Doom (32X)

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Saturn game, see Doom (Saturn).

n/a

Doom 32X Title.png

Doom
System(s): Sega 32X
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: GEMS
Peripherals supported: Six Button Control Pad
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega 32X
JP 		¥7,8007,800 GM-4003
Sega 32X
US 		$69.9969.99[2] 84506
Sega 32X
EU 		84506-50
Sega 32X
AU 		$99.9599.95[3]
Sega 32X
BR 		152010
Sega 32X
AS
Non-Sega versions

Doom (ドゥーム) is a first person shooter developed by id Software and released on December 10, 1993 for DOS-based IBM PC compatibles. It was later ported to numerous platforms, including the Sega 32X (as a launch title). It is widely considered to be one of the games that pioneered and popularized the first person shooter genre, and retains a large, dedicated fanbase to this day.

The player assumes the role of a nameless space marine and through use of a varied set of weaponry, must fight his way through moonbases on Mars and the depths of Hell itself.

Gameplay

The game is played through the eyes of the main character. The player navigates through the level and collects weapons, ammunition, powerups, and other miscellaneous items. Certain doors are locked via a red, blue, or yellow keycard which are hidden throughout the level. Eventually the player finds the exit and progresses to the next level. Every so often a boss is encountered, where the level ends upon defeating the boss.

Levels are often made more varied by use of gimmicks and traps such as elevators, poisonous pits, monster closets, and secret rooms.

Controls

General

D-Pad - Moves character. Holding A while using D-Pad moves character at running speed. Holding C while using D-Pad makes character strafe instead.
B - Fire.
C - Use (Open/close door; Activate switch).

When in Automap:
D-Pad - Moves character.
A - Zoom in.
B - Zoom out.
C - Activates/deactivates grid.

 START  - Pauses with options menu; Resumes.

You can swap A, B and C button functions around in options. It will also affect automap controls.

3-Button Mode

Pressing  START  while holding A - Scroll through available weapons.
Pressing  START  while holding C - View Automap.

When in Automap:
Pressing  START  while holding A - Toogle Follow mode on/off.
Pressing  START  while holding C - Hide Automap.

US manual has wrong information about Automap controls for 3-button controllers, futher contributing to rushed feel of this title.

6-Button Mode

X - Scroll up through available weapons.
Y - Scroll down through available weapons.
Z - View Automap.

When in Automap:
X - Toogle Follow mode on/off.
Y - Scale up or down instantly.
Z - Hide Automap.

Pressing any button aside from D-Pad while holding  MODE  will bring up a corresponding weapon. Examples:  MODE  +  START  brings up fists/chainsaw (pressing again switches between them if player has Berserk Pack),  MODE  + A brings up pistol, etc.

Using Six Button Control Pad is highly recommended. Cheats also require use of buttons that aren't available on Three Button Control Pad.

Weapons

Fist
Chainsaw
Once the chainsaw has been obtained, it is impossible to re-select your fists as you can in other versions of Doom.
Pistol
Shotgun
Chaingun
Rocket Launcher
Plasma Rifle

Despite being highlighted in the US manual[4], the most powerful weapon on Doom, the BFG 9000, is not accessible during normal play due to the third episode being removed.

Items

Ammo

Clip
Ammo Box
Shells
Box of Shells
Rocket
Rocket Case
Cell
Bulk Cell

Health and armour

Health Potion
Stimpak
Medikit
Soul Sphere
Spiritual Armor
Security Armor
Combat Armor

Miscellaneous

Radiation Suit
Berserk Pak
Backpacks
Computer Map
Invulnerability

The "blur artifact" (or "partial invisibility") and light-amplification visor, which exist in other ports of Doom, are not available on the 32X through normal play.

Enemies

Former Human
Former Human Sergeant
Imp
Demon
Lost Soul
Cacodemon
Baron of Hell

Missing from this list, but which are present in the original IBM PC version of Doom, is the Specrtre enemy (essentially a semi-transparent Demon) and the two strongest enemies in the game, the Cyberdemon and Spiderdemon (the latter due to episode 3 being cut from this version).

