jdodson1

Joined 01/23/2012

I'm an Engineer and built the video game community Cheerful Ghost and text based mini-MMO Tale of the White Wyvern.

2728 Posts

Recently I completed the original 1993 Doom campaigns Knee Deep in the Dead, The Shoes of Hell & Inferno. My recent dive back into the original Doom and subsequent focus is still going strong and one fun part of that is that I've tried out many of the major Doom source ports. If you want to dive back in to Doom it might not be obvious the best way to play so I hope this post helps that.

I'm going to order the Doom ports top to bottom as a sort of recommendation system where the top most, I recommend most.

The Official Doom Unity Port

iD Software worked with Nerve to create these modern Doom ports built on the Unity Framework. Whereas originally these ports weren't the highest quality Nerve and iD have continued to add features such as 16x9 widescreen, add on support, local multiplayer and more to make one of the best Doom source ports around. If you are looking for an easy way to jump in and try Doom and Doom II the official ports are the most accessible way to play on Switch, PS4, XBox One, Android, iOS and PC.

On PC you can buy these on the Bethesda.net launcher or Steam by way of purchasing "The Ultimate DOOM" or "DOOM II: Hell on Earth."

iD includes all the Final Doom, Ultimate Doom and extra WAD's they've historically sold separately making these versions a great deal with a ton of extra content.

https://doom.fandom.com/wiki/Doom:_Unity_Edition

Crispy Doom

Chocolate Doom is a source port that aims to be the most compatible with the original DOS Doom while running on modern systems. It's a great community effort and many speedrunners and classic Doom players use this version exclusively. With that, it doesn't have a lot of modern features many updated source ports do which is why I play Crispy Doom. Crispy Doom uses the Chocolate Doom base and adds extra features such as increased resolution a full 16x9 native aspect ration and support for increased lighting effects as well as modern Doom wads such as Sigil.

If the new Doom Unity ports aren't for you, Crispy Doom is a great alternative and frankly it feels like iD Software is trying to achieve feature parity with Crispy Doom in it's official Unity Ports.

I recommend you configure Crispy Doom to WASD keyboard movement and select always run. I also bump up mouse sensitivity in game so I can get quicker turns.

http://latest.chocolate-doom.org/

Zandronum Is The Best Way To Play Doom Multiplayer

Doom has an very large and vibrant community and many of them still play online. Zandronum is a GZDoom port that adds in enhanced multiplayer support and rolls in Doomseeker to make a really streamlined multiplayer experience. One awesome benefit of using Doomzeeker is that it automagically downloads all the WAD's you need to play on any server you want. This is nice because before you had to have each WAD and the correct version in place but Doomseeker makes the whole process simple.

Zandronum is built on GZDoom and as such adds a lot of modern features such as player jumping, increased speed and the ability to run incredible Doom mods such as Brutal Doom.

If you notice Zandronum blurs the Doom pixels graphics one way to return you to the chunky pixels is in Display Options you set Texture Filter Mode to None.

https://zandronum.com/

GZDoom The One Port To Rule Them All

"ZDoom is a family of enhanced ports of the Doom engine for running on modern operating systems. It runs on Windows, Linux, and OS X, and adds new features not found in the games as originally published by id Software. "

ZDoom/GZDoom is one of the most important Doom ports as it adds so many new features to Doom. These features enable the Doom mod community to do some amazing work that would not have been possible otherwise such as free look, jumping, crouching, swimming, portals, crosshairs, high resolutions, 8 player multiplayer and a ton more.

If you notice GZDoom blurs the Doom pixels graphics one way to return you to the chunky pixels is in Display Options you set Texture Filter Mode to None.

https://zdoom.org/about

I also want to highligh GregoPeck's Doom Source Port write-up. He focuses on Chocolate Doom & GZDoom as well as some of the WAD's included in Master Levels for Doom.

https://cheerfulghost.com/GregoPeck/posts/4401/getting-the-doom-complete-collection-to-run-on-windows-10


The Simpsons Arcade Game by LRock617 in 20:33 One thing that makes LRock617 absolutely demolish The Simpsons Arcade game is the Japanese version adds more brooms making it possible to do some very powerful jump attacks. That said, LRock's skill is genuine and it's The Simpsons Arcade game so why not watch it?

