2021 Gaming DooM Awards


This article brings the works honored by the 2021 Gaming DooM Awards, the second issue of our awards where we list and present the most interesting and therefore potentially fun Doom mods of the year.

As with the 2020 Gaming DooM Awards, the 2021 list was made in a hurry, but we are sure there will be something here worth knowing and experiencing. Also, it's a way to help promote good mods and finally close this year.

In this edition, the mods were nominated by the Gaming Room's VIP members, considering full releases or already quite robust builds (with the exception of one) that came out in 2021. We didn't take into account standalone games developed on some Doom engine in this issue, but maybe in 2022 we create a new category just for them.

Another thing worth mentioning is that before making the DooM Awards 2021 video, I didn't look at the 2021 Cacowards in order to avoid getting biased and show the same mods. I wanted to give a chance to other works that weren't covered in this award, obviously much more prestigious than ours, and bring them some attention.

Also note that this list is not made in rank form, like from worst to best or vice versa. The mods were presented in an order with no specific criteria.

Content

2021 Gaming DooM Awards video

Above, we have the 33th episode of our Gaming DooM, our series of narrated videos about the id Software's FPS. Note that some of the mods I only got to know at the time of recording. I trust the discernment of our members that much. Please note that the video is in Portuguese and there are no English subtitles (except maybe automatically generated ones).

Wolfen Doom Lite Classic

Developed by JoeyTD (BeardedDoomGuy), Wolfen Doom Lite Classic should be the definitive version of the Wolf 'En Doom series. This mod adapts, modernizes and enhances mechanics, graphics, animations, monsters, weapons and other elements from Wolfenstein 3D to PC in a very consistent and fun way.

Everything is in the style of the old id Software's FPS and also makes things a little more difficult than vanilla. You can play it in any map, and there are weapon and monster versions, Wolf En Doom Lite Classic Weapons Only and Wolf En Doom Lite Classic Monsters Only, to combine things even further.

Below are the first two WolfenDoomed's levels being played with Wolfen Doom Lite Classic v2.1:

Wolfen Doom Lite Classic download & info

Painslayer

Painslayer is a demake of Painkiller (2004) in Doom by Agent_Ash (or Jekyll Grim Payne). It aims to recreate the weapons of Painkiller and Painkiller: Battle Out of Hell in handcrafted sprites and mechanics as closely as possible.

It's meant to be played on existing Doom maps and is compatible with custom monsters.

We have a soundless video with Painkiller being played with Beautiful Doom and Eviternity:

Painslayer's more info

Painslayer's download

Divine Frequency

Developed by Genghis Khan, from Hellforge Studios, Divine Frequency is a Doom mod inspired by Blood, System Shock 2, Darkest Dungeon and Bloodborne that takes place in a dystopian and absurd world where "dreams and reality collide".

The mod implements classic and modern game design options, the core gameplay revolves around exploration, methodical combat, intelligence gathering and intense boss fights. I noticed a lovecraftian footprint when I discovered this mod. I think I'm not wrong.

Watch a video from the Divine Frequency's development diary to get to know it better:

Divine Frequency download & info

Brutal Wolfenstein : ÜBER HERO Edition

Developed by WitheredPoppiMk4, Brutal Wolfenstein: ÜBER HERO Edition is a fork of Brutal Wolfenstein 4.5 that adds elements from The New Order, The Old Blood, The New Colossus and Youngblood, that is, from MachineGames' Wolfenstein titles. As if that wasn't enough, this edition also improved aspects of the original mod and brought more maps etc.

In other words, Poppi's mod takes ZioMcCall's brutal Wolfenstein 3D remake to a new level. You'll notice some visual resemblance to Kriegsland, but it's quite different.

It's a project that's coming along pretty solid and worth taking a look at. The author claims that it runs on GZDoom and Zandronum, the latter being recommended. It should be compatible with LZDoom as well.

Here's the showcase we made for ÜBER HERO Edition:

Brutal Wolfenstein: ÜBER HERO Edition download & info

Definitive Rain for GZDoom

Definitive Rain for GZDoom is a joke WAD by Nash Muhandes built to make fun of the rain effect in GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition, which has been a topic of controversy for a few days at the time this mod was launched.

It's pretty simple, but I wanted to list this mod here for two reasons: it took the internet by storm at the time, even coming out on major gaming sites like PC Games; and to give Nash, who works a lot and is always enriching our good old Doom, more attention.

Down below, there's a video with Definitive Rain for GZDoom in action:

Definitive Rain for GZDoom download & info

Russian Mercenaries

Russian Mercenaries is a gameplay modification made by RastaManGames for GZDoom that adds about 275 new humanoid buddies equipped with modern arsenal.

This project can be viewed as standalone monster pack and also can be combined with another gameplay modifications such a weapon packs.

No vídeo abaixo, o 36º Combinações do Alberto, temos o Russian Mercenaries combinado com Doom: Penthouse Paradise, Mr. Anderson, Nash's Gore Mod, Bloom Boost, Doom Liquid textures pack, Nash's HP Bar, VHS e Tilt++:

Russian Mercenaries download & info

Doom Fighters

Doom Fighters is an impressive work by edypagaza that turns Doom into a third person beat 'em up with 3D models, lots of brawling, gore, combos, executions, punches, kicks, etc. There's even that light sword that the newer Dooms ripped off from Star Wars.

Even though it's not the first brawling-style fighting game made on Doom (we have Action Doom 2: Urban Brawl, for instance), you'll have to admit it's pretty innovative and impressive, if you just watch the video below:

Doom Fighters download & info

DOLL

DOLL - A Girls' Frontline mod for Doom, is a Doom mod about guns, girls and gacha mechanics brought to a first-person shooter.

This very early stage but already quite robust project developed by The_Carmine is based (loosely) on the mobile strategy game Girls' Frontline and allows you to play as a T-Doll created for solo investigation, combat and long missions deep into the enemy lines.

Down below, we have an akimbo demonstration on DOLLS and a bit of it's gameplay:

DOLL download & info

Brutal Doom Platinum

Brutal Doom Platinum is a Brutal Doom fork designed to keep the original mod's vision, while adding polish, features, and variety.

Formerly known as "Dox's Personalized Brutal Doom", this mod was released November 30, 2021, is authored by EmeraldCoasttt, and is in active development (at least by the time of this publishing).

Next, we have a Brutal Doom Platinum v1.0 showcase:

Brutal Doom Platinum download & info

That's it for this year. Let's see if in 2022 we do something more elaborate, but I think that, given the busy situation and the lack of time at the end of the year, this was not too bad.

Until then!

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