– DOOM is highly portable, but the Neo Geo AES struggles due to its 2D sprite-focused architecture, making 3D rendering difficult.
– Simple raycasting is possible on the Neo Geo using sprite-scaling tricks, but early versions ran at only 8 FPS.
– The DoomGeo project has expanded the port to include a full DOOM-style HUD, monsters, weapons, and gameplay elements.
– The modding community rapidly took on the challenge after MVG’s proof-of-concept, proving “impossible” ports are often achievable.
The Eternal Porting of DOOM
Over the yers, classic DOOM has been ported over to a variety of devices ranging from thermal printers, calculators, smart fridges, pregnancy tests, and more. It ushered in a renaissance of the “can it run DOOM?” meme era, which continues to this day, and it does so for good reason. It’s because id Software’s 1993 FPS shooter is incredibly portable. However, one machine has resisted attempts at a DOOM port: SNK’s 1990 Neo Geo AES.
Hardware Limitations and Possibilities
The Neo Geo AES packed some extremely powerful hardware for the ’90s, with its 68000 CPU and advanced sprite hardware for 2D games and shooters. Theoretically, the Neo Geo AES should run DOOM with relative ease. However, in practice, its architecture makes rendering 3D environments cumbersome. This insight comes from veteran retro YouTuber Modern Vintage Gamer (MVG), who explained it clearly in a recent video: “DOOM runs on everything. Well, almost everything. The SNK Neo Geo AES console is a 2D sprite-pushing beast, but when it comes to 3D, it’s not architected to handle it. However, with some hardware tricks, it IS possible to build a simple raycaster that runs on Neo Geo hardware, but does this mean DOOM is possible?”
A Raycaster at 8 Frames Per Second
MVG used the Neo Geo’s sprite-scaling ability to create environments from vertically stretched sprites for walls, floors, ceilings, corridors, and nothing more, which rendered at around 8 frames per second. MVG further stated in his video, “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, because as soon as you say that something is impossible, the gauntlet has been thrown down.” The modding community took on the DOOM Neo Geo AES port challenge almost immediately.
The Gauntlet is Picked Up
On June 7, MVG woke up, checked X, and was shocked. He wrote on X: “Wow, my Neo Geo raycaster has been modified to push Doom-like gameplay through the hardware. Another step closer to Neo Geo DOOM!” He also posted an update video on YouTube, complimenting the team behind the project. The gauntlet has been picked up by the DoomGeo project, which has expanded what’s possible on the hardware while respecting its limitations.
What the DoomGeo Project Achieved
The developers have managed to add a full DOOM-style HUD with status bar, Doomguy’s mugshot, ammo counters, the BFG, monsters, and much more. This is still running on original Neo Geo AES hardware with no modifications, just clever programming to squeeze 3D through a 2D sprite-pushing beast.