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link by EnchantressOfNumbers in 50:59 I've played Zelda II a handful of times but was always stopped by it's difficulty. I enjoy watching Zelda II runs because they make the game seem easy something I know in bones is not true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0H5Pnp7K7Q


TiagoSC on the NES Dev forums brought an early version of Sonic to Super Nintendo. Some have said Sega does what Nintendon't but apparently it's more like NintenDOES! Digital Foundry has a great break down video of it and some of the tradeoffs TiagoSC made. The SNES version is cut down visually a bit but I appreciate the SNES soundchip for Sonic a bit more than the original.

http://forums.nesdev.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=20638


https://i.imgur.com/mlWhya1.png
iD Software is continuing to improve the official Doom & Doom II Unity ports with a fresh new patch that brings the game out of the 4x3 aspect ratio and in to a full 16x9 widescreen experience. You can also play the new ports on Steam so if you own The Ultimate Doom or Doom II on Steam you will get the new versions as an automatic update.

These ports don't support mouse aim or jump as some modern source ports do but since the original Doom and Doom II didn't allow that these ports are becoming one of the best ways to play Doom and Doom II in a very authentic way.

https://slayersclub.bethesda.net/en/article/Cfuf9wL5enNxkx90hfJ21/doom-and-doom-ii-update-september-3


Nintendo let loose a new Direct that celebrates the 35th Anniversary of Mario with a whole lot of games to keep us busy for the next 35 years. I'm not going to cover everything but I'll point to the highlights.

New Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch

Nintendo is releasing a new Game & Watch handheld where you can play the original Super Mario Bros. + Lost Levels and a bit more. The Game & Watch will be released November 13th and they haven't mentioned a price yet or provided the ability to pre-order. This is Nintendo really focusing on collector bait and I think i'll take the hook. A handheld that plays two games? Sure, why not.

https://gameandwatch.nintendo.com/

I wonder if this will be a sort of test for a possible Gameboy Classic release?

Super Mario 3D All Stars is Coming For A Little While

"Play three classic games at home or on the go—all in one package on the Nintendo Switch system! Jump into paintings in Super Mario 64, clean up paint-like goop in Super Mario Sunshine, and fly from planet to planet in Super Mario Galaxy."

I'm extremely interested in picking up these three classic games on Switch and as soon as I could pre-order it I did. That said it looks like the ability to buy it will be time limited both physically and digitally. I'm not sure this is a huge deal, but some have noted that this creates a more hyped launch and forced scarcity. Which seems like the point entirely which I'm not entirely sure I mind. What do you think?

https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-mario-3d-all-stars-switch/

Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury Drops Feb of 2021

This might make one of the most anticipated Wii U ports coming to Switch that will finally launch February of 2021. It would have been great to just get the port on Switch BUT Nintendo decided to add another, what looks like add-on called Bowsers Fury. I'm not sure if this game is after the main campaign or happens as part of it? Regardless I'm going to get this the day it comes out.

https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-mario-3d-world-plus-bowsers-fury-switch/

Mario All Stars Comes to Super Nintendo Online

I have Mario All Stars on the Super Nintendo and bringing this to the Super Nintendo Online is a huge win for folks that want to play this on Switch. It should have come to the Super Nintendo Classic but this will do.

What interested you in this direct? Are you getting all the Mario things or are you a bit plumbered out for now?


In a recent Nintendo Direct Mini we got word that Square will be releasing the original Gameboy Final Fantasy Legend Saga on Switch this December 15th. The verdict seems mixed on the first Final Fantasy Legend but the series seems to be more loved from the second game to the third. With that, the Final Fantasy Legend series was one I missed originally and this December seems like a great time to jump in to the original Gameboy trilogy on Switch. According to Time to Beat the original Final Fantasy Legend takes about 10 hours, Final Fantasy Legend II is 15 and III is 14 so they aren't very long all told.

It seems to only be getting a digital release at the moment but even so I was wondering who might be picking this up come December?


I know what you are thinking right now. "Hey Jon can you share a 23 minute video about the origin of the sound effects in Doom?" Sure Internet friend I can do that and while you are flexing your finger ready to tap play on the video I encourage you to check all the other Doom content I've posted recently as well.


