Skulltag is a Doom source port focused on enhancing Doom multiplayer and adding new features to the core Doom game, including new modes, weapons and enemies. For those of you who haven’t played id Software’s legendary Doom since the DOS days… a source port is a port of a game using its original source code for other platforms. Some Doom source ports were made simply to improve/create compatibility on current operating systems… others were to allow the game to played on consoles it was never officially ported to, including the Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, various mobile phones and more. So beyond porting the game to other platforms, whats the point?
It also allows use of all games running on the Doom engine, such as Heretic, Hexen, Strife, Chex Quest, etc.. (even some that it doesn’t initially see as a main File, can be loaded as a modifier. This Doom port is based on the zDoom source code and is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Unfortunately, it was recently discontinued but the good news is that it will be continued via a new project called Zandronum! Here are some of the features…
- Robust online play
- Client/server architecture: play and switch between games with ease
- Supports up to 32 players
- Wide array of gameplay modes
- Competitive: Team DM, Duel, CTF, Possession, LMS, Terminator, Skulltag
- Cooperative: Survival, Invasion (or both!)
- Modifiers, like Instagib and ckshot, can be used to spice up any game.
- Modern and beautiful
- Choose between GZDoom’s OpenGL renderer, or Doom Software
- Useful features like a console, Quake-style key bindings, freelooking, and jumping
- Full, enthusiastic support for ZDoom and GZDoom mods
- Support for Heretic, Hexen, and Strife, as well as Linux/FreeBSD
- Innovative new content
- Announcers and skins for online play
- Runes, new weapons, and new monsters for modders
- 50 new, well designed stock maps for any game mode
- Bots, and support for custom bots
Indeed Skulltag does deliver on all of this and much more.
The added weapons are the Grenade Launcher, Minigun, Railgun, and the BFG 10k. There are specially made CTF maps, full death match levels, and of course the ultimate mode they call Invasion (my personal favorite). Invasion mode is really fun and entertaining. For those of you who don’t know, its basically like survival mode in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.. or the Horde mode in Gears of War. Essentially you take cover and fend of wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies. It’s great fun, especially with some buddies!
Now the reason I’m writing this, is because there doesn’t seem to be enough people who know about Skulltag or now as it will be known… Zandronum, which really is sad. Skulltag is by far my favorite way to play Doom. Keep an eye out for some of our favorite mods…
To play Skulltag you need a retail, legal copy of Doom II. You can buy one cheaply on Steam or get it off your original commercial game disc.
Download Skulltag here! (Historic site with the final downloadable version)
Buy Doom II here! (You can get other Doom based games there too that will run in Skulltag)
Official Zandronum Site (The new project, with forums and what not.)
More Skulltag Info (Wiki)
We wonder if anyone will be playing Skulltag at QuakeCon 2012 this year?