Introduction to Doom II: Ray Traced
The GZDoom community has outdone itself with the latest mod, “Doom II: Ray Traced.” This mod introduces a groundbreaking feature to the classic game, implementing path-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections. This new addition leverages the power of modern GPUs, bringing new life to the beloved game.
High-Resolution Voxel Models and Enhanced Textures
The “Doom II: Ray Traced” mod utilizes high-resolution voxel models derived from the Voxel Doom project. This project replaces the game’s original 2D sprites with fully-realized 3D models, significantly enhancing the visual experience. Additionally, almost all textures in the game have undergone substantial improvement, adding an extra layer of depth and realism to the world of Doom II.
Path-Traced Lighting and Modern GPU Requirements
Where “Doom II: Ray Traced” truly shines is in its implementation of path-traced lighting. Unlike traditional pre-baked lighting methods, path-traced lighting dynamically calculates light paths in real time using ray tracing hardware found in modern GPUs. This results in more realistic light interactions and shadows, creating a more immersive gameplay experience.
Performance Enhancements with DLSS 3 & FSR 3.0
To support the demanding requirements of real-time path tracing, the mod includes support for NVIDIA DLSS 3 frame generation and AMD FSR 3.0 frame generation. These technologies aim to boost performance, allowing players to enjoy the enhanced visuals without significant drops in frame rates. A gameplay video showcasing the mod even highlights how a GeForce RTX 4080 is challenged to render it at 4K resolution.
Conclusion
It’s astonishing to consider that the original Doom II could run on a simplistic 80386 processor, yet now, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the GZDoom community, it can fully utilize the capabilities of contemporary GPUs. “Doom II: Ray Traced” stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the game and the passion of its modding community.
