When it comes to first-person shooters, Doom is practically synonymous with the genre and continues to inspire to this day. While Wolfenstein 3D helped birth the FPS, it was the 1993 follow-up that popularized it, taking it to new heights and making its developer, id Software, a household name in PC gaming. There was also the Doom game for the Nintendo 64 back in the 90s, unsurprisingly called Doom 64, and a new fan-made mod has just come out which aims to make sure this forgotten gem remains in the limelight.
Updating the ModDB add-on recently, user Cryonaut has managed to turn the traditionally classic Doom games into something more akin to the N64 version. Called "The D64ifier," this mod takes the first games in the series, as well as the "No Rest For The Living" expansion pack and other mapsets, and makes them look like Doom 64. Given this console version's darker atmosphere and graphics more befitting the Nintendo system, Cryonaut's project gives the classic id titles a more distinctive aesthetic while still maintaining the gameplay.
Doom 64 was something of a cult classic, regarded as the best-looking installment at the time of its release back in 1997. It received decent scores across the board, and while there were numerous ports to things like PC, PS4, Xbox One, and even Google Stadia, it's possible that many will have forgotten this hidden game, especially for those who weren't around during the N64 era. In a discussion about Doom, most will immediately think of the first two entries, or perhaps the most recent reboot and the 2020 follow-up, but many consider Doom 64 to be a strong entry in the franchise.
Among other things, "The D64ifier" comes with hi-res textures and some tweaks to the monsters. The modder does say that this might not be for Doom "purists," as it drastically changes the look of the original games, so some may not feel that the spirit of these beloved games is there anymore. But for anyone else who's interested in trying it out, it does look pretty good. It's also telling of this series' legacy that there are still Doom mods being made to this day.
As a video game with a heavy metal inspired soundtrack, Doom is not just something that helped to usher in the FPS genre, but its high-octane action is what keeps people going back to both the originals and the newer entries. With id Software about to make a start on its next project, many will be hoping that there will be a new game in the long-running franchise, or at the very least, a new Quake title.
Doom 64 originally came out on N64 in 1997, and is available on PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: DSO Gaming, ModDB