Players of a certain generation might recall just how special it was having an actual Doom on Nintendo 64. The FPS that put corridor shooters firmly on the map was pretty ubiquitous in its ports – even back in 1997 – but having a graphically superior take with bigger levels, more guns and even more challenging demons to slay made that little grey cartridge feel even more special. Doom 64 was also a bit of a time capsule; a last-ditch throwback to the genre’s roots while the likes of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and GoldenEye 007 (both released the same year) started pushing boundaries with large, open levels and stealth.
Unsurprisingly, it’s built up quite the cult following over the years, and with good reason, too. Despite being an ultra-violent bloodbath designed for the typically family-friendly library of Nintendo, Doom 64 wasn’t censored (well, not in the West, at least) and unashamedly revelled in its cacophony of blood, guts and demonic entrails. And it wasn’t even developed by id Software, instead falling into the hands of the long-defunct Midway Games. It didn’t even have multiplayer, a staple of the couch play era of N64. And yet, it remains an underrated classic – and now you can play it on your Switch.
Why is it so fondly remembered today? Because, with id Software’s supervision, Midway understood exactly what it meant to be a Doom game. Doom 64 isn’t concerned with story; sure, it includes a plot surrounding the rise of a Mother Demon in the wake of Final Doom, but even the game simply doesn’t care about such things. It immediately drops you into action, barely takes a breath before it plonks a shotgun into your hands and proudly points you in the direction of the nearest zombie. It doesn’t rewrite the formula, because why would it? Doom works because of its simplicity, so Midway simply did more of the same with bigger levels and more guns to collect and unleash.
It’s a testament to the talent of that studio that Doom 64 feels so instantly playable in 2020. And in the very capable porting hands of Nightdive Studios – a developer that did the first two Turok games justice on Switch and other platforms, and is now working on a port of the equally underrated Shadow Man – this slice of mid-’90s action-adventure fits the Switch like a glove. The fifth Doom game to arrive on Switch (and not the last this year with DOOM Eternal also on the horizon) brings with it another take on a popular format that’s a perfect match for the console’s perpetual love for nostalgia and retro ports.
Nightdive has done a fine job of transitioning a game that’s nearly a quarter of a century old for a new console. Despite the limitations Doom 64 inherited from the original games, it feels fast and fluid with modern analogue sticks. The shotgun still kicks with glorious recoil, the Unmaker still (ahem) unmakes enemies with wanton abandon and demons still turn into piles of ectoplasmic gore when you empty enough slugs into them. All the same secret rooms are still there, and there are even some in-game achievements to help you feel rewarded in your search for the Mother Demon.
Changes include motion controls, naturally, and if you’ve played the studios other retro shooter ports – including Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil – you’ll know how well these work either in handheld mode or via a Pro Controller. There are more than 30 levels to slay your way through, including a newly-designed level that serves as an additional epilogue for the game. It ties directly into the events of DOOM and DOOM Eternal, giving this often overlooked entry a little more significance. And for those Switch users having to wait a little longer for the Eternal port, you’ve now got a little something extra to tide you over.
As you’d imagine, there’s still no support for multiplayer of any kind. It was an issue that added to Doom 64’s mixed reception back in the late ’90s – local deathmatches were already all the rage at the time – but we hardly expected Nightdive to go in and build support for an entirely new aspect to the game. In that regard, the DOOM reboot on Switch is still probably your best bet for multiplayer action (even if the lobbies aren’t as busy as they once were).
Conclusion
While it was already something of a relic when it launched on the N64 almost 25 years ago, Doom 64 remains a great example of just how refined a formula the series offers and just how good a job the late Midway did in the shadow of id Software. The lack of local multiplayer support still stings, even after all these years, but with support for motion controls on Switch – something Nightdive has already pulled off to a tee with its Turok ports – and the addition of a new DOOM Eternal-themed level, this is classic retro shooter that deserves a little more love.
Comments (94)
Absolute no brainer at the price.
@DockEllisD that would be awesome
Yep just downloaded with pikuniku , happy self isolating everyone x x x
This is the closest we'll ever get to N64 support on the Switch. This and Turok 1 & 2.
Tide you over? Screw Doom Eternal. This is a real FPS like the original Doom and Doom 2. Eternal will only be more nonsense like Doom 2016.
Downloaded and tried some – it really feels like a DOOM game. Great!
Can you save at any time like doom 1,2 and 3 ?
@harrystein what you chatting? Doom 2016 is great as Eternal looks to be also.
@harrystein trolling will help pass the time during isolation, but it won't change the fact that you are talking nonsense.
@Lordplops Trolling? I'm praising Doom 64 under the Doom 64 review as being even better then rated here. Sorry if I hurt your feelings but I don't care for many new games and Doom 2016 was bad IMO. Doom 64 is second only to the original Doom. Doom 2 is good too.
