Doom Archives

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

The greatest DOS games that defined the golden generation of DOS gaming

Before the rise of platforms like Steam, MS-DOS served as a foundation for many influential games that shaped the gaming landscape. - Dangerous Dave (1988): A slow-paced platformer known for its vibrant colors and imaginative enemies, though it was not widely successful. - Star Wars: TIE Fighter (1994): A game that provided a nostalgic experience of piloting spacecraft in a 3D environment, marking a formative moment in gaming. - Wolfenstein 3D (1992): An innovative title that showcased the potential of PC gaming and paved the way for future titles. - Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991): A highly influential game in the turn-based strategy genre, allowing players to build empires through strategy and diplomacy. - Prince of Persia (1989): Notable for its smooth animations and challenging gameplay, it laid the groundwork for future platformers. - SimCity 2000 (1993): A significant title in the city-building genre, allowing players to manage urban planning and budgets, influencing modern city simulation games. - DOOM (1993): A revolutionary first-person shooter that introduced fast-paced action and multiplayer gaming, establishing itself as a cornerstone of gaming history. MS-DOS gaming represents the starting point for many gamers, contributing to the evolution of gaming.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

Painkiller RTX is a path-traced upgrade to a classic but almost forgotten shooter

Nvidia's RTX Remix is a tool that allows game modders to enhance classic PC games with path-traced visuals. One notable project is the transformation of the 2004 game Painkiller into Painkiller RTX, currently at version 0.1.6. This project utilizes a custom rendering technology called PainEngine, replacing the original Direct X 8.1 rendering with a path tracer, resulting in improved visuals such as real-time shadows and moving lights. The gameplay retains its fast-paced action focus, with enhanced mechanics through Havok physics, allowing for dynamic interactions with the environment. Painkiller RTX features significant upgrades in lighting, including dynamic lighting that interacts with moving objects and improved texture quality using Quixel megascan assets. However, the path-tracing technology requires robust hardware for optimal performance, and even mid-range GPUs like the RTX 4060 may struggle with frame rates during intense gameplay.

Winsage

June 1, 2025

I just tested the new Legion Go S — and it’s the Steam Deck killer I’ve been waiting for

The Lenovo Legion Go S is a handheld gaming device that operates on SteamOS, starting at a price of 9. It features an AMD Z2 Go chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage in the base model, while the reviewed unit has an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. The device has an 8-inch WQXGA (1920 x 1200) LCD display, a weight of 1.63 pounds, and includes ports such as a Micro SD card slot, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack. The design is ergonomic with a Nebula color scheme, and it has responsive controls. The SteamOS version outperforms the Windows 11 variant in gaming performance, achieving higher frame rates in gameplay tests.

Winsage

June 1, 2025

A week of hell with my Windows 11 PC really makes me appreciate the simplicity of Google’s Chromebook laptops

The author's PC experienced significant issues while trying to run DOOM: The Dark Ages, primarily due to problems with NVIDIA RTX graphics drivers on a system equipped with an Intel Core i7-14700K and NVIDIA RTX 5080. The Windows 11 Start Menu became unresponsive, leading to a complete system failure despite attempts to roll back and update drivers. The author used a USB drive with a Linux installer as a temporary solution but continued to face crashes. Attempts to reinstall Windows were complicated by an incorrectly formatted USB stick, which needed to be exFAT. Ultimately, the author resolved the issues by wiping both SSDs and creating fresh partitions. The author also noted the complexity and bloat of Windows 11 compared to the simplicity of ChromeOS, which has become a reliable alternative for tasks and gaming.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

My top 5 must-play PC games for the second half of 2025 — Will they live up to the hype?

PC gamers are looking forward to several upcoming titles in 2025. - The Outer Worlds 2 is anticipated to launch in 2025 on PC, Xbox, and PS5, featuring a new colony and an Earth Directorate agent unraveling a mystery. - Hades II is in Early Access and is expected to be fully released by late 2025. - ARC Raiders, a PvPvE extraction shooter, is rumored to launch in 2025 on PC, Xbox, and PS5. - Escape from Tarkov has been in closed beta since 2017 and aims for a version 1.0 release in 2025. - Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is set to launch on July 15, 2025, with enhancements including new units and larger maps. - Path of Exile 2 entered Early Access on December 6, 2024, and will be free to play upon its full release, though a specific date has not been announced.