Contrary to what the US manual claims[5], enemies will not fight each other in this version of Doom (although they can still damage each other). Unlike the PC version, enemies only have front-facing sprites (which runs counter to the screenshots on the back of the North American box), however still have "waiting" code, meaning it is possible to sneak up on them. This leads to situations where an enemy appears to be looking at the player, but does not react to his or her movements from certain angles.

Levels

The 32X version doesn't name its maps, simply labelling them with numbers. The names below come from the original IBM PC version of the game.

On the 32X, the first two episodes are played roughly in order, save for E1M9 which is moved to the end of the game, and E2M8 which is missing entirely. No maps from episode 3 appear in this version.

Levels 16 and 17 can only be accessed if the player beats the game, starting from level 1, with no cheats enabled. The US manual again erroneously claims that there is a "wrap-around" feature, where as an example, it suggests starting at level 8 will see the player progress to level 15 before then tackling levels 1-7[6]. Instead, the player will receive the "bad ending" after level 15, and be greeted with a fake DOS prompt.

Doom 32X Level1.png

1 (Hangar; E1M1)

Doom 32X Level2.png

2 (Nuclear Plant; E1M2)

Doom 32X Level3.png

3 (Toxin Refinery; E1M3)

Doom 32X Level4.png

4 (Command Control; E1M4)

Doom 32X Level5.png

5 (Phobos Lab; E1M5)

Doom 32X Level6.png

6 (Central Processing; E1M6)

Doom 32X Level7.png

7 (Computer Station; E1M7)

Doom 32X Level8.png

8 (Phobos Anomaly; E1M8)

Doom 32X Level9.png

9 (Deimos Anomaly; E2M1)

Doom 32X Level10.png

10 (Containment Area; E2M2)

Doom 32X Level11.png

11 (Refinery; E2M3)

Doom 32X Level12.png

12 (Deimos Lab; E2M4)

Doom 32X Level13.png

13 (Command Center; E2M5)

Doom 32X Level14.png

14 (Halls of the Damned; E2M6)

Doom 32X Level15.png

15 (Spawning Vats; E2M7)

Notavailable.svg

16 (Fortress of Mystery; E2M9)

Notavailable.svg

17 (Military Base; E1M9)

History

Development

Doom arrived on a 24Mb (3MB) ROM cartridge, albeit at some point of time it was reported that it will be upgraded from 24Mb to 32Mb (4MB), making it the largest 32X game in development at the time[7]. Most likely it didn't make it to 32Mb due to the third episode levels being cut out to save development time in order to become Sega 32X launch title. If we take a look at the size of known prototypes of this game then we will see that prototypes between September 6 and September 21 were larger than 3MB, as well as October 2 build.

Builds were leaked onto the internet in February 2008 on Hidden-Palace site.

Versions

The 32X port of Doom derives from the Atari Jaguar version, which adjusts level layouts in areas to ease with rendering, as well as potential hardware constraints, and/or aesthetics on a TV screen as opposed to a computer monitor. Despite this, the game managed to debut on the 32X before the Jaguar version was finalised. Leaked prototypes suggest that 32X Doom was originally more in-line with the PC version, the switching of levels occurring as an mid-development optimisation.

32X Doom does not run at full screen - while the system is technically capable of rendering a full 320x224 Doom image, a border is applied to mitigate performance concerns in some areas. Due to storage space limitations on a cartridge many decorative objects and textures are missing and monsters have only front-fracing sprites, albeit it's still possible to sneak up on enemies in rare cases as their behavior wasn't changed to take it into account. Monsters infighting was removed. Demons wake up on sound only if player is directly present in their radius.

Interestingly, 32X version updates Automap in real-time when it's activated, while on PC the changes will show up only if you hide and view Automap again.