Running is not mapped by default. You have to change the controls or otherwise you will be Doomed
Other notice: this game has achievements with popup. I heard a lot of Nintendo fans hate that. So now you know. I love it
Although the pictures serve their purpose to some extent, they hardly tell the actual tale, so here's that all-important video that we all need to REALLY compare the original vs the new version, so people can see why they should definitely buy this game.
So, if you're even remotely interested in this game or series or maybe still on the fence, do yourself a favor and watch this video, and you'll see why every shooter fan should get this game:
And at this price point, it's also an absolute no-brainer, far as I'm concerned.
@harrystein
Just curious why you think Doom 4 is bad.
It's high octane over the top action, like the original Doom's
Doom 3 is more of a side step.
@koekiemonster
There even are sodding achievements on the NX ?
@KitsuneNight To be honest, I hate any FPS where you have to aim up and down.
With @harrystein there. Doom 2016 was a bit overrated with too much unskipplable cutscenes, that in a Doom game should be unforgivable! And the music was more dubstep nonsense than pure metal like in previous entries. Eternal is a hard pass for me I'll stick to the originals thank you very much.
@harrystein
Fair enough I was just wondering.
@neppan
I like it better then Doom 3, but Doom 3 is a different kettle of uh demonic fish altogether.
One day I'd like to live in a world where it's possible to praise something without pooing on something else.
Yo, i know the Snes cartridge was red, wasnt doom64 also?
Would be a ten if it had the reload animations 😫such a shame. Love this game though
@DaWizerd
The Pal version was just standard grey.
@harrystein that was a very reasonable response - my bad, I apologise. Put it down to cabin fever.
@DaWizerd probably just in USA because my PAL one isn’t
I'm glad to see id is treating this game as a main entry in the Doom series.
My prevailing memory from Doom 64 is that it was physically dark and hard to see things (though that may have to be the super-old CRT I played on with an RF switch).
Is it easier to see things in this port?
@vincentgoodwin Check out that comparison video. MUCH easier to see.
@KitsuneNight Yes, the same people who don’t want apps.
But when they do arrive it will be the next coming of Jesus
@vincentgoodwin No, it’s still pretty hard to see.
@vincentgoodwin I'm not finding the game hard to see – but the menu's need work. The text is basically 50% invisible against the background. It's just about useable but needs a patch.
I can't recall if I got this already...
Personally I prefer getting this over Doom Eternal, this is much more interesting to me. I never got to play the N64 original and when it comes to FPS I am all about single player. Doom Eternal has a real focus on online multiplayer and I am just not a big fan of competitive shooters.
@vincentgoodwin yes you cam turn the overall brightness up... well worth a few quid!!!!
The games a must have at that price...
Brings back fond memories as I got this originally upon release. Looking forward to playing it again!!
I’d take this over eternal like Harry too
Doom 2026 had one fatal flaw if you love the older stuff. Forced use of glory kills to keep your supplies enough just to survive. To me that was unfortunate and fairly unforgivable too. I want to run gun or pick off stuff at a distance. Being forced to use very limited gas supplies to run a saw that was always the freebie of the franchise sucked to get ammo and health.
Always liked and still own doom 64 but the added control and really the new episode has me interested.
@Darlinfan
A DeLorean.
I'll be getting this over Doom Eternal because I don't have enough money at the moment. As soon as I get enough money, I'll get Doom Eternal.
Grabbing this when i get home. Might only play for 30 to an hour but ill play nonetheless..
Bought it this morning. I've been looking forward to it for months. Also got it on PS4 since I had pre-ordered DOOM Eternal. Glad I don't have to play this on my crap laptop anymore.
@JayJ Quite the contrary on Eternal. I read a recent interview explaining why they decided to focus on a more single player experience for the sequel. They only added a okayish 2 v 1. The multiplayer from Doom 2016 if I'm not mistaken was created by a different team all together. Here's the article link from pure xbox
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2020/03/bethesda_explains_why_doom_eternal_doesnt_have_a_deathmatch_mode
by the way. Doom 64 is awesome!
it is a really great game. The gameplay has withstood the test of time.
@vincentgoodwin I posted a comparison video in comment #14, and in it you'll see that both the resolution and the contrast and brightness settings of the game have much improved over the original N64 version.
"Some might find it a little too challenging"
Why the hell is this even a con?!
@617Sqn I have the same question re: ability to spot save — anybody know? (Sacrilege, I know, I know...).
Purchased it this morning and I’m having a blast!
Could we get QUAKE I-III Perfect Dark and Goldeneye 64 next, please?
@Darlinfan No because the Load Times and Cutscenes are game killing to me and the Glory Kills seem out of place.
Doom Eternal, Doom 64, and Animal Crossing with get me through hard times of COVID-19. I don't really need practice in social distancing, I have been a pro for years!🤣
I'm seriously surprised at that low price.