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Nvidia GeForce Now Steam Deck Review: The Best Way to Play AAA PC Games on Handheld

The Steam Deck is a popular handheld gaming device that, while affordable and visually impressive, faces limitations in running demanding games. Nvidia's GeForce Now has released a dedicated app for the Steam Deck, improving the gaming experience by allowing access to high-quality titles without the need for complex setup. The app enhances battery life, enabling four to five hours of gameplay compared to two hours with native 3D games. It supports resolutions up to 4K and 60 fps with an Ultimate subscription, although it is limited compared to the PC version. The Steam Deck can access games from various platforms, including Xbox, Epic Games Store, and GOG, with GeForce Now simplifying this process. The app requires a minimum internet speed of 45 Mbps for optimal performance and offers different subscription tiers, with the free version having session limits and resolution caps.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

I love that DOOM: The Dark Ages requires ray tracing, and I hope more games follow

DOOM: The Dark Ages requires a graphics card with ray tracing hardware, specifically at least an NVIDIA 20-series card, making older models like the GTX 1080 incompatible. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also necessitates ray tracing capabilities, raising concerns about performance on existing hardware. Billy Khan from id Software stated that ray tracing significantly reduces game development time, allowing for real-time adjustments. Ray tracing has been part of the graphics card landscape for over seven years, with all current consoles supporting it. NVIDIA's latest RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 cards have faced driver issues affecting gameplay, while alternatives from AMD and Intel, as well as NVIDIA’s 30 and 40-series cards, can still provide good performance. Other studios, like 4A Games, have begun incorporating ray tracing into their development processes.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

CHARTS: Fantasy Life i debuts at No.2 on Steam

The gaming landscape on Steam has recently seen notable changes. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, developed by Level 5, launched on May 21st and became the second highest-grossing game last week. Counter-Strike 2 remains the top-grossing game. Dota 2 rose 31 spots to No. 3 due to the Spring Forward patch. The Steam Deck is the fourth highest-grossing item. Helldivers 2 climbed to No. 5 after an update. Elden Ring Nightreign pre-orders increased its position to No. 6. RoadCraft debuted at No. 7. Warframe re-entered the Top Ten at No. 8, while Apex Legends rose to No. 9. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dropped to No. 10. Doom: The Dark Ages fell to No. 21. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending May 27th is as follows: 1. Counter-Strike 2, Valve 2. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Level 5 3. Dota 2, Valve 4. Steam Deck, Valve 5. Helldivers 2, PlayStation 6. Elden Ring Nightreign, Bandai Namco (P) 7. RoadCraft, Saber Interactive 8. Warframe, Digital Extremes 9. Apex Legends, EA 10. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kepler Interactive.

Winsage

May 26, 2025

A YouTuber claims that Windows was actively causing handhelds to run poorly, at least versus SteamOS

Valve has expanded support for handheld consoles, including the Lenovo Legion Go S, which now offers an option for SteamOS alongside Windows. A recent analysis by YouTuber Dave2D highlights that the SteamOS version significantly outperforms the Windows version in terms of framerate and battery life. The Windows version retails for approximately 9, while the SteamOS variant is priced at 9. In performance tests, the SteamOS version achieved 10-15 FPS higher in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, and provided over six hours of gameplay compared to the Windows version's two hours and 47 minutes. The Lenovo Legion Go S also surpasses the Steam Deck in framerate, achieving 10-15 FPS more at a 15W power draw, although the Steam Deck still has an advantage in battery life and pricing. The performance gap raises questions about Microsoft's upcoming handheld device running Windows and its ability to compete with the efficiency of SteamOS.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

‘Son, you did a good job:’ Doom grandaddy John Romero streamed hit indie FPS Dusk and absolutely loved it

John Romero has launched a new streaming series titled "FPS Fridays" on Twitch, starting with a gameplay session of New Blood's 2018 title, Dusk. During the stream, Romero showcased his gameplay skills, contrasting his performance with that of average players. The stream fostered community interaction, with studio head Dave Oshry sharing memorable moments and the New Blood account responding playfully to Romero. Future episodes will feature games chosen by viewer votes. Romero also explored the Doom WAD MyHouse and released Sigil 2, a free hardcore WAD available alongside its predecessor for players with a copy of Doom, both accessible from Nightdive's recent remaster.