced Quake re-release. It even comes with some enhancements, like a status display for your flag and some improved lighting and fog effects.

QuakeCon '22 is underway now, with more panels and streams expected in the coming days. You can find a handy schedule of all the upcoming events here, and follow them live on the Bethesda Twitch channel.

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We heard you like Doom

There's a fascination online with getting classic 1993 FPS Doom running on just about anything. On other consoles, on hardware, on anything that can handle and output data. And now, we've gone one layer deeper, as one modder has put Doom inside Doom.

YouTube modder kgsws uploaded a video titled "You can run Doom inside (DOS) Doom, for real." earlier this week. (Thanks, PCGamesN.) In it, they show the process of using code injection inside the DOS version of Doom.

Now, game and code injection is something they've toyed with before now. But the ultimate execution that leads to Doom running inside Doom is impressive to see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6hnQ1RKhbo

After a lengthy process, kgsws is able to make a wall as a designated Doom-space. Here, they can watch the attract mode play out, or take over the controls and play themselves.

Eventually, kgsws builds even more. There's a theater for the Doom-ception, but also some additional switches to toggle in-game effects. The modder even puts Heretic, another classic retro shooter, inside Doom.

The ultimate Doom-ception

The quest to make Doom playable on just about anything and everything is, at times, awe-inspiring. It's one thing to get Doom running on a machine meant to play games, like a Game and Watch or something.

But then you have the wilder stuff. People putting Doom in their brand-new Porsche. Doom inside of Twitter, proving the site truly is a hellscape after all. Or Doom inside a pregnancy test, just because we can.

At this point, what's left to get Doom running on? I don't know, and in some ways I'm terrified to find out. But Doom truly is eternal, it seems. Anyways, if you want to play Doom more conventionally, the ports for modern consoles sound like they've got some nice quality-of-life improvements and features.

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Raining Blood

You'd think that there's no possible way cataclysmic shooter Doom Eternal could possibly be more bloodthirsty, but never bet against id Software. Update 6.66 is now live on all platforms bringing, among other things, a bombastic and explosive Horde Mode, primed to test the mettle of even the most hardened of Doomslayers. Boom, schlack-lack, boom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69a0hZVgIU0

Armed with a hefty Mastered Shotgun and a fistful of runes and perks, players will be tasked with fending off wave after wave of vicious hellspawn, with further weapons and powers unlocking as the war continues. Rack up the kills, skulls, and big points to compete with other slayers in online leaderboards. But that's not all, as there are also a total of seven super-cool skins to unlock as you make your way, dripping in gore and viscera, through each increasingly difficult battle.

Along with Horde Mode, Update 6.66 also includes the revamped Battlemode 2.0, which sees the asymmetrical 2-v-1 fight employ a streak-based ranking system and tighter matchmaking, as well as a new arena: Stronghold, and a new playable demon: The Dread Knight. Finally, two new Master levels have been applied to stages Mars Core and DLC addition The World Spear, so if you're the sort of slayer who can mash their way through Hell blindfold, these remixed levels will hopefully push you to your absolute limit. It all sounds, quite literally, like a bloody good time.

Doom Eternal is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

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There are still more demons to slay

Even for an efficient and capable annihilator of demons like the Doom Slayer, the work is never quite finished. Update 6.66 for Doom Eternal arrives on Oct. 26, bringing with it a Horde Mode, Battlemode 2.0, and two new master levels to rip and tear through.

Earlier this year, id Software confirmed it would be scrapping its planned Invasion Mode for Doom Eternal in favor of a single-player Horde Mode. Executive producer Marty Stratton attributed the change to the impact of the pandemic and remote work, and the enjoyment players found in Doom Eternal's expansions and master levels.

"We’re confident this Horde Mode will offer you more of the diversity and challenge you’re looking for in the game," said Stratton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoY6CgJjO34

The team is streaming a look at Doom Eternal's Horde Mode tonight on the Bethesda Twitch channel, so you can get a sneak peek ahead of next week's launch.

