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Our episode 3 screenshots page has also been updated to included Map 30: https://www.itsdandytime.com/doomreturnsscreenshotsep3
Screenshots of this episode's secret levels (Map 35 and Map 36) will be posted after the final release of Doom Returns this month. Note: Due to security restrictions set by our website provider that are out of our control, our website only officially supports the following browsers: Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
Status update
All maps are complete. We're just doing some final testing and tidying up some things.
Release date
2/14/2024 (Valentine's Day)
Release details
The upcoming release (v3.0) is the debut of Episode 3: Descent into Darkness, and it's also the official full and final release of Doom Returns containing all three episodes and a total of 36 maps (each episode contains 10 main maps and 2 secret maps).
Minor updates have been made to episodes 1 and 2 also.
Requirements
Latest version of GZDoom (v4.11.3 at the time of this writing) in hardware rendering mode
DOOM2.wad
----------MORE INFO ABOUT DOOM RETURNS----------
Spoiler:
Development time
4 years with a team of two
Map format
Doom 2 (UDMF)
Supported game modes
Single-player
Cooperative (up to 8 players)
Deathmatch (up to 8 players)
Design
Some map layouts are abstract like the original Doom games, and some maps have a more realistic design layout-wise and architecturally. It's about half and half.
Playstyle
Pistol-start on every map (but we're considering adding an option for continuous playthrough if there's time to implement it and makes sense to do)
Secret levels
Each episode has 2 secret levels. The first is accessed via the middle map of the episodes (maps 5, 15, and 25), and the second is accessed via the first (maps 31, 33, and 35).
Boss fights
Each episode contains two Icons of Sin.
Other, surprise bosses are scattered throughout, especially in the secret levels.
A boss health bar will appear at the top of the screen during major boss fights (source graphic courtesy of Blue Shadow).
Music
We used the original music tracks from Doom 1 & 2 for nostalgia purposes and assigned each track to the map best fitting the theme.
Other features/changes
Changes since the last release are italicized:
Alternate versions of some monsters
Monster body parts now spawn during gibs of former humans (courtesy of unused sprites from John Romero).
Dynamic lights and brightmaps
Some new decorations/lights
Lots of new and alternate textures/flats
A different sky for every map (many courtesy of Mechadon's boxoskies-v3)
A few 3D models here and there in episode 3.
Various new sound FX
Small items/ammo automatically come to you when you get close to them, making them easier to pick up.
Small rocket ammo gives multiple rockets instead of just one.
Cracked walls are destructible and hide some secrets.
Spider Masterminds are tougher than in vanilla Doom, making them equal to the Cyberdemon.
Spider Masterminds and Cyberdemons are more resistant to BFGSplash damage to increase the challenge.
Spider Masterminds and Cyberdemons are now vulnerable to radius damage from explosions (rocket, barrel, etc.), but only partially. This makes the rocket launcher more useful in those fights, but not too overpowered since they don't take all 128 explosion damage.
Radiation suits always respawn on the map instantly (mainly for the benefit of co-op).
Berserk has been replaced with Quad Damage, which multiplies damage x4 for all weapons for 30 seconds.
Light Goggles have been replaced with a new item called the Torch. It lights up the area around you for 2 minutes.
Invulnerability now lasts 60 seconds instead of 30.
That's all I can think of for now. I'll update this post if more comes to mind.
Andarch
The DANDY Company
Last edited by The DANDY Company on Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:14 am, edited 3 times in total.
Just wanted to post a quick update since we missed our January release window. Unfortunately I was sick a couple days this week, or we would’ve released Doom Returns on the 31st. But we plan to release it sometime this weekend (February 3rd/4th).
Andarch
The DANDY Company
Last edited by The DANDY Company on Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
I'm working diligently to try to get this released. Just need to do a final run-through of the last 3 levels and then prep the release announcement. I already updated most of the pages on our website (https://www.itsdandytime.com) earlier today to support the release, so at least that's done. Some of the screenshots are still outdated, but I'll update those post-release.
My best guess is it will be out Tuesday 2/6 or Wednesday 2/7.
Thank you for your patience!
Andarch
The DANDY Company
Last edited by The DANDY Company on Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hello again! Unfortunately my colleague TomServoCrow also got sick this week and hasn't been able to finish his testing. I've tested everything thoroughly and everything seems pretty solid, but I'd feel way more comfortable waiting for him to finish. It should only take him an hour or two to do so once he's feeling better, so we are literally at the finish line. Sorry again for the multiple delays. Rather than announce yet another date, I'm just going to say that I'll release it ASAP after he's back on his feet.