@JayJ MP is a small addon to a pretty big sp campaign in Eternal. Not a focus at all. Much smaller than 2016s mp even.
Strange that they wouldn’t give us a horde mode mp that was all snapmap was good for
i tried playing docked mode. the screen goes beserk on my afterglow controller. what the hell
@NihilistNirvana
Perfect Dark aint gonna happen, MS owns Perfect Dark and Rare these days.
And they aren't too keen on having PD on anything other then the Xbox.
And the rights to Goldeneye 007 are a glorious mess of epic proportions, only No One Lives Forever is worse off
And possibly Discworld, since all the companies involved with that are gone.
@stuntz0rZ i tried playing docked mode. the screen goes beserk on my afterglow controller. what the hell
Then this isn't NIN issue.
@mesome713 "Please add multiplayer"
Enough with the trolling. I've grown tired of your childish antics. Just yesterday you said: "No thanks, tired of these cheap looking indie shooters" which you rightfully got roasted for. Now you're asking for multiplayer to be added to a "cheap indie shooter" you're not interested in?
@KitsuneNight never say never though. It could happen.
@vio seriously. Why haven’t the mods banned that mesome713 miscreant yet? Every other post they make is just loathsome and full of vitriolic nonsense. Just keep reporting their comments until mods take a hint eh?
@mesome713 quit with the troll posts. It’s really irritating seeing your nonsensical comments on every page, every day.
@SalvorHardin Exactly.
@PhilKenSebben @Thwomp_Stomper
Thanks, for some reason I got the impression that it was multiplayer focused. Sounds like I'll pick Eternal up on PC or Xbox One X sometime.
@NihilistNirvana
It's unlikely though.
There is-was a near complete port of Goldeneye 007 for the 360 and at the last second MS pulled the plug, because they couldn't secure the rights.
Cause it would involve Danjaq, UA, Sony, MS, Rare and possibly even Nintendo.
@KitsuneNight I’m keeping hope alive. Stranger things have happened, stranger things are happening now. We shall see what unfolds...
As long as we're resurrecting games made by Midway, can we get Switch ports for the Battletanx series?
Nightdive Does What Nintendont. Keeping the N64 alive, with this, Turok and the upcoming Shadowman. But Nightdive also has Forsaken already remastered in their library, including both the PC and N64 levels of the game. Bring it to Switch!
I wish they would patch out the non-skipable logos upon boot-up. We don't give a flying "love making" about who made the game. The classic DOOMs let us in all guns blazing. This isn't a friggin' movie designed to build up anticipation. At least the classic DOOM console ports allow you to skip by them, but why are we expected to sit through them at all?
In most instances, I just figured that they were a way to keep our eyes occupied while the software is initialising in the background. A game as old (and small) as DOOM 64 would have no need for such a process.
I more interested in Doom 64 then Eternal
@617Sqn I just loaded it up and started the game and it has Save and Load in the pause menu immediately, so I assume so.
Just bought this. I have no interest in Eternal at all. This however is making my quarantine.
Bought Doom 64 yesterday & It's a great 90's shooter. I've loved all the Doom games except for Doom 3, I consider Doom 64 to be the true Doom 3.
I wonder if we'll get any extra level packs...
Like they did with the other Retro Doom games?
I think the Wiki lists some newer levels made later on.
Doom64 is sitting on my Switch, waiting for me to enjoy after I slog through Doom Eternal. My roommate at the time had an N64, but not this title. While the mainstream gaming media is earning their access and adverts by praising D.E.; it’s very much to 2016 what Doom II was to Doom....no need to be jelly if you have to wait for Doom Eternal.
@Silly_G amen, dude. Those logos drag the load time considerably and it’s pretty irritating not being able to skip them. Still a good game though.
@NihilistNirvana
Stranger things have happened system shock 1 and 2 got re releases and ports. Blade Runner is coming to the NX.
If anybody can untangle things it's Nightdive ( though they had to give up on NOLF)
But the rights situation for Goldeneye seems unlikely.
if it ever gets re released it wil be on a Xbox console.
Doom mixed with Animal Crossing here.
https://www.pcgamer.com/animal-crossings-isabelle-gives-doomguy-high-fives-shoots-demons-in-new-mod/
@retro_player_22 Well. Forsaken remaster came a year ago or so, but not ported to Switch.
Shadow Man from N64 is also being remastered by same people now.
I’ll check out some comparison videos to see if I think this is worth getting. The new chapter is the main pull for me. I’m not sure if I like the ‘too clean’ look of it, one of the charms of the original for me is its murky look. I do play it on an RGB modded N64 which makes it much easier to see everything. It’s definitely really dark using composite.
On the other hand, it’s only 4 quid, and I’d play it much more having it on my main TV in the living room, rather than the CRT hidden away in the other room.