As well as Horde Mode, the Battlemode 2.0 refresh and two additional master levels will arrive. It's a pretty good post-launch burst of content for Doom Eternal, and hey, who better to fight off a demon horde than the Doom Slayer himself?

Back in 2020, Doom Eternal had the tough job of following up the 2016 revival with even more demons and action, and players have seemed to especially gel with the added challenge of things like the master levels. With Halloween right around the corner and all manner of frights about, now might just be the best time to hop back onto the Doom Eternal train. The Doom Eternal 6.66 update arrives on Oct. 26, 2021.

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The fan art must flow

The Isabelle and Doom Slayer saga spiraled out of control in the best way possible, and now, with the latest Super Smash Bros. Ultimate update, it feels like we've come full circle.

In a simple but effective brand-synergizing tweet today, the @DOOM account shared a wholesome screenshot of Animal Crossing's Isabelle — and Doom's, err, Doomguy — side by side in Smash Ultimate. It's an unlikely yet beautiful friendship. Two worlds, one family.

https://twitter.com/DOOM/status/1450494190945714178

As much as Doom fans would've liked to see the Doom Slayer as a full-blown roster addition in Smash Ultimate, having this force of nature available in the game as a Mii Fighter costume for the Mii Gunner is the next best thing. The Praetor Suit looks good.

The Animal Crossing x Doom fan-art phenomenon probably doesn't need a boost — it seems like it has enough momentum to be self-sustaining at this point — but it's amusing to see this pairing made "official" again. (Imagine a just-vague-enough Easter egg reference to Isabelle in the next Doom game, whenever that comes. I would die.)

To think, this Isabelle and Doom Slayer (friend)ship went big with a March 20 release shared between these two very different games. It goes to show that there's room in our hearts to grow a laid-back island community and also cut down hordes of demon scum.

Part of me recognizes how not important this is; another part takes pleasure in it for that very reason. If I can't find joy in a heartwarming fan-art craze, what am I even doing?

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The Dopefish Lives!

Can you believe I’ve never really gotten into Quake? Doom was a significantly impactful game for me as a child. I’ve played Wolfenstein 3D multiple times, and I don’t even like it that much. I’ve touched Quake. My uncle at least had the shareware. I’m pretty sure I rented the N64 version. I never really sat down to play through it, though.

It’s one of the more impactful ‘90s shooters. It was the last game of the classic id Software lineup before folks like Sandy Petersen and John Romero left. Its engine was an impressive effort to get smooth 3D visuals on PC at a time before 3D accelerators were widespread. It’s not one to overlook if you want to understand the evolution of PC shooters.

I just never took the time to get Quake working on my modern hardware. I would need to shove it into a source port, and there doesn’t seem to be one that is clearly the best. It makes me tired just thinking about it.

Then suddenly, we’re given a remaster. Thanks, NightDive Studios! I can finally play Quake how I want to. I can even play it on my Switch!

Quake (PC [Reviewed], PS4, Xbox One, Switch [Reviewed])
Developer: id Software, NightDive Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Released: August 21, 2021
MSRP: $9.99

The narrative of Quake is the timeless story of some military dude fighting monsters. It’s basically like Doom, except more Lovecraft and less Satan. Like Doom, development started out with a lot of big ideas before someone said, “Okay, but what if we made it fun?” and it was spoiled down to the bare essentials of shooting dudes.

Is it fun? Was Pickman a painter?

Yes. If you haven’t read Lovecraft, the answer is yes. It was Pickman’s Model, and it’s one of my favorites.

It was hard for the id Software guys to do wrong, and they were doing what they did best: pushing technology and using it to let you blast horrors. It’s dead simple, with most of the technique being in staying mobile. A speedrunning community would later flourish around the game and the unorthodox skill of rocket jumping, but if you’re just looking to see the credits, it rarely gets more complicated than just blasting whatever is in your way.