The levels set is shared with Atari Jaguar version, both being in development at the same time. Most likely 32X levels were being ported from Atari Jaguar in-progress builds. Atari Jaguar family levels set contains heavily simplified layout of levels from PC original, some maps being completely different, using less textures and objects as well. Due to 32X version being rushed it ended up being released before Atari Jaguar version thus the levels set is unfinished in comparison. It's missing the third episode and there are occasional glitches: Hall of Mirror effect in Level 10, for example. You can't finish certain levels 100% as some monsters were misplaced outside of rooms.

The music was also noticeably changed, the developers deciding to remake the soundtrack with GEMS and keep it on the Mega Drive side only rather than use the 32X's PWM — having to make launch date didn't help the situation either. It is considered to house one of worst interpretations of Doom's music, with even the SNES surpassing it in terms of quality.

The game now features a level select menu, allowing the player to select any level within the game; however, by using the level select, the game only presents the user with a DOS prompt at the end, instead of giving the true ending away. Curiously US manual mistakenly says that in such case the game will wrap back to the first level so player can complete the remaining ones.

On the 32X, Doom usually runs at around 15-20FPS - a long way from the PC version's 35FPS, but higher than several other versions, such as the 3DO, Super NES and even Sega Saturn. Sega suggested that the 32X Doom performed just as well as an Intel 486 PC clocked at 50MHz, though was far less expensive[8].

Interestingly enough, there are few builds of Doom 32X that were made after the final version. The files were named as "Doom RR", quite possible new revision was planned for the game. These builds contain no differences from final Doom 32X release much to public knowledge.

Production credits

id Software Development Team
  • : John Carmack, John Romero, Adrian Carmack, Kevin Cloud, Sandy Peterson, David Taylor, American McGee, Shawn Green
Sega of America Development Team
Source:
In-game credits
  • Biz Guy: Jay Wilbur
  • Biz Assistant: Donna Jackson
  • Software Engineers: John Carmack, John Romero, Dave Taylor, Shawn Green
  • Artists: Adrian Carmack, Kevin Cloud
  • Designers: Sandy Peterson, American McGee
  • Composer: Robert Prince
  • Doom Logo: Don Punchatz
Sega
Source:
US manual
Doom 32x us manual.pdf
[9]

Magazine articles

Main article: Doom (32X)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

ES print advert
Keep Devilishly Warm This Winter flyer back NL.png
NL flyer
Keep Devilishly Warm This Winter flyer back NL.png
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Strana Igr (RU) #1 (1996-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Television advertisements

Artwork

  • US prototype cover

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
75 [11]
88 [12]
94 [13]
84 [14]
75 №312, p39
83
87
91 №25, p63
91 №8, p16
92 [15]
95 №27, p20-23
92 [16]
87 [17]
92 [18]
95 №48, p64/65
78
96 №12, p70/71
95 №63, p50-52
94 №40, p40/41
84 №56, p24
91 [19]
80 [20]
Sega 32X
 88
Based on
22 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
75
[21]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
94
[22]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
90
[23]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
91
[24]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
84
[14]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[25]
FLUX (US) NTSC-U
83
[26]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
87
[27]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[28]
Gamer (GR)
81
[29]
Gamers (DE) PAL
60
[30]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
91
[31]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
78
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[33]
Joypad (FR) PAL
92
[34]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC
84
[35]
Mega (UK) PAL
95
[36]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
92
[37]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
87
[17]
Micro Kid's Multimédia (FR)
100
[38]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
93
[39]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
92
[40]
Player One (FR)
95
[41]
Play Time (DE) PAL
87
[42]
Power Up! (UK)
95
[43]
Power Unlimited (NL)
78
[44]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
78
[45]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
96
[46]
Sega News (CZ)
80
[47]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[48]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
94
[49]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
84
[50]
Sega Force (SE)
100
[51]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
88
[52]
Todo Sega (ES)
91
[53]
Ultimate Future Games (UK)
91
[54]
VideoGames (US)
80
[20]
Sega 32X
 88
Based on
37 reviews

Doom (32X)

