[GZDOOM] HEELBAIN - a 9-map atmospheric UDMF episode [FINAL, /idgames pending]

Major Arlene · March 13, 2023

Heelbain: to be lost, hopeless.

HEELBAIN is a 9-map UDMF WAD focused on dread. The story is simple: you're on an expedition with your wife and friends in the deserts of Nevada. During the night, your camp is attacked is by hellish creatures, and everyone except you is killed. You escape into a local cliff side, hiding until dawn. You venture into what looks like civilization to seek help, but soon, you find yourself heelbain.

This project, started by @obake in 2020, is finally ready to make its Doomworld debut!

THE FILE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ycgdmoY2V9fayh8QpYRtXA12GMLizSDh/view?usp=sharing

THE TEAM:

MAPPERS: Obake the Sincere (lead), Major Arlene, Walter, @Big Ol Billy , @BluePineapple72 , @reflex17 , @DCG Retrowave

PLAYTESTERS: @Biodegradable , @TheNoob_Gamer , @Bridgeburner56 , @EmptyCell , @captain caleb , A Goose, @Remster , @Jaccident, @Pegleg

MUSIC: @PRIMEVAL , @Aubrey Hodges, Natureworld1986, Adamaski, Myuu

TECHNICAL STUFF:

Please use GZDoom 4.5 series or above for this- older versions are untested and may crash or have unintended side effects.
Please play in Vulkan mode, or hardware mode if your hardware does not support Vulkan. You may need a beefier computer to play this as maps take advantage of current GZDoom/UDMF options.
Please have dynamic lights and brightmaps enabled for best visual effects.
Freelook is recommended, jumping and crouching will be used or required in most maps.

SCREENSHOTS:

Spoiler

"Before" - Obake the Sincere and Major Arlene

"Abandoned Tech" - Walter

"Hush" - Big Ol Billy

"The Meatlocker Experiment" - Obake the Sincere

"Rot and Despair" - Obake the Sincere

"Unearthed" - Reflex17 & BluePineapple

"Excavation Site Omega" - Reflex17

"For the Last Dragging Dusk" - Major Arlene

Original dev thread:

We hope you guys enjoy!

Edited April 15, 2023 by Major Arlene
updated link pending idgames

Bri0che · March 13, 2023

This screenshot look like a mix between Blood and Doom, I'm in !

hakros · March 13, 2023

Awesome design !

Congratulations

kalensar · March 13, 2023

Looks awesome!. This is the type of thing that makes Doom worth Dooming in the modern day imo. <3

sandwedge · March 14, 2023

Saw this drop yesterday and was in the mood for just this sort of thing so played thru all of it last night! Overall this was a great atmospheric adventure with awesome music and some fun level themes. It was actually quite a digestible mapset as only a couple of the maps were pretty big, but mostly they were pleasantly brief romps. I liked the way the wad gradually descended into the underground and hell. As this is a beta I had a couple minor issues here and there, hopefully the video helps with those as I can't remember all of them. I think biggest question I had was wondering why I couldn't jump or crouch on the last couple maps, as it appeared to be disabled and the maps definitely weren't built for it, but it wasn't too difficult of an adjustment. Overall I definitely recommend this one if you want a polished GZDoom feature-rich experience!

PS I'm only publishing the first video on youtube today, and I don't usually do this but I'll just post the other videos unlisted here for quick feedback purposes. The last 2 will go live on youtube over the next week or two. Hope that helps!