The remaster does a number of things. It has moved Quake to the Kex Engine, adding graphical effects like real-time lighting and ambient occlusion. Moreover, some of the models have been given a slight upgrade, and while it usually gives me pause when updated models are jammed into an old game, they fit so well that I never got the impulse to turn them off. The option is there, however. If you want to turn off all the fancy effects and play the game like it was in 1996, that’s absolutely an option.

It also bundles the expansions Scourge of Armagon, Dissolution of Eternity, and 2016’s Dimension of the Past. Alongside it is another expansion developed by Machinegames, Dimension of the Machine. It’s a whole lot of Quake.

There’s a lot of variance between the different expansions, as well. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t oversell it. One of Quake’s weaknesses is that the levels are all very thematically similar, but certain episodes make more use of one enemy set or level theme than others. The starkest is Dimension of the Machine which ties in a great deal of modern design complete with relatively complex environments. While there may be some weaker parts of the package, the fact that they’re not just all the same makes playing through them worthwhile.

Indeed, I think my biggest gripe with Quake is that there isn’t a lot of variety when compared to something like Doom, which was already lacking to begin with. Weirdly, the addition of jumping didn’t lend to a greater feeling of verticality. The levels aren’t exactly interchangeable mechanically, but they certainly are aesthetically.

It’s likely due to the troubled development. While the team was focused on putting out a fun product, there were complaints about a lack of leadership. The central concept of Quake changed so many times throughout its creation, that it’s no wonder it’s a mash. Lovecraftian monstrosities, cyborgs, and demons all attack you against backdrops of medieval castles, sci-fi military bases, and crumbling ruins.

It makes it kind of feel like Quake doesn’t really have an identity of its own, but that generally gets lost when you’re tearing through levels. The fact of the matter is it’s fun, even all these years later, because sometimes you just want to blow things into chunks and the set dressing is pointless.

If you're down for it, there's also multi-player both split-screen and online, both co-operative and adversarial. I personally don't feel like getting destroyed by people who have been playing for 25 years, but the option is there for people who do.

There are also going to be add-ons, not unlike what’s going on with the Doom console ports. Essentially, these are curated mods that are being made available. The only one to start out is Quake 64, which is slightly underwhelming. I mean, it’s a nice addition because there were some merits to the N64 version, I just wouldn’t play it back-to-back with the original. They’re too similar.

My first actual full playthrough of Quake was a pretty enjoyable experience. Not only is the port a solid effort, even going above-and-beyond of what’s expected, but it’s also still a great game. Maybe not Doom great, maybe not even Duke Nukem 3D great, but there’s room in this world for all sorts of flavors of ‘90s shooter.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]} 

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Just in time for QuakeCon, here's some Quake

After popping up on the radar a few times ahead of this weekend's QuakeCon, a remaster of the first Quake game is out now. The remaster brings Quake to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch with next-gen versions (and a free upgrade) on the way, and it's got some extra content in store, too.

According to the store description on Microsoft and the Nintendo eShop, this version of Quake will get higher resolution (depending on platform) and widescreen support. There are also some visual touch-ups, like anti-aliasing and enhanced models. The remaster will also still have its soundtrack, including the theme by Trent Reznor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi-bdUd9J3E

On the single-player side, there's obviously Quake's campaign. Also included are the Dark Fantasy campaign, The Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity expansions, and two more expansions developed by MachineGames: Dimension of the Past, and the all-new Dimension of the Machine.

In Dimension of the Machine, you travel across space and time to bring together lost runes, powering a long-dormant machine to open a portal that's hiding the "greatest threat to all known worlds."

If multiplayer's more your speed, the Quake remaster will also have both online and local multiplayer. There's support for four-player local split-screen, dedicated servers for online matchmaking, and peer-to-peer support for custom matches. Crossplay is also enabled, so you can match up against both your Switch pals and PC pals.

Quake will also have some more content in store too, as this remaster will support free fan-made and official mods, starting with Quake 64. Bethesda says more fan-made and official mods and missions will be coming soon, too.

