Doom 64

Midway Games

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	August 7, 1958 (1958-08-07)
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois , United States
Products	Video games, including Doom 64

Doom 64 is a first-person shooter released in 1997, developed and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64. It represents the second spin-off in id Software's Doom franchise following Final Doom (1996), marking the fourth installment overall.

The development began in 1994 at Midway Studios San Diego under the guidance of id Software. Originally, the project was named Doom: The Absolution. Utilizing a modified iteration of the Doom engine, the game features advanced level structures and dynamic colored lighting effects, alongside newly designed sprite graphics for both weapons and enemies.

While critics lauded Doom 64 for its visual presentation, level architecture, soundtrack, and immersive atmosphere, some noted its limited innovation in gameplay relative to earlier titles. Over time, it garnered a dedicated fanbase, inspiring various PC source ports and modifications. A remastered edition developed by Nightdive Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks was released in March 2020 across platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, with a subsequent launch on Stadia in May 2020.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Doom 64 closely resembles that of prior Doom entries. Players navigate through 28 main story levels plus 4 hidden stages, combating demonic foes while collecting weapons, keys, and activating switches to access exits amid ambushes and traps. The enhanced engine supports exclusive visual assets unique to this title, such as redesigned weapon and monster sprites.

Weapons

All armaments from Doom II return featuring refreshed sprites and sound designs. The chainsaw is depicted with dual blades; fists are represented by bloodied gloves instead of brass knuckles; the plasma gun showcases an electrified core accompanied by sparking audio cues; the rocket launcher exhibits subtle recoil; the shotgun’s priming handle is repositioned; and the super shotgun benefits from quicker reload times coupled with increased kickback.

An additional weapon, informally known as the Unmaker, operates using hitscan mechanics though it visually resembles a projectile weapon. Sharing cell ammunition with the plasma gun and BFG 9000, this weapon traces its origins back to the 1992 Doom Bible. Although intended for the original Doom, it officially debuted only in Doom 64 before reappearing in Doom Eternal under the name "Unmaykr". Players can enhance it by collecting three ancient artifacts that boost its firing speed, add a secondary laser beam, and unlock a mode firing three auto-aiming lasers simultaneously for rapid multi-target damage.

Enemies

Most adversaries from Doom and Doom II return with largely unchanged behaviors; however, enemies such as the revenant, arch-vile, spiderdemon, and "heavy weapon dude" are omitted. Midway introduced a new foe called the nightmare imp—a variation of the imp—and designed an exclusive final boss known as the Mother Demon. Numerous existing enemy designs were visually overhauled.

Plot

Following the Doom Marine's earlier victories, U.A.C. research installations are placed under quarantine due to severe radiation hazards. Years later, a malfunctioning satellite detects an entity possessing regenerative abilities capable of reviving demons by converting decayed remains into corrupted living tissue. The Marine is dispatched solo to neutralize this menace.

He uncovers that the demons aim to draw him back into Hell but ultimately defeats them using the Unmaker weapon. This culminates in a confrontation with and defeat of the Mother Demon. Unable to resume a normal existence thereafter, he elects to remain in Hell indefinitely to thwart any future demon incursions.

The remastered edition’s Lost Levels, released in 2020, extend the narrative by introducing the Mother Demon’s sister—the "Resurrector"—who banishes the Marine back to a UAC facility. From there, he must battle his way back to Hell, bridging this storyline with the events of the 2016 Doom reboot and Doom Eternal.

Development

Doom 64 was created by Midway Games at their San Diego facility, under the guidance of id Software, the original creators of the Doom series. The project commenced in late 1994. Initially named The Absolution, the title was later changed to Doom 64 to leverage brand familiarity, with the original name repurposed for the final stage. Midway intended to incorporate all demons from previous entries along with new levels; however, constraints such as tight deadlines and the limited storage capacity of Nintendo 64 cartridges necessitated the removal of some elements. Multiplayer functionality was omitted due to Nintendo's lack of support for multiplayer programming and concerns over split-screen performance and visibility issues.

The game’s environments were constructed using 3D polygonal models, while enemies were designed as pre-rendered sprites generated on SGI workstations. Notably, the Nightmare Imp—originally developed for the PlayStation iteration of Doom but cut prior to release—made its debut in Doom 64.

Although initially slated as a North American launch title, dissatisfaction from id Software regarding level design led to a delay until April 1997 to allow for revisions. Despite Nintendo's recent restrictions on violent content in other games, Midway reported no apprehensions about Doom 64, given its target audience of mature players.

Audio composition and sound effects were produced by Aubrey Hodges, who had also contributed to the PlayStation version's soundtrack. Following the release of Doom 64, the development team began conceptualizing a sequel titled Doom Absolution, which would have focused on two-player deathmatch gameplay; however, this project was ultimately canceled. Impressed by Midway’s execution on Doom 64, id Software entrusted them with developing the Nintendo 64 port of Quake.

Midway released Doom 64 on March 27, 1997, ahead of its official launch date of April 4.

Reception

Upon release, Doom 64 was widely regarded as the most visually impressive version of Doom, even surpassing the original PC edition. Critics commended its inventive and demanding level designs, highlighting notable advancements over earlier versions. A reviewer from Next Generation praised the intricate level layouts that posed challenges even for seasoned players.

Despite these improvements, numerous reviewers perceived the game as more of a port than a fully new installment. IGN’s Peer Schneider described it as the finest update within the Doom series but suggested it might have limited appeal for those already familiar with previous titles. Conversely, GamePro awarded perfect marks in categories such as graphics, sound, controls, and enjoyment, emphasizing its revitalized corridor-shooter style and technical prowess on the Nintendo 64 platform. Shawn Smith from Electronic Gaming Monthly valued its faithful adherence to classic gameplay mechanics, aligning with fans who preferred tradition.

The atmospheric soundtrack was widely praised for enhancing player immersion. Both Schneider and GamePro lauded the responsiveness of analog controls; however, Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot criticized this aspect and regarded the game as a flawed reinterpretation. Compared to contemporary Nintendo 64 shooters like Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Doom 64 offered less freedom to explore but delivered a more intense and suspenseful experience.

Over time, Doom 64 has garnered a dedicated cult following that has inspired fan-created PC source ports such as Doom 64 TC (2003) and Doom 64 EX (2008), both spearheaded by Samuel Vilarreal to expand content and maintain fidelity to the original game. Patrick Klepek from Kotaku described it as the most underrated entry in the franchise. The title is also noted for its distinct level design and darker atmosphere compared to earlier series installments.

Remaster

Nightdive Studios released a remastered version of Doom 64 on March 20, 2020, making it available for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. This was followed by a launch on Stadia on May 12, 2020. The remaster was also provided as a pre-order incentive for Doom Eternal, which debuted around the same period.

Included in this reissue is the The Lost Levels expansion, containing levels crafted to connect the original Doom storyline with the contemporary series. The narrative centers on the Doom Marine confronting the Resurrector, who is the sister of the Mother Demon, as he ventures back to Hell to defeat her.