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Doom 64

Doom 64 is a first-person shooter video game developed and published by Midway Games for the Nintendo 64, released in North America on March 31, 1997.^[1] As a direct sequel to Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994), it continues the story of the unnamed space marine battling demonic forces, featuring 32 original levels set on a secret military base on Phobos, a moon of Mars, where a surviving demon has reawakened an infernal invasion.^[2] The game introduces new gameplay elements, including the laser-based Unmaker weapon exclusive to its arsenal and novel enemies such as the Mother Demon—a flying boss that spawns imps—and the stealthier nightmare imp variant. It also features a custom soundtrack by composer Aubrey Hodges, replacing the original MIDI tracks with atmospheric, horror-themed compositions to enhance the sense of isolation on the alien moon.^[3] Developed primarily by Midway Studios San Diego with oversight from id Software—the creators of the original Doom titles—the game runs on a heavily modified version of the Doom engine, optimized for the Nintendo 64's hardware with enhanced lighting effects, fog, and sector-based level design that emphasizes ambush tactics and environmental hazards.^[4] Unlike prior entries, Doom 64 was built from the ground up without reusing assets from Doom or Doom II, resulting in all-new sprite artwork, textures, and architecture that give it a darker, more claustrophobic aesthetic.^[3] The plot, detailed in the game's manual and introductory cutscene, follows the marine's reluctant return to duty after retiring to Earth, only to confront a "Mother Demon" entity that has resurrected fallen foes, culminating in a climactic assault on Hell itself.^[5] Initially an exclusive title for the Nintendo 64, Doom 64 received positive reviews for its faithful yet innovative take on the series, selling approximately 470,000 copies.^[6] Due to licensing complexities following Midway's bankruptcy, an official port to other platforms was delayed for over two decades; however, in March 2020, Nightdive Studios released a faithful remaster for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, published by Bethesda Softworks, which includes enhancements like improved controls, higher resolution support, and an exclusive new level titled "Hectic" to conclude the storyline.^[7] This re-release revitalized interest in the game, earning acclaim for preserving its retro charm while making it accessible to new generations, and it remains a notable entry in the Doom franchise for its console-exclusive innovations.^[8]

Gameplay

Weapons

Doom 64 features an arsenal derived from Doom II, with all classic weapons redrawn for the Nintendo 64 and several balance adjustments to suit the game's faster-paced combat and level design.^[3] These include altered firing rates, ammo consumption, and recoil effects on certain weapons, such as the rocket launcher pushing the player back slightly upon firing.^[9] Ammo types remain consistent with prior games—bullets for the pistol and chaingun, shells for shotguns, rockets for the launcher, and energy cells for plasma-based weapons—but pickups are scarcer, encouraging strategic use.^[10] A notable addition is the Unmaker, a demonic laser weapon exclusive to Doom 64 that consumes energy cells and can be upgraded using Demon Artifacts collected from secret levels.^[11] The fist serves as the starting melee weapon, dealing minimal damage unless enhanced by a Berserk power-up, which temporarily boosts its strength for one-hit kills on weaker foes like Zombiemen.^[12] The chainsaw, acquired early in Level 1: Staging Area, provides infinite-use close-range shredding without ammo cost, ideal for conserving resources against mid-tier enemies like Imps, though it lacks recoil compared to projectile weapons.^[13] The pistol, also starting equipment, fires bullets at a steady but low rate, suitable only for the weakest enemies and ammo pickups like clips (10 bullets) or boxes (50 bullets).^[10] The shotgun, found in Level 1: Staging Area, launches a spread of shells (5 per pickup) for close-to-medium range crowd control, effective against Imps and Zombiemen in 1-2 shots.^[10] Its enhanced variant, the super shotgun, appears in Level 2: The Terraformer and consumes two shells per wider spread blast, capable of eliminating groups of low-level demons in one shot but with a longer reload time than in Doom II.^[14] The chaingun, located in Level 3: Main Engineering, unleashes rapid bullet fire for suppressing larger groups, with improved ammo efficiency over the original but prone to overheating in prolonged use.^[15] Energy weapons include the rocket launcher, available in Level 4: Holding Area, which fires explosive projectiles (1 per pickup) for high area damage but risks self-inflicted harm if fired too closely due to added recoil.^[16]^[9] The plasma rifle, obtained in Level 8: Final Outpost, sprays blue energy cells (20 per pickup) at a faster rate than in Doom II, excelling against armored enemies like Hell Knights while drawing from cell packs (100 cells).^[17] The BFG9000, found in Level 14: Eye of the Storm, consumes 40 cells per massive green plasma sphere for sweeping horde clearance, though its high cost makes it inefficient against isolated targets.^[18] The Unmaker, Doom 64's signature weapon, is discovered in a secret area of Level 29: Outpost Omega or Level 12: Altar of Pain, firing hitscan red laser beams that mimic projectiles visually.^[11] It starts as a mid-tier energy weapon but upgrades via three Demon Artifacts—gold in Level 29 secret, pink in Level 30: The Lair secret, and blue in Level 31: In the Void secret—enhancing its capabilities: one artifact accelerates firing rate, two enable dual beams, and all three produce triple lasers for rapid, high-damage output against bosses like the Cyberdemon.^[11] Fully upgraded, it stuns large demons effectively, as noted by developers for its boss-control utility.^[19] Shell and rocket pickups are standard with boxes providing 20 shells and 5 rockets, but energy cells are tuned lower to balance the Unmaker's potential dominance.^[10]