All of this, plus gyro-aiming on the Switch and a pretty reasonable $9.99 price point (or available simply as part of Xbox Game Pass), is a pretty rad announcement for nostalgic Quake players like myself. It's been literal decades since I first picked this series up, but I'm very ready to hop, strafe, and frag my way back in.

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Bring on the demon hordes

Id Software announced a change to Doom Eternal's roadmap today regarding its free Invasion Mode update. Rather than Invasion, id Software will be working on a new single-player Horde Mode.

In a letter from executive producer Marty Stratton, he says both the impact of the pandemic and remote working, as well as how players have been enjoying the content of Doom Eternal's expansions and master levels, brought about the decision.

"We're confident this Horde Mode will offer you more of the diversity and challenge you're looking for in the game," said Stratton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGvnUaiX-Hg

He also confirms that the Doom team is working on a refresh of Battlemode with a more competitive, rank-based structure, some gameplay and balance updates, and a new map. More info will be shared at QuakeCon 2021 in August.

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Aw, I can't stay mad at you, Doom

Twenty-twenty was a pretty crap year for myself and, well, basically everyone. I don’t like looking at years -- perfectly innocent spans of time -- as something that can be containers for misery, but a lot of terrible things happened to the point where I’ll join in and say, yeah, 2020 sucked.

Doom Eternal (and Animal Crossing: New Horizons) came out at the cusp of everything going to crap. We’d just stepped through the threshold of the year and before we could even find the disappointing snack table, here comes Doomguy with his new game.

As if things weren't already bad, I bought Doom Eternal on Steam and found that my decade-old processor had been deprecated and it wouldn’t even launch. I got a refund and put that money towards the PS4 version. That just led to further disappointment. Certain things were just rubbing me the wrong way; this was not Doom 2016, this didn’t feel like the next evolution of it. I found myself struggling to enjoy it, pushing through it out of the obligation of money spent, and then I dropped it a little past the halfway point.

It’s over a year later and I’ve got a new processor. I impulsively picked Doom Eternal up on Steam for some reason, and immediately jumped back in for some carnage. But this time, I felt something different.

I’ve been a Doom fan since time immemorial. I remember being awestruck by it as I played on my uncle’s computer. A bit later, I played the hell out of the SNES version when my parents finally caved and got it for me. I recall having a High School friend turn his nose up at me when I said I’d rather play Doom than Halo. In college, I carried a copy of ZDoom around on a USB drive (a whopping 1GB of storage, this was 2004) and played it on the school’s computers in my spare time.

Doom 2016 was a dream come true. It washed away my skepticism and presented me something that wasn’t Doom but knew how to stick to the Doom philosophy. I fell in love with the new depiction of Doomguy, the little secrets and throwbacks, and just the game’s general attitude. It felt like a modernization of the old titles, embracing the ridiculousness of it and just trying to entertain.

Imagine what it would have been like if we got what was shown off in the Doom IV prototype instead; just another violent, brown/grey war shooter. Instead we got a fast-paced murder sprint that pushed the series forward and renewed it.

The first thing that struck me about Doom Eternal is how mechanical it felt. To be fair, both games have basically the same formula; corridors full of platforming and fodder demons separating open arenas against larger threats. Both of them took a level-based and largely linear approach with secrets interspersed around.

Something about Doom Eternal just felt like cement. While Doom 2016 had you progress from area to area, Doom Eternal has you teleport to the next level, essentially disconnecting everything. Likewise, it seemed a little less flexible in its placement of combat arenas. You can practically tell when you're entering a heavy combat arena, since it contains ramps, jump pads, and pick-ups scattered in obvious spots. The demons start queuing up to spawn in, and it just feels a lot less organic.

Likewise, there’s a big tonal difference between the two games. You could hardly call Doom 2016 a horror game, but it did lift heavily from the darkened corridors of Doom 3 and still attempted the odd jump scare. By comparison, Doom Eternal feels very much like a comic book. The environments feel less threatening, and there’s more of a light-hearted feel in general. Some of the monsters seem downright goofy, and the environments are less believable.