I wouldn´t consider "Some might find it a little too challenging" a Con, like just imagine someone putting that as a con in a FromSoftware game, or Cuphead.
@KitsuneNight what is NOLF? I want muh remasters on muh Swiiiiiitch. -pouts- lol.
@NihilistNirvana
No One Lives Forever
It's a bit of a pain in the ass to keep typing that out.
( It's full title is The Operative: No One Lives Forever. It's sequel has an even longer name. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Operative:_No_One_Lives_Forever)
The rights to those two are so convoluted.
The people who claim they have the rights, some aren't sure they have the rights.
Others don't know.
And others don't care.
WB most likley has the right ...maybe and they stated that they have zero interest in reviving the IP.
Quake 1-3 on the other hand could be possible.
@GravyThief
Oh, go on.
How many games of that caliber, can you buy for less then a fiver ?
@H4ppyZer0 It's a con in the cuphead review on pure xbox. Totally not a con in my opinion.
There was never a red Doom 64 cart as far as I know. I think some are misremembering the SNES DOOM port, which did come in a red cart.
@TheDanslator
There were a few colored cardridges for the N64 though.
Black for Turok 2, Aidyn Chronicle,s Armorines Batman Beyond.
Gold for Majora's Mask, Pokemon Stadium 2
Yellow for Donkey Kong 64, Earthworm Jim 64.
Blue for Hydro Thunder, Madden 2001, 007 The World Is Not Enough.
Green for Rayman 2, Battle Tanx, Army Men Air Combat.
Red for Spiderman, Supercross 2000.
There are more, but this is what i dredged up in flash.
And these are NTSC cardridges.
@KitsuneNight Yes, I had several of those. I wasn't saying that there were no colored carts at all, just not one for Doom 64.
@JayJ it has a 20 hour single player, and only one 2v1 multi-player mode. How is that multi-player focused?
The DOOM game I never knew existed until I joined this website all those years ago! I am thinking I might play Doom Eternal first, then work my way through this one, since i am a little bit more excited for that one. For now, most of my free time will be occupied by Animal Crossing New Horizons, as it should be.
@vincentgoodwin all you had to do turn brightness up
@BoilerBroJoe I didn’t know that. I’d love that on switch
I loved Midway back on the N64. Second only to Rare for non-first-party quality. San Francisco Rush, Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey... They really brought the arcade experience while others such as Capcom were jumping ship.
@TheDanslator
I'm just naming some of the titles in color on the N64
Maybe people are misremembering the Snes one, ( which was just plain grey in Europe )
Or mistook the Spiderman game for Doom 64.
Cause Doom has to be red, right ?
I am playing it now and really enjoy it!
@Mr_Horizon I am too and I'm having a great time. I'm on the 8th stage at the moment.
I don't know how I missed the launch date but I'm getting this.
If you already beat this game on N64 and just want to have some fun with this remastered version, the Ultimate Password from the N64 original still works here as well. The password is ?TJL BDFW BFGV JVVB. Just go to Options, go to Password and enter the password. This lets you start the game with all weapons, maps, levels, ammos, and keys unlock, and an immortality feature so to have your great time with them demons.
I'm super stoked this got released. Never got to play it back in the day, and consider myself a huge DooM fan.
But... 8.0? The same rating as the original DooM and DooM II?
That's just madness.
This is a historical curiosity.
Infuriating old style puzzles.
"Oh, a switch. Hope that does something. Somewhere."
"Oh, the key! But oh no, it's on a pedestal 3 foot of the ground, impossible to reach unless I find the right lever somewhere. If only I had arms!"
And the color palette... Brown! Grey! And pretty much nothing more.
Was close to giving up until I got to hell, there the design started getting much more fun.
The graphical engine is more impressive than in the original games, with better lighting and rooms over rooms (actual 3d!), and some cool room transformations here and there. But somehow the sprites of enemies just look like plastic toys. Much worse graphical design than the original two games in my opinion. And. Cacodemon should be red!
Still I was enjoying myself, then I got to the end boss. Was almost impossible to beat.
Afterwards I found out that was because I didn't find the three secret levels and the demon keys, during my playthrough. That makes me feel cheated of content. Terrible design decision, to hide away the most powerful weapon so that most players won't find it.
Still, super glad that I got the chance to try it out. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone other than fellow DooM-lovers.
Are you interested in retro-DooM?
DONT START HERE!
Play DooM and DooM II first, and the Sigil extra maps comes highly recommended.
Btw much of the time playing I was thinking back to the good old FPS games, and all the great ones that I'd rather be playing than DooM 64. Games such as Blood, Outlaws, Strife, Duke Nukem 3d, Shadow Warrior, Serious Sam, Golden Eye, Half-Life. Really wish those would get ported to the Switch as well.
Still, really happy I got to play this game, and to those of you who love it: Great for you!
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