Anyone who lived through the era remembers the shareware floppy disk, a friend’s 486 PC and the scare of the first Imp in the dark. On December 10, 2018, Doom turned 25, and one of the game’s fathers decided to celebrate in the most old-school way possible: with new levels.
John Romero, one of the creators of the original Doom, announced Sigil, an unofficial fifth episode for The Ultimate Doom, the 1995 version that added a fourth episode to the three original ones. Unofficial because the franchise now belongs to Bethesda: Sigil is Romero’s own project, through Romero Games. The package would bring nine single-player levels and another nine deathmatch versions, and the initial target was February 2019, free of charge. Since it is an add-on, you needed the original Doom, not the 2016 Doom, to play it. Check out the trailer:
On the same day, Bethesda, which owns the series’ rights, also paid its tribute, with a video gathering standout moments from the games over these decades:
What came next
Sigil slipped a little, like any well-awaited cartridge. First came a paid edition, on May 22, 2019, bundled with a soundtrack by guitarist Buckethead and priced symbolically, full of sixes in true Doom hell style: 6.66 euros. Nine days later, on May 31, the free version arrived, with MIDI music by James Paddock. Romero Games also sold collector’s editions with a signed copy, goodies and a documentary.
The reception was warm: critics praised the creative use of the 1993 game’s assets, although some found the levels hard for those who do not know Doom well. Over time the project gained official status: in January 2020 Bethesda added it as an add-on to the console versions and, in 2024, to the Doom + Doom II re-release. And Romero did it again: Sigil II came out on December 10, 2023, for the series’ 30th anniversary.
Source: Eurogamer.
Zé Cartucho
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