One fan of Mojang Studios’ smash-hit sandbox title Minecraft decided to go back to PC gaming’s roots for inspiration when designing a new world inside the game, producing a near-perfect recreation of the first level of 1993’s seminal PC shooter Doom. Fans of the classic shooter have created some fantastic tributes to Doom in Minecraft before, but this block-based remake of Doom’s E1M1 is one of the most impressive ones yet.
Ever since it was first released for PC in 1993, helping bring the first-person shooter genre into the popular consciousness and setting the stage for decades of games to come, id Software’s Doom has held a special place in the hearts of gamers. In the decades since its release, Doom fans have kept the game’s legacy alive by trying to recreate the shooter both inside other games and on an increasingly outlandish number of non-gaming devices. From Minecraft recreations of classic maps to a port of Doom running on an Android clock, it’s clear that gamers can’t get enough of the demon-filled shooter even 30 years on from its release.
In a video shared on the r/Minecraft subreddit, Redditor ZeppyTube showed off their impressive homage to Doom in the form of a stunning recreation of the game’s first level built entirely inside Minecraft. Instantly familiar to millions of gamers worldwide thanks to its countless appearances on all manner of gaming devices, Doom’s E1M1 level translates surprisingly well to Minecraft’s blocky world based on the short video. Taking viewers on a whirlwind tour of the map backed by a thumping MIDI soundtrack, the video shows off an impressive level of detail throughout the level that’s sure to give fans of the old-school shooter a case of deja vu.
Responses to the video were overwhelmingly positive, with one Redditor stating that they loved it even though they weren’t a big fan of Doom. Several users appreciated ZeppyTube's use of Doom’s original audio in the video, with one comment calling the retro sounds and music “a really nice touch.” Another commenter, clearly familiar with E1M1’s layout, joked that they were “physically pained” when ZeppyTube didn’t collect all the items and get all the secrets in the level. While this Doom homage may not feature the same massive scale as the recreation of Skyrim’s Windhelm in Minecraft that one player recently showed off, it’s clear that gamers loved the unique tribute to the classic shooter.
Although the lack of guns and gore may cause this Minecraft recreation of E1M1 to lack some of the visceral thrills of its PC shooter counterpart, the video is still a must-watch for fans of Doom. And even without all the features of the full game, exploring this Minecraft map is likely more enjoyable and practical than trying to play Doom on a chocolate bar.
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.