Don’t get me wrong, Doom 2016 was a pretty far cry from reality, but it was more, I don’t know, grounded.

Perhaps my pettiest complaint was how they ruined Doomguy’s mystique. He’s still the unstoppable force of rage that he always was, but then in his Doomcave, he has a selection of guitars, toys, and a portrait of him and his bunny. People speak of him in awe, demon’s fear him, women want him (probably); he’s just been further inflated to the point where no imagination is needed to fill in the gaps.

In retrospect, I don’t know why these things bothered me so much that I’d give up on the game and walk away. They didn’t even make an impact on my opinion this time, I was too busy kicking ass.

Suddenly, I was loving Doom Eternal’s enhanced mobility as I sped around the chaotic battlefields, shoving my Super Shotgun down the throats of the various demons. I was Doomguy, I was power incarnate. Rip through this demon with the minigun, run out of ammo and chainsaw that one, realize I’m running low on health, so I flame belch on another and blood punch the ones next to it. Fracture and eviscerate!

Even the platforming felt empowering as Doomguy would stick his big meaty paws in obviously communicated walls, then swing, double-jump and airdash to the next. I began laughing every time someone would tell Doomguy he couldn’t do something, only to have him immediately prove them wrong.

I loved taking down massive demons with instant kills, meat hooking across arenas to blast my shotgun right into the face of a bloated Mancubus. Prioritizing targets on the fly, there’s an Archvile about, it must die! I don’t have my blood punch charged to annihilate that cyber Mancubus, I’ll just dash to the other side of the arena, glory kill some fodder, then come back and wreck him.

There were so many combat options that it was difficult to keep track of them all (I rarely used grenades). I developed strategies for defeating particular crowds and alternate strategies for when I realized one of my weapons was out of ammo. By the end of the game, I was Doom Incarnate!

Let’s not kid ourselves: Doom Eternal was received enthusiastically. There were some complaints, and others, like me, didn’t click with it, but to say it was a failure would be inaccurate. Simply, based on my expectations, it wasn’t what I wanted.

Or it seemed like that at the time.

Playing it again was an entirely different experience. I was so in love with it, I began thinking Doom 2016 would feel slow and lack impact by comparison. The combat was just so overwhelmingly exciting and satisfying. I still don’t think it’s perfect, make no mistake, but I feel I understand it better. Like Doom 2016, it knows what it is. It embraces its ridiculousness, and just tries to entertain. I don’t know why I took it so seriously before, but I’m glad I gave it a second chance.

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The strafe-jumping will stay online

QuakeCon will return this year, though it won't necessarily be back in Texas. The official QuakeCon account confirmed today that 2021's event will once again be a digital-only event.

"We can't wait to get back to Dallas with our QuakeCon family," the statement reads. "But for the continued safety of our staff, the volunteers, and the community, this year's QuakeCon will once again be a digital-only event."

We can’t wait to get back to Dallas with our QuakeCon family, but for the continued safety of our staff, the volunteers, and the community, this year’s QuakeCon will once again be a digital-only event. We’ll have all the Peace, Love, and Rockets – remotely – August 19-21. pic.twitter.com/8EaM7EY5Sv

— QuakeCon (@QuakeCon) May 11, 2021

QuakeCon 2021 will run Aug. 19 through 21, and there will be more details on streaming, charity, giveaways, and more in June.

Last year, QuakeCon was one of many events that went digital in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, many seem to still be following suit and keeping their events online, from the FPS festivities of QuakeCon to E3 2021.

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No disk-swapping necessary

For PS4 and Nintendo Switch owners who simply cannot get by without a spot of the old rip 'n' tear, Limited Run Games has announced a new physical release, collating three titles from id Software's game-changing shooter series, Doom.

Doom: The Classics Collection will be made available in three formats. The Standard Edition will include a boxed disc/cartridge containing original releases Doom, Doom II, and Doom 3 and will retail for around $40 USD. A Special Edition also adds numerous bonus items including art prints for all three titles, steelbook casing, a keychain, an 8GB USB device styled after a floppy disk, a metal replica of an in-game keycard, and a reprint of the 1996 Doom comic book. This edition will retail for around $80.

