Borrowhelen - retro fantasy FPS similar to Hexen and Arthurian Legends (made on GZDoom)

[udm]

Saw this recommended by a user on the Arthurian Legends Discord, decided to check it out. Was released 3 days ago at the time of this writing and only has 3 Steam reviews.

Spoiler

Grab your weapons and get ready to battle against cultists and mythical creatures in a 90s-style first-person shooter set in a fantastical realm like no other. As the brilliant scientist Ordin Gilbellt, what will you do to save the world from the evil cultists?

In the year 1015, in the Republic of Cyptnnia...

A few hours before dawn, Ordin Gilbellt visits a graveyard, carrying a bouquet for his younger brother, Yannis Gilbellt, who died in the great fire of Cyptnnia in 986 at the age of five. Although 29 years have passed since the tragedy, Ordin has never forgotten the pain of losing his only brother.

In the still of the night, his prayers are interrupted by the sound of a bell. But this time, it doesn't ring just to announce the time; it tolls loudly and repeatedly, signaling that danger is coming to the city.

Soon, Ordin realizes he is being ambushed by an unknown army. He must return to the city to save his homeland and find answers: who is attacking him, who leads the cult, and why do they want him dead? Little does he know, this is only the beginning of his longest nightmare.

• True 2.5D Reloadless First-Person Shooter
  Borrowhelen is a first-person shooter game featuring 2.5D graphics and no need to reload. Powered by a customized GZDoom engine, it's fully moddable.
  
  
• Build Engine-Style Interactive Levels
  Explore over 30 interactive levels, including climbing ladders, exploring underwater areas, activating switches, and destroying walls. The game includes four episodes with 33 dramatic and exciting levels designed for a rich single-player experience.
  
  
• Unique and Powerful Weapons
  Every weapon has a purpose, as they were designed by Ordin Gilbellt himself. Control every situation with 10 powerful weapons, including the Poison Crossbow, Spear of Thunder, Hell Siphon, Hornet Sphere, and the Collapsar.
  
  
• A '90s-Style Shooter with a Rich Story
  Who demands Ordin's death? Why does the cult murder people? And what is the cult's true purpose? Uncover these mysteries in the game.
  
  
• Classic 256-Color Graphics and Voxels
  Borrowhelen uses the original 256-color palette, just like legendary '90s shooters.
  
  
• CD and MIDI Music Options
  Enjoy over 30 in-game tracks available in both CD and MIDI music formats. Experience the music on your GS-compatible MIDI sound synthesizer, module, or card.
  
  
• In-Game Customizable Achievements
  34 challenging in-game achievements await players, and Borrowhelen allows you to create and add your own achievements to your custom mods.

 

[Lagi]

There are tons of doom mods, especially weapon mods, and this is lazy graphic design.

Maps also looks raw. And 15 $ ?!! come one... free stuff is much better.

 

[Spike]

There are tons of doom mods, especially weapon mods, and this is lazy graphic design.

Maps also looks raw. And 15 $ ?!! come one... free stuff is much better.

What are some of the best weapon/medieval doom mods you would recommend, kind stranger

 

[Lagi]

There are tons of doom mods, especially weapon mods, and this is lazy graphic design.

Maps also looks raw. And 15 $ ?!! come one... free stuff is much better.

What are some of the best weapon/medieval doom mods you would recommend, kind stranger

Any respectable graphic whore should know Walpurgis - works with doom, heretic and hexen (unless the custom map also change monsters or weapons, but that obvious).
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=67025

I recommend Walpurgis with some mod that modify HP, as the weapons are dealing way TOO much damage, especially on doom maps.
Use f.ex. Ultimate Custom Doom from below:
https://mmaulwurff.github.io/pages/toolbox.html

Eviterity are generally praised to be the best ever map pack for doom, they have also some medieval style maps.
https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/103425-final-release-eviternity/

I cannot praise enough playing random Obsidian maps with Heathen_maze add on (its probably only for Heretic... never test with Hexen). Random maps... are random, but the combat feels more fair.

how to activate heathen maze add on in Obsidian

=======================

The combat mechanics, for me, are the best in HexArcana. That also works with doom, heretic and hexen.
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=66059

f.ex. playing with Cleric you have mace that you need to swing in rhytm to deal more damage. Which is an interesting new concept to hectic doom gameplay.
=======================

I always want to play Heretic as a medieval First Person Puncher, with rather little shooting. When i crave such sensation, I am using Bitter Heretic:
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=66881

It also has expanded monster animations.