Enemies

Doom 64 retains most of the core enemy roster from Doom and Doom II but omits several types such as the revenant, arch-vile, spider mastermind, and heavy weapon dude due to N64 cartridge storage constraints, while introducing redesigned sprites for all included monsters to enhance the game's horror aesthetic. These resurrected demons, altered by radiation and the influence of the Mother Demon, exhibit mutated appearances—often paler, more decayed, and grotesque—to fit the title's darker, more claustrophobic tone. Behavioral tweaks emphasize aggression in confined spaces, with enemies programmed to pursue the player more relentlessly through narrow corridors and multi-level rooms optimized for the console's hardware.^[20] Among the new enemies is the nightmare imp, a translucent blue-purple variant of the standard imp that moves at twice the speed and launches fireballs at double the velocity, allowing it to ambush players stealthily in dim environments. This design leverages the N64's fog and lighting effects to make the imp harder to spot until it closes in. Another addition is the Mother Demon, the game's final boss encountered in MAP28: The Absolution; depicted as a massive, larva-like moth with four arms and black eyes featuring red irises, it spawns imps from body orifices while firing homing fireballs, forcing players to prioritize destroying spawn points amid chaotic swarms.^[21]^[22]^[23] Lost souls receive significant alterations, flying faster with heightened aggression to swarm the player in tight areas, though their health is reduced compared to prior games, shifting their role from durable threats to rapid, explosive harassers that detonate on impact with obstacles.^[24] Returning enemies feature modifications to integrate with Doom 64's level design, such as arachnotrons equipped with dual plasma guns that fire synchronized bursts of five rounds each, increasing their suppressive fire in open arenas without relying on homing attacks. Hell knights, now with a bulkier, less pale design closer to the original barons of Hell, appear more frequently and deliver heavier melee and fireball damage (11-88 melee, 8-64 ranged), their enhanced durability suiting defensive positions in multi-enemy encounters. Enemy AI emphasizes group dynamics, with imps often clustering to shield larger demons like hell knights from direct fire, creating tactical challenges in the game's labyrinthine layouts where line-of-sight is limited.^[20] Boss encounters stand out for their unique setups, including a Cyberdemon rematch in MAP24: No Escape featuring twin instances that players must duel simultaneously amid arena hazards like rising platforms and teleporters, amplifying the chaos through environmental interactions that punish stationary play. These fights highlight Doom 64's focus on adaptive combat, where the Cyberdemon's rocket barrages combine with the arena's geometry to create dynamic threats.^[25]^[26]

Levels

Doom 64 features a 32-level campaign, all newly designed specifically for the Nintendo 64 release, diverging from ports of prior Doom titles by eschewing reused maps in favor of original layouts.^[7] The levels incorporate a hybrid of assets from the original Doom games—such as enemy behaviors and basic textures—with extensive new content, including custom sprites, sounds, and environmental elements tailored to the console's hardware constraints.^[27] The campaign structure unfolds as a continuous progression across 32 maps (MAP01 to MAP32), divided into three informal episodes via intermission screens that appear after completing levels 10, 20, and 30, providing narrative breaks and advancing the overarching plot. The first episode (levels 1–10) begins with introductory tech-base environments like MAP01: Staging Area and MAP02: The Terraformer, establishing core navigation and combat flow amid UAC facilities. The second episode (levels 11–20) shifts toward infernal themes, exemplified by MAP11: Terror Core and MAP19: Mutated Madness, introducing denser enemy placements and environmental hazards. The third episode (levels 21–32) culminates in chaotic finales, such as MAP28: The Absolution, blending maze-like layouts with high-stakes confrontations. In addition to the main path, four secret levels—MAP29: Outpost Omega (accessed from MAP04: Holding Area), MAP30: The Lair (from MAP12: Altar of Pain), MAP31: In the Void (from MAP18: Spawned Fear), and MAP32: Hectic (from MAP01: Staging Area)—offer optional challenges with unique designs, including the fast-paced, trap-filled Hectic as a super secret.^[28]^[29] Level design was led by Randy Estrella, Timothy Heydelaar, and Danny Lewis at Midway Studios San Diego, who utilized an in-house tool called DEX to craft the maps collaboratively, often iterating to "outdo" one another's creations for variety and surprise.^[27] The philosophy emphasized refreshing the Doom formula on N64 hardware, incorporating innovative geometry—like multi-tiered rooms and dynamic sector effects—and texturing to create immersive, claustrophobic spaces despite cartridge size limitations that precluded features like multiplayer. This approach leveraged the console's sector-based lighting for atmospheric depth, using fog-like effects and shadowed areas to amplify horror elements, such as unseen ambushes in dim corridors, distinguishing Doom 64's tenser, more oppressive tone from the brighter, arena-focused originals.^[27] Progression builds gradually in difficulty, starting with linear corridors and basic key hunts in early maps to acclimate players, then escalating to intricate puzzles, non-linear secrets, and elevated enemy density in later stages—such as the hidden passages and backtracking in MAP09: Even Simpler or the multi-phase boss arena in MAP12: Altar of Pain. Later levels introduce maze-like complexity and resource scarcity, culminating in relentless finales that demand precise movement and weapon management amid hordes. Secret levels further this scaling with experimental twists, like the chaotic, barrel-laden frenzy of Hectic, rewarding exploration with powerful pickups such as the Unmaker laser.^[28]

Plot

Synopsis

Doom 64 continues the storyline from the original Doom games, where the unnamed space marine, the sole survivor of Hell's invasions on Mars' moons, is reactivated for duty after years of recovery from his ordeals. A long-abandoned relay satellite orbiting a quarantined planet transmits a faint distress signal, detecting anomalous energy patterns indicative of renewed demonic activity. Classified UAC records confirm that a surviving demonic entity, shielded by apocalyptic radiation levels, has harnessed ancient experiments to resurrect and mutate the corpses of previously defeated demons into more formidable horrors, sparking a fresh invasion. Dispatched alone to the forsaken UAC installations, the marine must purge the infestation at its source.^[7]^[30] The narrative progresses through the game's levels, marked by escalating revelations about the invasion's scope. The initial phase establishes the setup in the overrun UAC bases, tracing the outbreak to the Mother Demon's influence—an ancient, larva-like entity responsible for the rejuvenation process tied to forbidden UAC dimensional research. As the conflict intensifies, the marine ventures into deeper, hell-infused sectors, systematically dismantling demonic strongholds and artifacts that empower the Mother Demon's forces, while confronting the growing realization of the entity's pervasive corruption across the facilities.^[31]^[30] The final phase delivers resolution amid profound twists, including the demonic origins of the Unmaker—a ethereal weapon forged from cursed relics that the marine uncovers and wields against the horde. Culminating in a desperate assault on Hell's innermost sanctum, the marine shatters the Mother Demon's core, avenging the renewed slaughter but at great personal cost. In the aftermath, bloodied and defiant, the marine elects to remain sealed in Hell's depths, vowing eternal guardianship to prevent any future resurgence of the demonic legions.^[32]

