DOOM

[The Penultimate Warrior]

Doom 64 is a real gem, although admittedly these days you're far better off playing it on the PC than N64. Although it's essentially the same game underneath, the different soundtrack and asthetics make it feel completely different. Shame it was a flop at the time though, as it was seen as old hat.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

Doom 64 is a real gem, although admittedly these days you're far better off playing it on the PC than N64. Although it's essentially the same game underneath, the different soundtrack and asthetics make it feel completely different. Shame it was a flop at the time though, as it was seen as old hat.

The biggest issue with playing on N64 is that you need a controller pak in order to save your progress. And those controller paks are super finicky since it's like getting a Nintendo cartridge to work but instead of a game it's the damn memory card. I got screwed over since I didn't have one at first and I didn't know Doom 64 required one to save.

Outside of that, I think the game plays pretty well on N64 once you rebind the controls. I've always liked how FPS games felt on N64; strafing with the C buttons while using the Z button to fire is a feeling you just don't get on keyboard and mouse. The one issue is the analog stick which can fuck you up while running across gaps.

Plus I don't know how to run games like Doom 64 EX and I'd just feel weird about it since I'm not comfortable downloading ROMs.

 

[BrunoMattei]

Doom 64 is a real gem, although admittedly these days you're far better off playing it on the PC than N64. Although it's essentially the same game underneath, the different soundtrack and asthetics make it feel completely different. Shame it was a flop at the time though, as it was seen as old hat.

I didn't like it at the time because of obvious reasons: No jumping, no crouching, no aiming, etc. Now, when you look back at it as like Doom 2.5 it's superb despite a few key monsters being missing like the Archville and the Revenant.

 

[Syaoran Li]

I'm wondering if it would be considered off-topic to discuss "Doom Clone" FPS games from the 90's in this thread?

Wolfenstein 3D was the predecessor to Doom, and you had things like Heretic, Hexen, Strife, and Chex Quest directly based on the engine of the classic Doom games.

While the Build engine games like Duke Nukem, Blood, and Shadow Warrior aren't built on the same engine as Doom, they're typically considered part of the "Doom Clone" family given the similar mechanics and the era that they came out in.

Heck, there were a lot of Doom clones that I played on the PS1 that aren't even talked about anymore like Alien Trilogy (basically Aliens TC but officially licensed and including stuff from Alien 3 and the first Alien) or the Star Wars FPS game where you played as Kyle Katarn (forgot the name of the game itself)

IIRC, there was even a South Park game like this for the PS1 in the late 90's but it was pretty terrible, which was the main reason why Trey and Matt took a more active role in making Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

I'm wondering if it would be considered off-topic to discuss "Doom Clone" FPS games from the 90's in this thread?

Nah, I feel it's pretty appropriate given Doom's place in gaming history. I mean hell, Doom Clone was the actual name for the FPS genre until games like Half-Life came around and evolved the genre.

Wolfenstein 3D was the predecessor to Doom, and you had things like Heretic, Hexen, Strife, and Chex Quest directly based on the engine of the classic Doom games.

I haven't played Heretic or Hexen, but I have played Wolf 3D. It's a pretty fascinating game to go back to since it feels very much like a prototype to Doom. The mazes are much more non-distinct, all the enemies are hitscanners, and the weapons feel less like an arsenal and more like powerups. The thing about Wolfenstein 3D is that the GOG release gives you a shit-ton of content for $10 but it feels overpriced given how primitive and repetitive the game is. Doom trounces it in every way. Wolf 3D exists more as a historical landmark than anything since I argue it hasn't aged nearly as gracefully as Doom.

I've thought about playing Heretic and Hexen and maybe I will someday.

the Star Wars FPS game where you played as Kyle Katarn (forgot the name of the game itself)

That was Dark Forces, and that game is fascinating because it ran on a modified Doom engine (I think) that allowed for things such as looking up and jumping as well as more believable 3D environments. Despite running on the Doom engine, I hesitate to call it a straight-up Doom clone since it has a mission based level structure that tied directly to the narrative, which was ahead of its time.

 

[REGENDarySumanai]

Nah, I feel it's pretty appropriate given Doom's place in gaming history. I mean hell, Doom Clone was the actual name for the FPS genre until games like Half-Life came around and evolved the genre.