=======================
Athurian Legends are okish. Nice new concepts. New assets. but yes... a little more sprite frames would be welcome.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/658890/Arthurian_Legends/

=======================
Hands of Necromancy is another brand-new title (you have no idea how good is to see new monster sprites after decades of seeing the same blokes). I only play 1st game, but it was a positive impression. I hope 2nd is better, but i never play it.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2706450/Hands_of_Necromancy_II/
=======================

For kind of medieval vibe, but with classic doom (just all brand new weapons) gameplay, you might try Hell forge
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=13397

Amuscaria start making 2nd episode, but i guess is vaporware now. New monsters are gorgeous.

=======================
P.S.
i think last time i play Heretic or check Zdoom forum was half year ago, so some new stuff could appear.

 

[Spike]

There are tons of doom mods, especially weapon mods, and this is lazy graphic design.

Maps also looks raw. And 15 $ ?!! come one... free stuff is much better.

What are some of the best weapon/medieval doom mods you would recommend, kind stranger

Any respectable graphic whore should know Walpurgis - works with doom, heretic and hexen (unless the custom map also change monsters or weapons, but that obvious).
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=67025

I recommend Walpurgis with some mod that modify HP, as the weapons are dealing way TOO much damage, especially on doom maps.
Use f.ex. Ultimate Custom Doom from below:
https://mmaulwurff.github.io/pages/toolbox.html

Eviterity are generally praised to be the best ever map pack for doom, they have also some medieval style maps.
https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/103425-final-release-eviternity/

I cannot praise enough playing random Obsidian maps with Heathen_maze add on (its probably only for Heretic... never test with Hexen). Random maps... are random, but the combat feels more fair.

how to activate heathen maze add on in Obsidian

=======================

The combat mechanics, for me, are the best in HexArcana. That also works with doom, heretic and hexen.
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=66059

f.ex. playing with Cleric you have mace that you need to swing in rhytm to deal more damage. Which is an interesting new concept to hectic doom gameplay.
=======================

I always want to play Heretic as a medieval First Person Puncher, with rather little shooting. When i crave such sensation, I am using Bitter Heretic:
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=66881

It also has expanded monster animations.

=======================
Athurian Legends are okish. Nice new concepts. New assets. but yes... a little more sprite frames would be welcome.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/658890/Arthurian_Legends/

=======================
Hands of Necromancy is another brand-new title (you have no idea how good is to see new monster sprites after decades of seeing the same blokes). I only play 1st game, but it was a positive impression. I hope 2nd is better, but i never play it.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2706450/Hands_of_Necromancy_II/
=======================

For kind of medieval vibe, but with classic doom (just all brand new weapons) gameplay, you might try Hell forge
https://forum.zdoom.org/viewtopic.php?t=13397

Amuscaria start making 2nd episode, but i guess is vaporware now. New monsters are gorgeous.

=======================
P.S.
i think last time i play Heretic or check Zdoom forum was half year ago, so some new stuff could appear.

This is extensive. Thank you. I love Arthurian Legends and I like 1st person "puncher" or "slashers" - this is what I am looking for, in a medieval setting with medieval weapons. I will explore these, thank you!

 

[randir14]

Looks like crap and the name is stupid. "Umm do you mind if I borrow Helen for a minute?"

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Looks like crap and the name is stupid. "Umm do you mind if I borrow Helen for a minute?"

Yes, I was expecting the game's setting to be the Trojan War.

 

[Morgoth]

Looks cheap as fuck.