Setting and themes

Doom 64 takes place in the aftermath of the demonic invasions from the original Doom games, on a distant quarantined moon where abandoned Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC) installations have been sealed off and bombarded with extreme radiation to suppress the lingering threat.^[30] These bases, once hubs of scientific experimentation, now bear the marks of demonic infestation, with corrupted structures and portals opening to twisted, eldritch realms within Hell's dimensions. The environment evokes a sense of desolation, with vast, empty corridors and facilities warped by otherworldly forces, underscoring the failure of human containment efforts. The game's atmosphere amplifies feelings of isolation and dread through deliberate design choices, including a desaturated color palette dominated by shadows and muted tones that create a pervasive sense of unease.^[33] The Doom Marine operates in complete solitude, without radio contact or allies, heightening the tension of navigating hostile, unpredictable spaces filled with lurking threats.^[33] Ambient audio elements, such as echoing footsteps and composer Aubrey Hodges' somber, industrial soundscape, further immerse players in a mood of creeping horror and unrelenting pressure.^[34] Central themes revolve around corruption and the perils of technological overreach, as a surviving demonic entity—known as the Mother Demon—harnesses radiation-masked energies to resurrect and evolve fallen organic matter into grotesque new forms, perpetuating Hell's incursions.^[30] This motif highlights humanity's hubris in tampering with interdimensional forces through UAC research, leading to an endless cycle of invasion and extermination. The Marine stands as a solitary redeemer figure, embodying stoic defiance in an eternal war against a hierarchical demonic realm that subtly builds on the established Doom lore.^[33]

Development

Concept and design

In 1995, Midway Games pitched a Nintendo 64-exclusive Doom title to id Software, seeking to create an original entry rather than a straightforward port of the existing PC games, building on research from the PlayStation Doom adaptation.^[20] id Software granted Midway creative freedom, allowing the team to develop new content while providing oversight from key figures like John Romero and John Carmack.^[20] This collaboration aimed to differentiate the project by leveraging the N64's hardware for enhanced visuals and atmosphere, evolving from early prototypes that included experimental Egyptian themes into a more cohesive horror-oriented sequel.^[35] Level design was led by Randy Estrella, who created the game's 32 single-player maps using custom tools developed by Aaron Seeler, including the DEX editor for implementing colored lighting, macro scripting, and complex events like dynamic enemy behaviors.^[35] The process emphasized a shift toward horror elements over pure action, with levels featuring narrower corridors, ambushes, and environmental hazards to build tension, drawing inspiration from the original Doom while adapting for console play.^[20] Estrella highlighted the scripting system's role in enabling creative freedom, such as multi-phase encounters that felt fresh amid the rising popularity of Quake in 1997.^[35] Artistic decisions focused on a darker aesthetic to exploit the N64's capabilities, incorporating fog, parallax skies, and ambient lighting for an eerie tone distinct from prior Doom titles.^[20] New sprite artwork for weapons, enemies, and items was rendered from high-poly 3D models provided by artist Gregor Punchatz, resulting in larger, more detailed visuals compared to the pixelated originals. This approach prioritized atmospheric immersion over graphical fidelity alone.^[35] For story integration, Midway's team expanded the lore beyond Doom II, introducing the Mother Demon as a central antagonist—a powerful entity capable of resurrecting defeated foes and serving as the narrative's climax.^[20] The team contributed to her behavioral design, ensuring she fit the game's horror theme, though monster visuals remained externally sourced.^[35] This added depth positioned Doom 64 as a self-contained sequel, emphasizing demonic resurgence and isolation in its plot framework.^[20]

Technical challenges

Developing Doom 64 for the Nintendo 64 presented significant engineering hurdles due to the console's hardware limitations, particularly its 4 MB of RDRAM, which constrained texture sizes and overall asset loading to prevent memory overflows.^[36] Developers at Midway addressed these by implementing mipmapping to efficiently scale down distant textures, reducing RAM usage while maintaining visual fidelity, and employing vertex coloring hacks for dynamic lighting effects that simulated atmospheric horror without taxing the processor.^[20] Midway forked the Doom engine from the PlayStation port, customizing it to leverage the N64's SGI Reality Coprocessor for hardware-accelerated rendering, which allowed for smoother 3D navigation despite the 64-bit architecture's bottlenecks.^[20] To conserve memory, multiplayer modes were entirely removed, focusing resources on single-player optimization, while fog effects were added to mask distant geometry and improve performance by limiting draw calls in expansive areas.^[20] Audio implementation relied on the N64's ADPCM compression to fit all sound effects and music into just 1 MB of cartridge space, a tight constraint that required shortening samples and optimizing reverb.^[34] Composer Aubrey Hodges created 14 new tracks using low-bitrate synthesized samples, replacing the original MIDI sequences with ambient horror scores tailored for the platform's audio hardware, avoiding royalty issues from prior Doom music.^[34]^[37] During beta testing, frame rate drops occurred in large rooms due to excessive polygonal complexity and texture loads, which were resolved through tweaks to level geometry, such as simplifying sectors and reducing vertex counts to stabilize performance at 30 frames per second.^[20]

Release

Original launch

Doom 64 was released on April 4, 1997, exclusively for the Nintendo 64 console in North America.^[38] It was developed by Midway Studios San Diego and published by Midway Games for the North American market, while GT Interactive handled publishing duties for the PAL regions.^[4]^[39] The title served as a direct sequel to Doom II, capitalizing on the established hype of id Software's franchise to attract players to the emerging N64 platform.^[4] Marketing efforts emphasized the game's status as a major N64 exclusive, with promotional materials highlighting its new levels, enhanced graphics, and ties to the Doom series.^[4] A demo was showcased at the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to build anticipation among attendees and press.^[40] In certain regions, bundles pairing Doom 64 with the N64 console were offered to capitalize on the system's launch window and drive hardware adoption.^[40] The game was distributed solely on ROM cartridges compatible with the N64's hardware, which precluded any expansions or add-on content due to the format's limitations.^[4] Regional variations existed, particularly in the PAL version released on December 2, 1997, which featured minor adjustments including a default brightness setting positioned at the midpoint of the slider to improve visibility over the darker NTSC release.^[3] No significant speed alterations were implemented in the PAL edition, maintaining parity with the original North American timing.^[3] Initial sales were bolstered by the N64's early market momentum, with the game achieving strong performance in its debut year and contributing to the console's growing library of first-person shooters. Critical buzz at launch praised its fresh content and technical achievements for the platform.^[6]