I haven't played Heretic or Hexen, but I have played Wolf 3D. It's a pretty fascinating game to go back to since it feels very much like a prototype to Doom. The mazes are much more non-distinct, all the enemies are hitscanners, and the weapons feel less like an arsenal and more like powerups. The thing about Wolfenstein 3D is that the GOG release gives you a shit-ton of content for $10 but it feels overpriced given how primitive and repetitive the game is. Doom trounces it in every way. Wolf 3D exists more as a historical landmark than anything since I argue it hasn't aged nearly as gracefully as Doom.

I've thought about playing Heretic and Hexen and maybe I will someday.


That was Dark Forces, and that game is fascinating because it ran on a modified Doom engine (I think) that allowed for things such as looking up and jumping as well as more believable 3D environments. Despite running on the Doom engine, I hesitate to call it a straight-up Doom clone since it has a mission based level structure that tied directly to the narrative, which was ahead of its time.

The Jedi engine was a modified Build engine.

I'm wondering if it would be considered off-topic to discuss "Doom Clone" FPS games from the 90's in this thread?

Wolfenstein 3D was the predecessor to Doom, and you had things like Heretic, Hexen, Strife, and Chex Quest directly based on the engine of the classic Doom games.

While the Build engine games like Duke Nukem, Blood, and Shadow Warrior aren't built on the same engine as Doom, they're typically considered part of the "Doom Clone" family given the similar mechanics and the era that they came out in.

Heck, there were a lot of Doom clones that I played on the PS1 that aren't even talked about anymore like Alien Trilogy (basically Aliens TC but officially licensed and including stuff from Alien 3 and the first Alien) or the Star Wars FPS game where you played as Kyle Katarn (forgot the name of the game itself)

IIRC, there was even a South Park game like this for the PS1 in the late 90's but it was pretty terrible, which was the main reason why Trey and Matt took a more active role in making Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole

The DOS version of Powerslave used Build engine, while the console versions used different engines and were more unique. if you want a YouTube channel for classic FPS games, you can't go wrong with Civvie 11.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

The Jedi engine was a modified Build engine.

Really? Huh. That's interesting. The Build engine was a pretty robust engine looking back.

 

[BrunoMattei]

"Doom clone" Goddamn, it's like time travelling to 1995. Journalists called every FPS a "Doom clone" up until 96 or 97.

I don't think the Jedi Engine was based on Build. First I've heard it was a modified Build engine and if it was then we'd see support of Dark Forces in Eduke and shit.

I prefer Hexen over Heretic it's just a shame the map design is so frustratingly obtuse. There's not a ton of mods for either game for some reason.

DOS Powerslave is an entirely different game compared to the console versions. The console versions is like a gory Metroid Prime. The DOS version is more in line with traditional FPS at the time. Would love to see a source port of that and hopefully Nightdive is going to do something with that version when they finally officially release that remake of Powerslave that Kaiser made a few years ago.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

I prefer Hexen over Heretic it's just a shame the map design is so frustratingly obtuse.

Is Hexen the one with a million switches that Civvie mocks? Because I do agree that ain't a puzzle. Is the game fun at least?

 

[BrunoMattei]

Is Hexen the one with a million switches that Civvie mocks? Because I do agree that ain't a puzzle. Is the game fun at least?

It is. It is fun. Don't get me wrong. It's a great game. It's just obtuse and requires you to either (A) look up a guide or (B) say "fuck it" and use a no clip cheat from time to time.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

It is. It is fun. Don't get me wrong. It's a great game. It's just obtuse and requires you to either (A) look up a guide or (B) say "fuck it" and use a no clip cheat from time to time.

Interesting. Steam's having a sale on the Heretic + Hexen collection for $5. I think I'll just see for myself.

 

[BrunoMattei]

IIRC, there was even a South Park game like this for the PS1 in the late 90's but it was pretty terrible, which was the main reason why Trey and Matt took a more active role in making Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole

I skimmed your post and missed this part. This was an Xmas present when I got it on the N64. An interview with Trey and Matt in Electronic Gaming Monthly when it came out was interesting: Comedy Central forbade the kids from using real guns and Trey and Matt religiously played Duke 3D in the South Park offices.

The South Park game has a rough start but it gets slightly better. It's not good but it not being good didn't ruin my Xmas at least.

