2025-02-15-161307Z_CuratedBoomerShooterList

Years here are the year the particular "original" game came out, and not the year of the modern port I suggest.

A-Tier

1992 | Wolfenstein 3D

Wolfenstein 3D running in ECWolf

1993 | Doom

Doom running in gzDoom

1994 | Doom IIcd

Doom running in gzDoom

Port recommendation: gzDoom for maximum compatibility/features, prBoom for Vanilla Doom experience.

Doom 2 introduced the double barrel shotgun.

1995 | Dark Forces

"Dark Forces with remaster assets running in TheForceEngine

There’s a remaster from NightDive, but I prefer the Open Source Port.

Port recommendation: TheForceEngine (can run the remaster assets)

1996 | Duke Nukem 3D

Duke Nukem 3D running in eDuke32

Port recommendation: eDuke32

Duke Nukem 3D was the first game using the Build Engine, which allowed or "room over room" Maps, that Doom’s Engine was not able to do. It’s still not real 3D, enemies are Sprites, albeit in later Build Engine games like Blood, some (static) Voxel objects were used.

Pro

Everything can be destroyed/interacted with
- you see it, you can most likely interact with it or destroy it
Features real-life places, unlike Doom.
- Las Vegas, Strip Bar,

Contra

You need to ignore the misogyny and some other badly aged 'jokes'

1996 | Quake

Quake running in vkQuake

Port recommendation: Buy the enhanced version and use vkQuake

Quake built upon Doom and was the first full-3D (polygon) Shooter. The Original Quake 1 is full of secrets and vicious traps, thanks to the great John Romero.

Due to the feeling of movement that seems slightly off in the Enhanced Version, i recommend using vkQuake. Copying over QuakeEX.kpf from the Enhanced version to .vkquake1 will enable vkQuake to play the enhanced version data.

Addons from the Enhanced Version:

Mission pack 1: Scourge of Armagon ('hipnotic')
- Expands on the original Quake, interesting new weapons and levels
Mission pack 2: Dissolution of Eternity ('rogue')
- More or less the old thing
Mission Pack 3: Dimension of the Past ('dopa')
Mission Pack 4: Dimension of the Machine ('mg1')

1997 | Blood

Blood Fresh Supply

Port recommendation: Buy Blood Fresh Supply and use it or use an original Engine port with the data You bought.

The main actor, Caleb, lives again and kills down a fanatic Cult. Build Engine at its best.

Pro

Map Design
One-Liners
First Train Map in a Game (?)
Weapon Arsenal, including Spray can + Lighter, Dynamite

Contra

Build Engine, not so snappy movement

Notable Addons/Mods

Death Wish

1997 | Shadow Warrior

Shadow Warrior Classic Redux

Recommended port: Shadow Warrior Classic Redux (2013)

Pro

Map design
- especially later on in the full version of the game, it changes theme from the old Japanese Ninja Style to a modern theme quite like Duke Nukem 3D, including submarines
Background music, atmospheric ingame, Lo Wang Rap at endgame
Voxel objects

Contra

Controls (Build Engine)
Mouse aiming sometimes "stuck" (Redux Classic bug?)
High splash damage
Damage on enemies seem sometimes random

1997 | Hexen II

Hexen II running in Hammer of Thyrion

1997 | Quake II

Quake II Enhanced

Recommended Port: The Quake 2 Enhanced Version (2023) is a 10/10. Period. That’s the definitive Quake 2 Version.

Pro (Enhanced Version)

addition of the compass
inclusion of the official AddOns
- the new content (wepons, enemies, ..)
even videos are remade

1999 | Quake III Arena

Quake III Arena running in ioquake3

Recommended port: ioquake3

Notable Mods:

Rocket Arena 3
OSP
CPMA
Excessive Quake

2018 | Dusk

Dusk, with a lot of brightness applied

Pro

Guns
- Gunplay, Weapon feedback
Map diversity

Contra

Enemy hit feedback not so great, gets boring after a while
Map design is my main critic point. It’s too obvious that i’m running from key to key, while the map design in art and style is great, the gameplay and enemy fights lack diversity.

2018 | Project Warlock

Project Warlock

2021 | HROT

HROT

Developed from 2021-01 to 2023, HROT is a one-man-Project in the Czech/Soviet Style.

Pro

Graphics mostly 'brownish', but full of secrets and handcrafted details
Funny enemy behavior, insider jokes: Continues the strange enemiy roster that Dusk started
Gameplay is very snappy. Full control like in Quake, albeit a bit slower.
Double Barrel kicks ass, Weapons are all nice, Weapon Feedback (Sounds) perfect

2022 | Project Warlock II

Project Warlock II

Released 2022-06-10

2022 | CULTIC

CULTIC

Released in 2022-10.

CULTIC is a One Man Project that expands on the Original Blood, with some influences from Dusk and some small RPG elements (weapon upgrades).

Pro

The graphics are fantastic. With also the Voxel objects, color filter and the dithering it has its unique art style.

Contra

No items in destoyable boxes (which there a lot of), also, secret items very rare when exploring
Controls sometimes janky (c39.443514, 8.463831limbing ladders)