Finally, the Collector's Edition contains all of the above items, but housed in special "shadow box" packaging that now only lights up, but also plays the iconic Doom theme, getting you in the mood for a spot of shotgun pumpin' chainsaw revvin' demon slaying. This premium edition will retail for a hefty $130. Pre-orders for all three editions will go live April 2 at 07:00 PT /10:00 ET, exclusively on the Limited Run Games Store.

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Hope you aren't done Rip 'n' Tearin'

Following its tease earlier this week, Bethesda Softworks has released the full trailer for The Ancient Gods: Part 2, the second DLC expansion for id Software's hellish shooter Doom Eternal.

The new DLC, which drops on PS4, PC, and Xbox One tomorrow, March 18, sees the Doom Slayer and his small army of hellions rise up in battle against his vicious alter-ego, The Dark Lord. (I mean, Doom Slayer is pretty vicious himself but you get what I'm saying. The violent trailer is particularly epic in scale, with an all-out war perhaps beyond anything seen in the legendary franchise to date. 

The Ancient Gods: Part 2 will feature new locations including ancient Sentinel settlements, a devastated Earth city, and finally the intimidating towers of The Dark Lord himself. It'll take all of our hero's might to face down a bastion of new villain variants, including the Stone Imp, the Armored Baron, the Cursed Prowler, and the all-new Screecher, who has the power to buff remaining enemies once killed... Huh, maybe save that dude 'til last.

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Full preview coming March 17

Bethesda has released a trailer for a trailer, (because this is real life now), teasing the arrival of The Ancient Gods: Part 2, the next explosive DLC expansion headed to id Software's Doom Eternal.

The short video, which you can check out below, sees our pal the Doom Slayer rally up with some devastating intergalactic forces, preparing for one hell of an almighty showdown with his villainous alter-ego, The Dark Lord, who shows up to the war rocking some pretty almighty Warhammer-style battle armor. A brief glimpse of action, and we're done, with the full gameplay trailer dropping this Wednesday, March 17.

Doom Eternal, currently available on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, is also expected to hit PS5 and Xbox Series X at some point later in 2021. As Doom is one of the properties that now falls under the Microsoft banner, (courtesy of the ZeniMax acquisition) it remains to be seen what the future holds for the franchise from an exclusivity stance.

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A matter of clarity

Another day, another lawsuit levied towards the gaming industry. This time around it's Google on the defensive, as plaintiff Jacqueline Shepherd has filed a class-action suit against the industry giant over alleged misleading comments regarding its Stadia cloud-gaming service.

The suit, originally filed back in October 2020 and moved to a New York federal court last week, alleges that Google, alongside developers Bungie and id Software, stated that the Stadia service would feature 4K resolution support, but did not walk back or correct this statement once it was openly reported that Stadia was upscaling several titles from resolutions such as 1080p and 1440p, rather than offering "true" 4K resolution.

The Plaintiff alleges that publishers such as id Software "sold access to Doom Eternal, and other games, through the Google Stadia subscription and wrongfully generated millions of dollars in revenue as a result." The suit seeks non-specific monetary compensation for Stadia purchasers, and requests Google accurately and publicly display Stadia's resolution and FPS on all included titles going forward. Like many class-action suits, the case could take years to reach its conclusion.

This legal action comes at a game when the Google Stadia service is already under the microscope, following its decision to shut down its first-person development studio a little over a year into the service's lifecycle, causing the loss of over 100 jobs. The Stadia service will continue to host titles published and submitted by third-party studios.

Stadia's 4K gaming claims come back to haunt it in class-action lawsuit [PC Gamer]

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Nine months in the making

The original Doom games are entirely deserving of decade-spanning fandom, and this DIY tribute from YouTube creator Games Made of Cardboard is one of the most creative and high-effort videos I've seen.

It's what you'd expect from a cardboard-ification of Doom II – until it isn't. It really goes places.