32X, US
Doom 32X US Box Back.jpgDoom 32X US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Doom 32X US Cart.jpg
Cart
Doom 32x us manual.pdf
Manual
32X, EU
Doom 32X EU Box.jpg
Cover
Doom 32X EU cart.jpg
Cart
32X, JP
Doom 32X JP Box Back.jpgDoom MD JP BoxSpine.jpgDoom 32X JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Doom MD JP CartTop.jpg
Doom 32X JP Cart Back.jpgDoom 32X JP cart.jpg
Cart
Doom 32x jp manual.pdf
Manual
32X, BR
Doom 32X BR Box.jpg
Cover
Doom 32X BR Cart.jpg
Cart
32X, Asia
Doom 32X Asia Box Front.jpg
Cover
Doom 32X AS cartback.jpgDoom 32X AS cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-03-07 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-02-21 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1995-02-15 Page
Sega 32X
✔
CRC32 53734e3a
MD5 1abe8b9b1855b1b101cb7f1d86395c22
SHA-1 4ec03c2114ebffbbcd16859583340d4ea4cd8dd5
3MB Cartridge (EU)
Sega 32X
✔
CRC32 208332fd
MD5 79339867d9d4f58b169753d9a29ea1a5
SHA-1 b68e9c7af81853b8f05b8696033dfe4c80327e38
3MB Cartridge (JP/US)
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-12-01 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-10-02 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-27 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-25 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-23 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-21 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-16 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-14 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-09 Page
Sega 32X
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-09-06 Page

References

  1. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 73
  2. ↑ GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 64
  3. ↑ Sega Megazone, "December 1994" (AU; 1994-1x-xx), page 20
  4. ↑ File:Doom 32x us manual.pdf, page 12
  5. ↑ File:Doom 32x us manual.pdf, page 21
  6. ↑ File:Doom 32x us manual.pdf, page 5
  7. ↑ Sega Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-15), page 9
  8. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 26
  9. ↑ File:Doom 32x us manual.pdf, page 22
  10. ↑ Strana Igr, "Mart 1996" (RU; 1996-xx-xx), page 87
  11. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 24 (26)
  12. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 82 (84)
  13. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 72-74 (72)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 40
  15. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 94
  16. ↑ Mega Force, "Megadrive 32X elle est là!" (FR; 1994-12-02), page 22-25 (22)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 31
  18. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 76-78 (76)
  19. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-01), page 97 (87)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 VideoGames, "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 72
  21. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 26
  22. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 72
  23. ↑ Computer + Video Giochi, "Gennaio 1995" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 76
  24. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 74
  25. ↑ Famitsu, "1994-12-09" (JP; 1994-11-25), page 39
  26. ↑ FLUX, "Issue #4" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 82
  27. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 2, Issue 12: December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 27
  28. ↑ GamePro, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 60
  29. ↑ Gamer, "Ianouários 1995" (GR; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  30. ↑ Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 35
  31. ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-xx), page 15
  32. ↑ Game Informer, "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 12
  33. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 78
  34. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 90
  35. ↑ MAN!AC, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 48
  36. ↑ Mega, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 20
  37. ↑ Mega Force, "Megadrive 32X elle est là!" (FR; 1994-12-02), page 22
  38. ↑ Micro Kid's Multimédia, "Février 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 60
  39. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-xx-xx), page 22
  40. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-11-30), page 76
  41. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 64
  42. ↑ Play Time, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-04), page 101
  43. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, December 17, 1994" (UK; 1994-12-17), page 1
  44. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 3, Februari 1995" (NL; 1995-01-25), page 40
  45. ↑ Saturn Fan, "1995 February" (JP; 1995-01-07), page 34
  46. ↑ Sega Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 70
  47. ↑ Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 34
  48. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 50
  49. ↑ Sega Pro, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-01), page 40
  50. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1996" (UK; 1996-02-28), page 24
  51. ↑ Sega Force, "2/95" (SE; 1995-04-19), page 8
  52. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 84
  53. ↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1994" (ES; 1994-1x-xx), page 28
  54. ↑ Ultimate Future Games, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-01), page 97
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Doom (32X)

Doom 32X Title.png

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