Ports and re-releases

Doom 64 remained exclusive to the Nintendo 64 for over two decades following its 1997 debut, with no official ports to other platforms until 2020. The game's first official re-release arrived on March 20, 2020, developed by Nightdive Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks for Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.^[7] This port preserved the core gameplay and level design of the original while introducing quality-of-life improvements, including widescreen and higher resolution support, higher frame rates, achievements, and controller rumble.^[41] The multiplatform version marked a significant step in making Doom 64 accessible to modern audiences without altering its atmospheric horror elements or enemy behaviors. It supported localized text in multiple languages and optional motion controls on Switch, enhancing portability for on-the-go play. The re-release included a new exclusive level, "Hectic," to conclude the storyline.^[42] It was offered as a pre-order incentive for Doom Eternal across supported platforms, broadening its reach within the Doom ecosystem.^[43] Although fan-made efforts like the Doom64 EX source port had enabled unofficial PC play since the early 2010s, the 2020 re-release represented the first official multiplatform availability, receiving praise for its faithful recreation using an updated engine derived from reverse-engineered source code.^[44]

Remaster

Production

Nightdive Studios announced the remaster of Doom 64 on October 25, 2019, via an official trailer from publisher Bethesda Softworks, positioning it as a revival of the 1997 Nintendo 64 exclusive to coincide with the launch of Doom Eternal.^[45] The project was developed by a small core team at Nightdive, including lead engine developer Samuel Villarreal, senior developer James Haley, and developer Max Waine, under license from Bethesda, which owns the Doom intellectual property through id Software.^[46] Nightdive utilized its proprietary KEX 3 engine, an evolution of Villarreal's earlier open-source Doom64 EX project, to rebuild the game for modern platforms while preserving the original's 30 Hz logic and adding interpolated rendering for smoother performance.^[47]^[46] Development drew from reverse-engineering the original N64 ROM, where Villarreal created tools to extract compressed assets and decompress them to recover lost detail from the low-resolution originals.^[46] The process built upon the Doom64 EX codebase, with Nightdive collaborating with original composer Aubrey Hodges to integrate his sound design and music, ensuring authenticity in audio elements like ambient tracks and effects.^[46] Although direct involvement from defunct publisher Midway Games' staff was limited, the team consulted historical assets and concepts from the original production to guide restorations.^[46] Key challenges included upscaling pixelated sprites—originally digitized from models by artist Gregor Punchatz—to support 4K resolutions without altering the game's artistic intent, requiring careful texture enhancement and level reconstruction to avoid modernizing the retro aesthetic.^[46] The team also created new content like the six-level "Lost Levels" episode, inspired by concepts from the Doom64 EX mod, to expand the campaign while maintaining fidelity to the source material.^[46]^[42] As part of Bethesda's broader Doom franchise revival following the 2016 Doom reboot and leading into Doom Eternal, the remaster served as a pre-order bonus for Eternal, with cross-progression features allowing players to unlock cosmetics in the newer title via a Bethesda.net account integration. This effort highlighted Nightdive's role in bridging classic Doom entries with contemporary releases, emphasizing preservation amid the series' resurgence. As of November 2025, community efforts have extended the remaster's reach, including fan ports to platforms like Dreamcast and restoration patches enhancing N64 emulation.^[46]^[48]^[49]

New features

The 2020 remaster of Doom 64 introduced several graphical enhancements to modernize the experience while preserving the original's aesthetic. Dynamic lighting was added to create more immersive environments with realistic shadows and light sources, enhancing the game's atmospheric horror elements. High-resolution textures and sprites were implemented, allowing for sharper visuals at up to 4K resolution on supported platforms, alongside an expanded color palette that improves gradient rendering on walls and skies. An optional N64-style filter emulates the original's 3-point bilinear texture filtering for authenticity, while a nearest-neighbor option provides crisp modern rendering; the remaster also supports widescreen resolutions and runs at a native 60 FPS across all platforms, a significant upgrade from the original's 30 FPS cap.^[50]^[51]^[49] In terms of gameplay, the remaster includes a new expansion episode titled The Lost Levels, consisting of six maps designed by Nightdive Studios developer Samuel Villarreal (Kaiser), with an additional bonus Fun level, serving as a narrative bridge following the original campaign. These levels, unlocked after completing the main story or accessing the super secret level Hectic, feature the Doom marine reclaiming the Unmaker artifact and confronting enhanced demonic threats on the planet Sedna, tying into the broader Doom lore through story text. Additionally, the remaster adds a save-state system with 12 slots, supplementing the original password-based saving for greater convenience.^[52]^[42]^[42] Accessibility and control improvements cater to contemporary players, including remappable controls, adjustable field-of-view settings, and full gamepad support with modern analog stick aiming for consoles. Color-blind modes are available to adjust color palettes for better visibility of key elements like health indicators and enemy types. Integration with Bethesda.net allows players to unlock cosmetics in Doom Eternal, such as the "64 Pentagram" player icon and "MERCILESS EXTERMINATOR" title, upon completing the remaster. These additions emphasize player-facing enhancements without altering the core 1997 level designs.^[7]^[49]^[42]