The project's creator, Bill Thorpe, didn't just painstakingly recreate the levels, demons, and HUD of Doom II using cardboard (and lots of fake blood), he also wrote a full-on script to capture the essence of this beloved game. It was a nine-month labor of love that he was "happy and relieved" to finally finish.

The fact that he got John Romero in for a quick cameo is the cherry on top for this wild endeavor.

[Via The Verge]

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This unholy union of Wolfenstein 3D and Super Monkey Ball works surprisingly well, and it's playable right in your browser

As much as I try to stay off video game blogs and forums on the weekend to give my mind a breather, I can't help but peek. Sometimes I'll see a story that I know I want to cover first thing Monday morning.

The idea of a Wolfenstein 3D-meets-Super Monkey Ball fan game blew me away on Sunday, and wouldn't you know it, I'm still in love with this surprisingly successful mash-up of two very distinct games. The fan game in question – Return to Castle Monkey Ball – was created by developer @Nickireda. You can play it for free, right in your browser, via Itch.io. It doesn't get much easier.

From the story ("You stand over the guard's body, grabbing frantically for a banana...") to the faithful gameplay (you'll collect bananas and slam your ball into Nazis to extend the timer) to the classic Wolfenstein presentation, so much about this project feels right. It shouldn't work, but it does – wonderfully. Even the thrill of soaring through an end-of-level gate translates to this game.

I'm not sure who else at Sega needs to hear this, but you know we want a proper Super Monkey Ball sequel when folks are out here putting this much time, energy, and creativity into their fan games.

What's next in the world of outlandish video game mash-ups?

The post Return to Castle Monkey Ball is a fan game I didn’t know I needed appeared first on Destructoid.

Ho ho ho-micide

Tired: Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Wired: Doom Eternal is a Christmas video game.

Is the logic and thematic connection there? Probably not, but a lot of new people will try Doom Eternal in December. Microsoft has announced that it's joining the Xbox Game Pass for PC roster on December 3. Go play the part of Kris Karnage rather than Kris Kringle.

Doom Eternal will soon be available on all three corners of Xbox Game Pass. It came to Xbox One back in October. It has already been added to the cloud-based game streaming that's part of Game Pass Ultimate. Now, it's making its way to PC as Microsoft had promised.

There's some more granular Doom Eternal news today too. Bethesda and id Software have released the Super Gore Nest master level, a challenge-oriented remix of the game's fifth campaign stage. It has various difficulties and modes, and clearing each one rewards you with a new cosmetic prize. Beat them all and you get the gold combat shotgun skin. There's also a Classic Mode Challenge, where you start with just the shotgun and have to find all your weapons. Clear that mode and get the Classic Green Slayer skin.

Doom Eternal -- New Master Level is Available Now, Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for PC [Xbox Wire]

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Your own pocket Hell

As all y'all must be aware by now, tech-heads in the video game industry are on a dogged mission to get id Software's iconic shooter Doom running on as many different platforms as possible. We've already seen Doom in action on Commodore 64, a calculator, and even a home pregnancy test, but the violent FPS title is now up-and-running on Nintendo's earliest handheld hardware, Game & Watch.

Upon getting their hands on a Game & Watch re-release unit, modder Stacksmashing immediately set to work on adding the rudimentary console to the long-list of platforms that can run the 1993 DOS classic. Of course, the Game & Watch edition of Doom is somewhat more rudimentary than its contemporaries - stripped of textures and sound - but this latest port is "playable" in the very least.

The video below features a brief clip of Game & Watch Doom in action, followed by a detailed breakdown of the work required in porting the title to such a basic piece of gaming hardware. It's a fascinating watch, showcasing the ingenuity of the homebrew scene. Stacksmashing's plans do not end with Doom, however, suggesting that they will continue looking into new homebrew projects for the Game & Watch. Be sure to subscribe to their channel to see what comes next.

Today Doom, tomorrow... I don't know... Demon's Souls!

Doom running on a Nintendo Game & Watch [Kotaku]

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