Doom is one of those games that is historically ported to just about every system you can imagine. Modern gamers joke about the many Skyrim ports but Skyrim has nothing on Doom. I've been on a bit of a Doom binge recently and decided to share this LGR video of Doom running on a very old digital camera from the 90's.


I've been immersing myself in a lot of Doom partly because the world is a pretty dire place with COVID-19 and partly because it's one of the best games ever made. Summer Games Done Quick 2020 just ended and they had a pretty impressive Doom block and speedruns I wanted to share.

Doom 3 by ripchip_ in 1:08:30 - The Doom 3 run by Ripchip is shared above and well worth the hour it takes to watch it. This is a speedrun of the original Doom 3 which is the launch version where you can only have our the flashlight OR a gun and it's a bit more stingy with health and ammo drops. Ripchip tears through the run and even though some view Doom 3 as a poor departure from the Doom franchise I really like it.

DOOM 64 (2020) by ZELLLOOO in 37:37 - This piping fresh Doom 64 remaster by Night Dive Studios came out this year and ZELLLOOO dunks the game in 37 minutes. This is a special run because ZELLLOOO makes Doom 64 look very easy even though what he is doing is quite difficult.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3oBvzHekn0

DOOM 64 (2020) - Lost Levels by ZELLLOOO in 12:12 - Night Dive added a new level pack, the lost levels to their Doom 64 remaster that is incredibly difficult. That said you might not tell watching this run as ZELLLOOO kills it in 12 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0BvICYvZvE

Blood by Psych0sis in 20:21 - Blood is one of those classic shooters I didn't hear much about when it came out yet it has an incredibly large cult following (har, har). Night Dive ALSO remastered this recently and as such there is a new resurgence of attention around it. Blood is a really dark game with an even darker premise and if you're not into gory and twisted stories I don't entirely recommend this run as a few times the games Doom style graphics and premise had me slight unnerved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rcrt1UCbvw


Last year iD Software released new source ports of Doom, Doom 2 and Doom 3 on iOS, Switch, PS4, XBox One and PC on the Bethesda launcher. I wanted to give these ports a try and was able to because I picked up Doom and Doom II on sale during Quakecon 2020. I also decided to focus my time playing the original Doom and to finally complete the first mission Knee Deep in the Dead. I've played a ton of that first mission as it was released for free as Shareware back in 1993 but, for whatever reason, I never actually completed it. I always had enough fun just playing and replaying the first few levels and never had the desire to actually beat it until recently. Knee Deep in the Dead is a great mission and the only level I really had a hard time with was Central Processing. That said, I was able to complete Central Processing giving it about 6 or so attempts and was able to make it to the end to defeat the two Barrons of Hell bosses to wrap it up. Right now i'm making my way through The Shores of Hell and find it to be a really nice difficulty update from Knee Deep in the Dead. I know Doom has been reviewed a lot already but I still find the original level design to be top notch along with the streamlined gameplay on the Switch.

And the gameplay improvements might be the best part of playing Doom on the Switch because compared to playing it on a keyboard in DOS, the Switch controls are a massive improvement. It's fairly easy to switch between weapons as those are mapped to the L and R triggers. Doom feels like it was made to be played on the Switch, which is a testament to how well the game feels along with the high quality of the port itself.

Many of you have played Doom ports on Steam and the like that essentially wrap the game in DOSBox which, frankly, it's a great experience. You can feel the game down res your monitor and the controls and preferences are the best 1993 had to offer. The new Doom remaster ports are not simply wrapped in DOSBox and it really shows as the games feel like they belong on the Switch.

Doom is one of the greatest games every created and deserves a modern port that gives it the attention to detail it deserves. I've included the DF Retro Doom remake update patch review as originally iD Software launched the new Doom ports to some very negative feedback. Since then iD has not only fixed the ports but improved the considerably to be one of, if not the best way to play these classic games.

https://slayersclub.bethesda.net/en/article/6Wmc158EnPeBpNBaOJpF4W/add-ons-quick-saves-60-fps-and-more-doom-and-doom-ii?sf115664653=1