Finally in 2013, more than a decade after the advent of Aliens TC and Fistful of Doom, are we delivered of a masterpiece in total conversion. The spirit of an era revived with the GZDoom engine and enhanced with a modern quality, with gloomy gangplanks, glimmering treasure troves and hellish ravines abound.
Welcome to Pirate Doom, the latest and greatest from Darch of Doomworld.Perhaps the most important thing to note about this salty treat is the complete lack of seriousness with which it takes itself. It is an inexhaustible comedy of exploding parrots and pygmy cannibals; swashbuckling demons and walking on tightropes. A madness that, far from never ceasing, seems only to intensify as the game goes on. New game mechanics such as sword fighting also contribute to this craze of enjoyment and prove to be more than just novelties – a fact that the speedrunning community has been quick to note. Admittedly the lack of a scurvy mechanic displeases me, as I would have liked to see Doomguy's face rapidly disgorge its dental features with every rotten apple... but for want of peg leg arachnotrons and lost souls that wear eye patches I can forgive this misdemeanour and carry out the praises. A project as successful as Pirate Doom has been a long time coming, and not just for the sake of great art and sound. It has that all important recognition of complete humour and fun that seems so often to be lost in re-brands of Doom, and this is something that is perhaps more inherent in the game than many folks would note. This is, I think, what makes Pirate Doom one of the best releases of the year, and an exemplar to which all future conversions should aspire. - Alfonzo
Pirate Doom at Cacowards 2013
The Cacowards is an annual award at Doomworld honoring the year's top releases.
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