Voxel Doom II: A Revolutionary Mod for Classic Doom

The gaming community is no stranger to mods, and one game that has seen countless modifications over the years is the iconic first-person shooter, Doom. From Lovecraftian monsters to quirky additions like a stray cat, Doom has been transformed in numerous ways. However, one mod in particular has been highly anticipated by fans and has finally become a reality after years of development: Voxel Doom II. This revolutionary mod replaces the original game’s sprites with new 3D voxel models, adding a whole new dimension to the classic Doom experience. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of Voxel Doom II, exploring its origins, features, and compatibility. So, whether you’re playing Doom on a console, device, or even a household item, here’s everything you need to know about this long-awaited mod.

The Birth of Voxel Doom

The concept of bringing voxel models to Doom has been in the works for quite some time. The earliest traces of the Doom voxel project can be traced back to discussions on the Doomworld forums as early as 2004. However, there were concerns about the compatibility of voxels with OpenGL rendering, which was used by many Doom source ports at the time. Despite these challenges, the project persisted, and in the early 2010s, an experimental branch of GZDoom with voxel support in the OpenGL renderer was created. This branch converted the voxels to the already-supported MD2 model format, paving the way for the realization of Voxel Doom.

The Minds Behind Voxel Doom II

Voxel Doom II owes its existence to the dedicated work of modders Daniel Peterson, also known as Cheello, and Nash Muhandes. These talented individuals took on the monumental task of envisioning and sculpting 3D voxel models for various items that only had 2D artwork in the original game. While monsters in Doom had multiple sprites depending on the player’s perspective, Cheello and Nash ensured that players could now freely rotate around demons and undead without abrupt transitions between different artworks. Cheello had previously created a voxel mod for Blood, showcasing his expertise in voxel modeling. His YouTube channel is a treasure trove of Voxel Doom project progress, featuring timelapse videos, tutorials, and playthroughs.

Running Voxel Doom II

Voxel Doom II runs on GZDoom, a popular source port among the Doom modding community. GZDoom modernizes the game’s decades-old engine and serves as a primary platform for adding fan features to Doom. As Voxel Doom II relies on voxel support, it is essential to use GZDoom for optimal performance. While GZ3Doom, a derivative of GZDoom with added support for 3D imaging, is an alternative, it is recommended to stick with GZDoom for the best experience. To ensure compatibility, make sure you are using at least GZDoom version 4.8.2.

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Voxel Doom II: Faithful to the Original

One of the remarkable aspects of Voxel Doom II is its faithfulness to the original game. From a distance and at the right angle, the voxelized monsters in the mod closely resemble their 2D sprites. It is only upon closer inspection that players can appreciate the added depth and volume of the demons and hellspawn. Previous attempts at 3D monster mods or HD texture packs often felt out of place in Doom, but with Voxel Doom II, players can enjoy an authentic 3D experience that seamlessly integrates with the game’s retro feel. In the voxelized world of Doom, even the cyberdemon’s buttocks are fully viewable, satisfying the curiosity of fans who have wondered about this detail.

The Enriched World of Voxel Doom II

Voxel Doom II goes beyond just replacing the monsters with voxel models. Almost every asset in the game has received the voxel treatment. From weapons to items and props, everything has been transformed into voxel models. Voxels, or “volumetric pixels,” are three-dimensional representations of 2D pixels in 3D space. The mod maintains the original artwork’s essence while adding depth and allowing for multiple perspectives. With voxel models, players can now experience Doom’s iconic 2D sprites in a unique type of 3D graphics. The painstaking process of manually converting the Doom sprites to voxel models has resulted in a mod that truly honors the original game.

Voxel Doom II releasing August 1st https://t.co/n7aisbdUDD #DOOM #FPS #Retro #Gaming pic.twitter.com/L3cOSCyDEa

— Liam @ GamingOnLinux 🐧🎮 (@gamingonlinux) July 21, 2023

Voxel Doom II in Virtual Reality

Voxel Doom II offers an unexpected twist by being compatible with virtual reality (VR) setups. The voxel models work seamlessly in VR, providing an immersive experience for players. To enjoy Voxel Doom II in virtual reality, you can use GZDoomVR, a modified version of GZDoom that runs on VR setups compatible with the OpenVR API. If the classic 2D sprites in Doom have been breaking the immersion for you, playing Voxel Doom II in VR might be the preferred way to experience the game. Several other mods are available for GZDoomVR, such as laser sight and blood color fixer, but compatibility with the Voxel Doom II mod may vary.

Compatibility Considerations

Due to the comprehensive nature of Voxel Doom II, running other extensive mods alongside it can be challenging. Popular mods like Brutal Doom or the Doom Path Tracing Mod may not be compatible with Voxel Doom II. However, Voxel Doom II does support several weapon-only mods, including Vanilla Brutal Doom, which adds the weapons from the Brutal Doom mod. This limitation may disappoint players who enjoy combining multiple mods, such as the Quake crossover mod or the ability to befriend cacodemons. Nevertheless, this trade-off ensures that Voxel Doom II remains faithful to the original game and its voxel aesthetic.

The Future of Voxel Doom II

With the completion of vocalizing assets in the original Doom, the creators of Voxel Doom II have set their sights on repeating the process for Doom II. This means that players can look forward to shooting a voxelized Super Shotgun at a 3D Icon of Sin, taking the modding experience to new heights. Voxel Doom II is not the only game to receive the voxel treatment. Rise of the Triad, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, and the aptly-named Voxelstein 3D, complete with destructible environments, are just a few examples of retro games that have embraced voxels. The voxel revolution is far from over, and fans can expect more exciting developments in the future.

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Installing Voxel Doom II

Installing Voxel Doom II is a straightforward process. To get started, you’ll need a copy of Doom and the fan-updated engine, GZDoom. Once you have these prerequisites, you can find the Voxel Doom II mod on ModDB. Download the mod, unzip the file, and copy it into GZDoom’s directory. Make sure to include the Doom.wad file from the Doom directory as well. Finally, drag the zip file over the GZDoom executable, and you’re ready to embark on a voxel-filled adventure in Doom.