Things aren’t looking good for me. I’m a few levels into Selaco, a new FPS out now on Steam, and I’m stuck behind a bar as a group of sci-fi soldiers unload their rifles and shotguns into my hiding spot. I’m also low on health. So yeah, a bad spot to be in. I take a deep breath and try something.
As smoothly as I can I slide out from behind the bar, toss an ice grenade toward the enemies, and then dash behind a wall. A moment later a boom happens and my foes are frozen. I spot a nearby propane tank, pick it up, and chuck it at them. A second later I shoot it and watch them blow up. On my screen, a notification lets me know I’ve killed enough of these bastards to unlock a new milestone and earned some new crafting materials to make my assault rifle even better. Sweet!
I then remember that the game I’m playing—that lets me do all this and more was built using a modified version of the ancient Doom engine and giggle. This kind of thing happens a lot in Selaco, a game that rarely feels like it’s built on old bones and dated tech, but instead feels like a polished and modern shooter with some slick retro visuals. What’s most surprising about Selaco isn’t that it’s developed in GZDoom, but that it might be one of the best shooters I’ve played in years.
Sure it “looks old”, but it’s sooooo smooth. Kinda reminds me of the Quake remaster in this regard, and that one holds up pretty well in this day and age.
Steam Summer sale’s lookin’ pretty good this year on my end.
I feel like it’s a little disingenuous to call it “Doom Tech” when it’s modern GZDoom with proper full 3D and shit.
But it is true that it’s way more systemic than anything AAA in the genre.
I’m thinking of dual-booting Linux on my M1 Air to play this. I assume it’s going to be capable enough to run this game?
Minumum specs lists GTX 970. M1’s GPU seems to be about half as powerful, so it’s probably not going to be very smooth.
I already changed my mind and decided to abort the mission. I foresaw that if not for the GPU then I would have a bunch of other issues that I really don’t have the time to waste on fixing just to play a game.
It looks like a great game tho, I’ve wishlisted it until I get a gaming PC.
If anyone wants a complete GZDoom game (or 2 or 3 depending on how your counting) right now to try, Hedon is really great. Also, made by a solo dev(music and VA work was outsourced), so absolute flex on AAA game companies.
For some weird reason that specific one doesn’t run on my Linux system. Sad.
I put it on my Syeam wishlist, until I can get some tasty wifi.