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in 1997, Doom 64 received generally positive reviews from critics, earning an aggregate score of 73% on GameRankings. Reviewers praised the game's fresh level designs and enhanced atmosphere, which introduced a darker, more foreboding tone compared to previous entries in the series through dynamic lighting, reimagined enemy sprites, and an original soundtrack that amplified tension.^[53] IGN awarded it 7.4/10, highlighting the solid retro gameplay and improved visuals tailored for the Nintendo 64, though it noted the absence of features like looking up or down and precise aiming kept it feeling dated.^[53] GamePro gave it a perfect 5/5, lauding the nonstop, anxiety-filled shooting action and seamless adaptation of the Doom formula to console hardware.^[54] A common criticism across reviews was the lack of multiplayer support, with IGN emphasizing that the omission of deathmatch modes diminished replayability compared to the PC originals.^[53] The 2020 remaster by Nightdive Studios also garnered positive critical reception, achieving Metacritic scores of 76/100 for Nintendo Switch, 75/100 for PlayStation 4, and 77/100 for Xbox One, reflecting an average around 76/100.^[8] Critics commended the faithful recreation of the original's visuals and audio at higher resolutions with modern enhancements like widescreen support and improved controls, positioning it as a definitive edition that preserved the game's horror-infused roots.^[50] Eurogamer's analysis praised the remaster's technical fidelity, noting how the reworked art, atmospheric score, and solid frame rates made the N64-era environments still hold up beautifully.^[50] Polygon described it as potentially the best Doom game many players had overlooked, appreciating the slower, more deliberate pacing that emphasized dread over relentless action.^[55] Some reviewers pointed out minor issues, such as the core gameplay remaining unchanged and feeling simplistic by modern standards, though these were often offset by the added expansion level and accessibility options.^[55] Across both versions, reviewers consistently viewed Doom 64 as the pinnacle of the series on consoles, with its innovative level design and eerie ambiance setting it apart as a more introspective take on the Doom formula.^[56] Post-2020 analyses have further highlighted its influence on survival horror shooters, crediting the game's depressive tone, isolated setting, and psychological tension for bridging fast-paced action with emerging horror elements in the genre.^[56]^[57]

Commercial performance

Doom 64 achieved moderate commercial success on the Nintendo 64, selling approximately 470,000 units worldwide by the end of its lifecycle, with the majority—around 380,000 units—coming from North America.^[6] Sales were notably weaker in Japan, where the game moved fewer than 1,000 units, reflecting the Nintendo 64's limited market penetration in that region compared to competitors like the PlayStation.^[6] This regional disparity underscored the console's stronger appeal in Western markets during the late 1990s. The game's re-releases in the modern era saw renewed interest through digital platforms. The 2020 remaster by Nightdive Studios, published by Bethesda Softworks, performed well on PC via Steam, with an estimated 588,000 copies sold generating about $1.3 million in gross revenue as of 2025.^[58] Ports to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch contributed to broader accessibility, bolstered by inclusion in Xbox Game Pass, which facilitated over 500,000 units sold across platforms in the remaster's first year (2020–2021) and promoted digital adoption among subscribers.^[59] Doom 64's various iterations have contributed to the overall Doom franchise surpassing 10 million units sold cumulatively by 2025, with the series' enduring popularity driving sustained sales through bundles and anniversaries.^[59] Positive critical reception further supported these figures by attracting nostalgic players to the re-releases.^[59]

Legacy

Cultural impact

Doom 64 played a pivotal role in adapting the first-person shooter (FPS) genre to console hardware, particularly through its emphasis on atmospheric horror elements that distinguished it from the faster-paced PC originals. Released exclusively for the Nintendo 64, the game utilized the console's capabilities to create darker, more immersive environments with enhanced lighting and sound design, fostering a sense of dread that influenced subsequent console FPS titles by blending high-speed action with survival horror tropes.^[60]^[61] This approach helped pioneer the integration of horror into console shooters, contributing to broader FPS evolution toward more cinematic horror experiences.^[62] Within the Doom franchise, Doom 64 expanded the series' lore by introducing the Mother Demon as its final boss, a entity that laid the groundwork for demonic hierarchies revisited in later entries. The game's narrative conclusion, where the protagonist remains in Hell to combat ongoing threats, directly ties into the reboots, with Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal referencing this isolation and the Mother Demon through codex entries, environmental nods, and the 2020 remaster's "Lost Levels" expansion that bridges the classic timeline to the modern saga.^[63]^[33] Developers of Doom Eternal cited Doom 64's tense pacing and horror tone as key inspirations for the reboot's design, solidifying its canonical importance.^[64] Doom 64 has maintained a presence in gaming communities, notably through speedrunning events at Games Done Quick (GDQ), where its challenging levels and glitches have been showcased in multiple marathons, including a full playthrough at Summer Games Done Quick 2024 and hotfix events in 2025.^[65]^[66] The game's appearances extend to broader media, with the Doom series—exemplified by Doom 64's iconic status—featuring in parodies like The Simpsons, where gaming episodes reference the franchise's hellish imagery and frantic gameplay.^[67] Preservation efforts for Doom 64 have intensified in 2025, driven by its status as an N64 cartridge, which commands high collector prices due to age, degradation risks, and demand. Community projects like Doom 64 EX+ have revived the game on modern platforms while retaining its original atmosphere, complementing Nintendo's broader pushes to archive N64 classics through recompilation tools and potential re-releases.^[68]^[69]^[70]

Modding and fan works

Doom 64's modding scene has been revitalized by community-driven tools, with Doom64 EX emerging as a foundational reverse-engineered source port that recreates the original Nintendo 64 experience on PC while enabling extensive modifications, including custom levels, sprites, and gameplay tweaks.^[71] Released in 2009 and continuously updated, Doom64 EX supports WAD file integration for asset replacement and has fostered a dedicated editing community, with tutorials and a wiki available for newcomers to map design and scripting.^[72] A fork, Doom64 EX-Plus, further enhances modding by improving vanilla accuracy and adding features like multiplayer support, drawing from the 2020 remaster's assets for broader compatibility.^[73]^[74] Popular mods have expanded Doom 64's scope, incorporating multiplayer modes and elements from other id Software titles. For instance, Brutal Doom 64 integrates enhanced combat mechanics, new weapons, and interactive environments into the original campaign, while adding LAN and online multiplayer absent from the base game.^[75] Another addon for this mod specifically addresses multiplayer stability, allowing cooperative play with up to four players.^[76] Doom 64 CE is a GZDoom-based total conversion that recreates Doom 64's levels, graphics, sounds, and gameplay.^[77] Fan projects in 2023 and beyond have focused on total conversions that revive unused content, such as overhauling Doom and Doom II campaigns with Doom 64's darker aesthetics. Doom 64: Unseen Evil, a GZDoom-based mod, overhauls Doom and Doom II campaigns with Doom 64's darker aesthetics, including new textures, enemies, and reimagined monsters.^[78] Similarly, Entropic Doom 64 introduces a sci-fi horror narrative with custom levels and reskinned enemies, building on the remaster's engine for expanded storytelling.^[79] Speedrunning communities have sustained engagement, with categories like Watch Me Die% and Weaponless Max% on Speedrun.com tracking world records since the early 2000s, where top times have iteratively improved over two decades through glitch optimization and route refinement.^[80]^[81] Community events, including annual map jams, encourage collaborative creation, such as the 2025 Doom 64 Vehemence project on Doomworld, which compiled user-submitted levels into a community episode celebrating the game's Discord milestone.^[82] Platforms like itch.io host Doom 64-tagged entries from broader Doom jams, featuring pixel art homages and short WADs. Fan art proliferates through dedicated groups, while music remixes reinterpret Aubrey Hodges' original soundtrack—known for its eerie, synthesized tones—with extensions like the 20th Anniversary Edition providing raw stems for community orchestral and chiptune variants.^[83] Preservation efforts in 2025 have addressed emulation challenges, with Doom64 EX-Plus receiving updates for Nintendo Switch Online compatibility, patching glitches in N64 ROM playback and ensuring stable framerates on modern hardware.^[74] These mods maintain accessibility for the original ROM while integrating remaster enhancements, preventing asset degradation in fan archives.^[84]

References

[1]
DOOM 64 Release Information for Nintendo 64 - GameFAQs
Rating 76% (10) Platform: Nintendo 64 ; Developer: Midway Studios - San Diego ; Publisher: Midway ; Release: March 31, 1997 ; Franchises: DOOM.
[2]
DOOM 64 on Steam
Rating 4.5 (4,650) · 14-day returnsMar 19, 2020 · Developer. id Software, Nightdive Studios ; Publisher. Bethesda Softworks ; Released. Mar 19, 2020 ; OS: Windows 10 ; Processor: Intel Core i5-750
[3]
Doom 64 - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
Doom 64, released April 4, 1997 for the Nintendo 64, is a sequel to Doom II. The game has all new graphics and runs on a modified Doom engine.MAP01: Staging Area · MAP25: Cat And Mouse · MAP28: The Absolution · Unmaker
[4]
Doom 64 (1997) - MobyGames
Midway Home Entertainment, Inc. Bethesda Softworks LLC · 2 More; Developers. Midway Home Entertainment, Inc. Nightdive Studios, LLC.Missing: publisher | Show results with:publisher
[5]
Doom 64 (Video Game 1997) - Plot - IMDb
Summaries · The sole surviving Marine that lived through the horrors of Hell returns to Earth, reclaiming it from an invasion that nearly eradicated humanity.
[6]
Doom 64 [1997] - IGN
Rating 7.4/10 · Review by IGNSummary ; Developers. Midway Games ; Publishers. Midway Games ; Franchises. Doom ; Features. Memory Card ; Platforms. Nintendo 64.
[7]
DOOM 64 Reviews - Metacritic
Rating 76% (10) Platforms: Nintendo 64; Nintendo Switch; PlayStation 4; Xbox One; PC. Initial Release Date: Mar 20, 2020. Developer: Nightdive Studios. Publisher: Bethesda ...
[8]
DOOM 64 - Guide and Walkthrough - Nintendo 64 - By peach_freak
Rating 76% (10) Jul 16, 2013 · This weapon is first found in Level 10: The Bleeding. Laser: The second most strongest weapon in the game and it is a new weapon in Doom 64..
[9]
DOOMorabilia #3 – DOOM 64 Japanese Edition
### Summary of Doom 64 Weapons (Japanese Edition)
[10]
Exclusive: Doom 64 Devs Reveal the Port Will Include a Brand New ...
Mar 9, 2020 · We asked Nightdive Studios about what's new with Doom 64, and whether the Unmaker is a better weapon than the BFG9000.
[11]
Terraform: The Making of Doom 64 | Shacknews
Apr 3, 2020 · Doom PSX's color techniques allowed designers to come up with new enemies. The first, a darker version of Doom's Spectre, withstood twice as ...
[12]
Nightmare imp - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
The nightmare imp is a translucent blue and purple imp which is the first new monster encountered in Doom 64. It moves twice as fast as the standard imp.Origin · Data
[13]
Mother demon - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
The Mother Demon, also referred to as the Mother of All Demons and internally as the Resurrector or Rectabus, is the final boss of Doom 64 and is found on ...
[14]
Going through this game again thanks to the rerelease - DOOM 64
Rating 76% (10) Apr 25, 2020 · The small changes to gameplay are nice as well. Lost Souls' increased aggression, but decreased health makes them work better as annoyer enemies ...
[15]
Let's Play Doom 64: 10 - Rematch of the Century. Twin Cyberdemons
Mar 10, 2012 · Hello everyone. It is time for us to quest into my favorite Doom game in the Doom franchise of all time, what may be the most underplayed or ...Missing: environmental hazards
[16]
Doom 64 Interview - FirebrandX
The following is an email interview I conducted with level designers Timothy Heydelaar and Randy Estrella.
[17]
Doom 64 FAQ/Walkthrough
This FAQ/Walkthrough is for Doom 64, which will cover enemies, secrets, items, controls, the Walkthrough, and any questions you ask.
[18]
Storylines for Classic Doom / Doom II games
After days of hard fighting in space, you've returned home on well-earned leave. You're one of Earth's crack soldiers, hard-bitten, tough, and heavily-armed.
[19]
Guide :: DOOM 64 - Manual Story - Steam Community
Aug 23, 2019 · This guide contains the storyline taken from the both DOOM 64's Manual. 1. The Story so far The Past... Your fatigue was enormous, the price for encountering ...Missing: plot | Show results with:plot
[20]
txt - Classic DOOM . com
NINTENDO 64 DOOM 64 ====================== o N64 Doom 64: FINALLY... THE MOTHER OF ALL DEMONS IS DEAD! THE BLOOD POURS FROM YOUR EYES AS YOU STAND IN DEFIANCE.
[21]
The location of Doom 64's story finally revealed! - Doomworld
Nov 14, 2019 · The location of Doom 64's plot line has been hotly debated. The manual's story blurb is supposedly "vague" about its place of action.
[22]
How DOOM 64 Influenced DOOM Eternal - IGN Unfiltered
Feb 20, 2020 · In this episode of IGN Unfiltered, DOOM Eternal Director Hugo Martin talks about how the tension of DOOM 64 informed the development of DOOM ...Missing: developer | Show results with:developer
[23]
Moving Forward: Composer Aubrey Hodges on Doom 64's haunting ...
Apr 3, 2020 · Doom 64's composer reveals how the game's soundtrack was a happy accident, Taco Bell's influence on his work, and more.Missing: reputable | Show results with:reputable
[24]
Doom Depot - Doom 64 Interview - Doom2.net
Has he ever considered releasing the tracks on CD or would Midway own the rights to that? Tim Midway owns it - but that's not to say some of us don't have CDs ...Missing: developer | Show results with:developer
[25]
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-History/Nintendo-64/Technical-Details/Technical-Details-627050.html
[26]
Voices in the Blood: Scott Patterson and the Terrifying Soundscape of Doom 64
### Summary of Audio Implementation in Doom 64
[27]
Doom 64 for Nintendo 64 - Sales, Wiki, Release Dates, Review ...
Related News · Re-Release of Doom 64 Includes a New Chapter · DOOM 64 Gets Official Announcement Trailer · Doom 64 Headed to Switch on November 22 · Doom 64 ...
[28]
Doom 64 International Releases - Giant Bomb
Developer, Midway Games ; Publisher, Midway Games, GT Interactive Software Corp. ; Release date, December 2, 1997 ; Product code, None ; Nintendo Product ID, NUS- ...
[29]
Doom 64 90's Press Archive - Doomworld
Jan 25, 2021 · Here is a Doom 64 90's press archive that I have collected in chronological order! From William's Entertainment thinking about putting Doom on the N64.
[30]
Doom 64 Re-Releasing on Nintendo Switch in November - IGN
Sep 4, 2019 · Bethesda announced Wednesday that Doom 64, the 1997 sequel to Doom II, will re-release on Nintendo Switch on November 22 this year.
[31]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1842937985
[32]
DOOM 64 - Official Announce Trailer - YouTube
Oct 25, 2019 · The game is headed to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on March 20, 2020.Missing: E3 1996
[33]
How lost classic Doom 64 was revived for modern platforms
Mar 20, 2020 · Long-forgotten Nintendo 64 classic Doom 64 is out on the same day as the modern Doom Eternal, and developer Nightdive Studios has revived ...
[34]
KEX Engine - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
The KEX Engine is a proprietary cross-platform game engine framework originally created by Samuel Villarreal (Kaiser) for Nightdive Studios.
[35]
Doom 64 (2020 version)
### Summary of Doom 64 Ports and Re-releases Before 2020
[36]
Doom 64 - a classic N64 shooter gets a top-tier port for current-gen ...
Apr 5, 2020 · With its reworked art, atmospheric score, solid frame-rate and foreboding environments, it's an N64 game that still holds up beautifully today.<|separator|>
[37]
DOOM 64 Review: More Than a Port (PC) - KeenGamer
Rating 9/10 · Review by Andrew JooApr 23, 2021 · As a forgotten entry in the DOOM series, DOOM 64 received some much-needed attention through its 2020 remaster ... dynamic lighting, and ...
[38]
Doom 64 - PCGamingWiki PCGW - bugs, fixes, crashes, mods ...
Doom 64 is a sci-fi FPS game developed by Midway Games, id Software, and Nightdive Studios, and published by Bethesda Softworks.Missing: instruction PDF
[39]
The Lost Levels - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
The Lost Levels is a new episode for Doom 64 added in the 2020 re-release. All maps in the episode were authored by Nightdive Studios employee and Doom ...
[40]
Doom 64 Review - IGN
Rating 7.4/10 · Review by Peer SchneiderJan 28, 1997 · The object of the game remains unchanged. Find your way through a labyrinth of hallways and passages, kill everything in sight, collect keys ...Missing: plot summary<|control11|><|separator|>
[41]
PlayStation Plus: 1990s Critics Review DOOM 64 on Nintendo 64
Apr 21, 2023 · Thankfully, everybody had gotten their act together by the time Doom 64 came to the Nintendo 64 in 1997. With brand-new levels and updated ...
[42]
https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/19/21183597/doom-64-eternal-impressions-history-reboot-port-nintendo-64
[43]
Doom 64 Is A Slower, More Satisfying Burn Than The Original - Kotaku
Mar 20, 2020 · Doom 64, with its depressive atmosphere, hits me in a way the other classic games don't, despite my love for them. I've been living with severe ...
[44]
DOOM 64 - Game Review | Horror Cult Films
Apr 6, 2022 · Though I personally think that Doom 64 works better as a slow build, an atmosphere, a sense of dread. The game is great in its atmosphere but ...
[45]
DOOM 64 Steam stats | Gamalytic
Revenue, player data and other stats on DOOM 64 ; Copies sold: 153.1k (79.5k - 226.7k) ; others: ~ 52.9% ; Period. Month ; Metric. Copies sold ...Missing: sales million 1998
[46]
How many copies did Doom sell? — 2025 statistics - LEVVVEL
the sales behind the entirety of the series have not been ...
[47]
The Best Doom Game Wasn't On PC, But the N64 - CBR
Dec 21, 2024 · Doom 64 does away with the silliness and instead plays it straight as a horror-focused FPS. Upon turning Doom 64 on players are treated to a ...
[48]
Doom 64 - a classic N64 shooter gets a top-tier port for current-gen ...
Apr 5, 2020 · Performance was impressive too. Doom 64's careful utilisation of the Nintendo 64 hardware saw frame-rates mostly lock to 30 frames per second - ...
[49]
Resident Evil Could Have Been a Doom-Like FPS - Retrovolve
Nov 24, 2014 · In an old GamePro interview with Shinji Mikami , we learn that Resident Evil could have been a first-person game in the style of Doom.
[50]
Mother Demon | Doom Wiki - Fandom
The Mother Demon also known as the Demon Entity, Rectabus or Mother of all Demons, is the final boss of Doom 64 and is found on MAP28: The Absolution.
[51]
Review: Doom 64 Remastered - Rely on Horror
Mar 25, 2020 · Even if there were a few technical limitations from the hardware at the time, it wasn't felt all that much in the gameplay. Performance issues ...
[52]
DOOM 64 by ZELLLOOO in 49:00 - Summer Games Done Quick 2024
Jul 2, 2024 · Runner introduction starts at 0:00 Run starts at 1:08 Commentary is provided by bryonato and peaches HockeyBabbler is host This speedrun was ...
[53]
Doom 64 - Quake Enhanced - GDQ Hotfix Speedruns - YouTube
Aug 25, 2025 · Doom 64 - Quake Enhanced - Parallel Universe - GDQ Hotfix Speedruns · Comments.
[54]
Doom in popular culture - Doom Wiki - Fandom
In an episode of The Simpsons, Homer is in a career consultant's office and the consultant is playing Doom. The game was shown briefly during an episode of ...Missing: 64 | Show results with:64
[55]
Doom 64 EX+: A community revival of the N64 Classic, now on ...
Jul 28, 2025 · Doom 64 EX+ ensures that this distinct identity is preserved while opening the door to community-driven enhancements and ports across various ...
[56]
N64 Recompilation is about to have a big 2025
Mar 30, 2025 · Get ready for N64 Recompiled to make its grand re-debut with mod support and more game ports on the way. Plus: a once-lost Mega Man Legends spin-off, saved and ...Missing: Doom | Show results with:Doom<|separator|>
[57]
Doom 64 Prices Nintendo 64 | Compare Loose, CIB & New Prices
4.9 44 · Free delivery · 14-day returnsDoom 64 Nintendo 64 ; $34.18 -$0.81 · volume: 6 sales per year ; $119.43 $0.00 · volume: 5 sales per year ; $469.41 -$0.38 · volume: 3 sales per year ...
[58]
svkaiser/Doom64EX - GitHub
Doom64EX is a reverse-engineering project aimed to recreate Doom64 as close as possible with additional modding features.
[59]
DOOM 64 EX and Re-Release Editing - Doomworld
Apr 27, 2020 · A wiki has been added to document any tutorials related to Doom 64 modding. This wiki, while VERY bare, can be found here: https://sourceforge.Mapping engines for Doom 64? - Doomworldhello im new to doom modding i need some help - DoomworldMore results from www.doomworld.com
[60]
atsb/Doom64EX-Plus: An improved modern version of ... - GitHub
Simplified Internals: The KEX-related code has been largely removed to align the project more closely with the structure of other popular Doom source ports, ...
[61]
Doom 64 EX - PCGamingWiki
Aug 31, 2025 · Doom 64 EX is a fan-made, singleplayer, first-person action shooter port from 2008, requiring the original Doom 64 ROM.
[62]
Brutal Doom 64 mod - ModDB
Oct 30, 2016 · Following the GZDoom port of Doom 64, BD-64 revitalizes the old Doom 64 with new special effects, particles, lightning, gore, new sounds, ...Brutal Doom 64 Version 2.0 · Files · Addons · Brutal DOOM 64 Absolution...Missing: performance | Show results with:performance
[63]
Brutal Doom 64 Multiplayer Fix addon - ModDB
Jul 25, 2018 · Separate fork of Brutal Doom 64 aimed at fixing multiplayer. Also includes a stronger focus on the original Doom 64 alongside new and enhanced features.
[64]
Doom64 EX Multiplayer - Doomworld
Sep 22, 2018 · I've been searching around for a while, and I haven't figured out how to do this. How can I play Doom 64 coop? Just me and my brother on a LAN, nothing fancy.<|separator|>
[65]
"Doom 64: Unseen Evil" recreates the entirety of Doom & Doom II in ...
Oct 11, 2024 · Doom 64: Unseen Evil is a mod for GZDoom that brings the atmosphere of Doom 64 to the worlds of Doom and Doom II. Everything is entirely overhauled.Doom 64 EX port | GBAtemp.netDoom 64: Complete Edition | GBAtemp.netMore results from gbatemp.net<|separator|>
[66]
Entropic Doom 64 mod playtesting on Discord - Facebook
Feb 1, 2025 · Entropic is a sci-fi horror inspired mod for the Doom 64 Remaster by Agony Zenith. It brings a new storyline, levels, music, enemy graphics and more!N64 modding custom level videos - FacebookConversion mod recommendations for Doom community - FacebookMore results from www.facebook.com
[67]
Doom 64 - Speedrun.com
View Doom 64 speedruns, leaderboards, forums and more on Speedrun.com.
[68]
Doom 64 (2020) - Speedrun.com
View Doom 64 (2020) speedruns, leaderboards, forums and more on Speedrun.com.Missing: records | Show results with:records
[69]
Doom 64 Vehemence for PC, N64, & Dreamcast (Community Map ...
Feb 8, 2025 · This is a community map jam to celebrate 5 years of the Doom 64 Discord and is welcome to all comers, new and old, whether you are on the discord or not!Missing: events itch.
[70]
Doom 64: Official Soundtrack - 20th Anniversary Extended Edition
Free deliveryDoom 64: Official Soundtrack - 20th Anniversary Extended Edition by Aubrey Hodges. 33 tracks, 8 hours. View purchase options.Missing: ADPCM | Show results with:ADPCM<|separator|>
[71]
Doom64 EX - The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
Compared to the Doom 64: Absolution TC, the principal difference is that Doom64 EX uses the original data. A tool provided with the port can create a DOOM64.