 

[BR55]

The biggest issue with playing on N64 is that you need a controller pak in order to save your progress. And those controller paks are super finicky since it's like getting a Nintendo cartridge to work but instead of a game it's the damn memory card. I got screwed over since I didn't have one at first and I didn't know Doom 64 required one to save.

Outside of that, I think the game plays pretty well on N64 once you rebind the controls. I've always liked how FPS games felt on N64; strafing with the C buttons while using the Z button to fire is a feeling you just don't get on keyboard and mouse. The one issue is the analog stick which can fuck you up while running across gaps.

Plus I don't know how to run games like Doom 64 EX and I'd just feel weird about it since I'm not comfortable downloading ROMs.

As someones who's played them both Doom 64 EX is very worth the effort to get it to work.
But if you want something a bit more simple, and that doesn't require any Roms, you could always just grab Brutal Doom 64 off ModDB. In case you're wondering it is quite a bit more restrained and faithful to the original than your standard Brutal Doom.
Just download it and extract it to a folder of your choice and your good to go.
You need the Doom 2 Wad obviously but I doubt you didn't know that already.

 

[BrunoMattei]

Doom 64 had a password system. I had it back in the day and know for a fact.

 

[GethN7]

I gave SIGIL a whirl and came away impressed.

It basically assumes you fell asleep with the basic puzzles and enemy placement in the original Episode 4 and decided to really place things outside the usual design box.

It also assumed you might be using a source port and made it a bit harder even if you were using the jump features or other niceties of a source port.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

Doom 64 had a password system. I had it back in the day and know for a fact.

Yeah, and the advent of smartphones that can take pictures of the screen makes it less of an issue. I'd still rather save my progress though.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I gave SIGIL a whirl and came away impressed.

It basically assumes you fell asleep with the basic puzzles and enemy placement in the original Episode 4 and decided to really place things outside the usual design box.

It also assumed you might be using a source port and made it a bit harder even if you were using the jump features or other niceties of a source port.

Sigil was really good. My only complaint was that I really, really, really miss the Super Shotty in Doom 1. I keep looking for mods that simply add the Super Shotty to Doom 1 and apparently it's really hard to find. I found one that works, but, it achieves this goal by adding another level 3 levels into any Doom 1 episode where the Super Shotty is there for grabs. Weird but okay. I've looked and I cannot find a wad or whatever that simply makes the weapon a random drop. Weird.

I just want to kill Cacaodemons and Barons quicker, I don't think this makes me Hitler.

 

[Duncan Hills Coffee]

I have finally tried out Heretic. I was gonna play it on Chocolate Doom but I couldn't figure out how to make it work. Not that it matters anyway since after trying it on Zandronum I don't think that's such a good idea, not with all the gargoyles flying about.

I quite enjoy it. The game isn't just a reskinned Doom like I thought it was gonna be. Yeah, the weapons resemble the original Doom arsenal, but I think that's selling them short. The game has a bigger emphasis on projectiles, which I think adds a layer of strategy to the shooting. Doom's weapons were primarily hitscan with a handful of projectile weapons, while the opposite is true for Heretic. The inventory is a nice idea, I just wish I knew how it worked. Also the enemy deaths are nastier than Doom's and I love it. I especially love how the golems just explode into a pile of gore.

I'll try Hexen after I beat Heretic.

 

[BrunoMattei]

I have finally tried out Heretic. I was gonna play it on Chocolate Doom but I couldn't figure out how to make it work. Not that it matters anyway since after trying it on Zandronum I don't think that's such a good idea, not with all the gargoyles flying about.

I quite enjoy it. The game isn't just a reskinned Doom like I thought it was gonna be. Yeah, the weapons resemble the original Doom arsenal, but I think that's selling them short. The game has a bigger emphasis on projectiles, which I think adds a layer of strategy to the shooting. Doom's weapons were primarily hitscan with a handful of projectile weapons, while the opposite is true for Heretic. The inventory is a nice idea, I just wish I knew how it worked. Also the enemy deaths are nastier than Doom's and I love it. I especially love how the golems just explode into a pile of gore.

I'll try Hexen after I beat Heretic.

There is a Brutal mod for it:

There's another one for Hexen but it's unfinished but you can however play as The Fighter.

BrutalHereticRPG_V2.pk3

Shared with Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[BrunoMattei]

This is great and fairly recent: