Bloom (mod)

{{Infobox video game

| title = Bloom

| image =

| caption =

| developer = Bloom Team

| publisher =

| designer = Antonio González

| programmer = Antonio González
Virgilio Virzo

| artist = Roberto Julio

| composer = ASCIIMOV
Buio Mondo

| writer =

| engine = GZDoom

| released = October 31, 2021

| genre = First-person shooter

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| platforms = Windows, macOS, Linux

}}

Bloom is a modification for the first-person shooter video game Doom II, originally developed by id Software. The mod, created by the Spanish indie studio Bloom Team, was released via Mod DB on October 31, 2021. Bloom combines elements from Doom II (1994) and Monolith Productions' Blood (1997), merging enemies, weapons, and environments from both games into a crossover experience.

Gameplay

File:Bloomsc.jpg

Bloom introduces hybrid enemies that combine characteristics of monsters from Doom II and Blood. Players can choose between two protagonists, Doomguy and Caleb, each with unique weapons and abilities. The mod incorporates new and updated weapons such as a revolver, grenades, and a flamethrower. Graphical enhancements include voxel models and improved lighting effects.{{Cite web |last=Coats |first=Kody |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Four Places To Dive Into The Wacky World Of DOOM Total Conversion Mods |url=https://gametyrant.com/news/four-places-to-dive-into-the-wacky-world-of-doom-total-conversion-mods |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=GameTyrant |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jacquier |first=Clotaire |date=November 3, 2019 |title=Doom plus Blood égale Bloom, une rencontre brutale |url=https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/doom-plus-blood-egale-bloom-une-rencontre-brutale-3050822683.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104212238/https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/doom-plus-blood-egale-bloom-une-rencontre-brutale-3050822683.html |archive-date=November 4, 2019 |access-date=August 23, 2021 |website=Gamekult |language=fr}}{{Cite web|last=Cuzzucoli|first=Delano|date=November 12, 2019|title=Bloom is a crazy fusion between Blood and Doom|url=https://www.heypoorplayer.com/2019/11/12/bloom-is-a-crazy-fusion-between-blood-and-doom/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815193552/https://heypoorplayer.com/2019/11/12/bloom-is-a-crazy-fusion-between-blood-and-doom/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2020|website=Hey Poor Player}}

The mod features a new episode titled "The Way of Doomed Flesh", which includes nine levels, an original storyline, cutscenes, and two distinct soundtracks composed by ASCIIMOV{{Cite web|title=Bloom OST, by ASCIIMOV|url=https://asciimov.bandcamp.com/album/bloom-ost|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=ASCIIMOV|language=en}} and Buio Mondo.{{Cite web|title=BLOOM, by Buio Mondo|url=https://buiomondo.bandcamp.com/album/bloom|access-date=February 3, 2022|website=BUIO MONDO|language=en}}

Bloom can be played in cooperative mode and offers five different difficulty levels. It is compatible with Doom, Doom II, Final Doom, Sigil, and various custom WADs.{{Cite web |last=Renadette |first=Brian |date=November 1, 2021 |title=BlooM Combines Blood and Doom in One Action Pumped Mod |url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/bloom-mod-combines-doom-blood |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101155705/https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/bloom-mod-combines-doom-blood |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2021 |website=TechRaptor |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 5, 2019|title=BLOOM: un crossover entre Doom et Blood|url=https://nofrag.com/bloom-un-crossover-en-doom-et-blood/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812011659/https://nofrag.com/bloom-un-crossover-en-doom-et-blood/ |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2020|website=NoFrag}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=July 6, 2019|title=BlooM is een mod waarin Doom en Blood worden gecombineerd|url=https://www.gamekings.tv/nieuws/bloom-is-een-mod-waarin-doom-en-blood-worden-gecombineerd/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202064610/https://www.gamekings.tv/nieuws/bloom-is-een-mod-waarin-doom-en-blood-worden-gecombineerd/ |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2020|website=Gamekings|language=nl}}

Reception

The mod received praise from Jace Hall, the former CEO and founder of Monolith Productions, who described it as "awesome" on his personal X account. Dominic Tarason of Rock, Paper, Shotgun named Bloom one of the best Doom mods, calling it "an extremely cool concept" and "a real treat, visually and aurally".{{Cite news|last=Tarason|first=Dominic|date=November 25, 2019|title=The best Doom mods of 2019|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/11/25/modder-superior-best-mods-classic-doom-2019/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=December 23, 2020|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun}} Chris J. Capel of PCGamesN described it as "a ridiculously fun FPS" and a "wonderfully unique hybrid".{{Cite web |last=Capel |first=Chris J. |date=May 7, 2022 |title=Finally, a Doom vs Quake mod crossover |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/quake/doom-mod-crossover |url-status= |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-GB}} YouTube game reviewer GmanLives praised the mod's level design, visuals, and atmosphere, describing it as "one of the best Doom mods ever made".{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 6, 2019|title=Mod Corner – Bloom (Doom Meets Blood)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL0YOvsZchA|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222223156/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL0YOvsZchA&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020|website=YouTube}}

Bloom won the "Best Crossover Mod" and "Best Upcoming Mod" awards from Mod DB in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Seamus |date=December 23, 2019 |title=Editors Choice – Mod of the Year 2019 |url=https://www.moddb.com/groups/2019-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/editors-choice-mod-of-the-year-2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223073338/https://www.moddb.com/groups/2019-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/editors-choice-mod-of-the-year-2019 |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |access-date=December 23, 2020 |website=Mod DB}}{{Cite web |last=Seamus |date=December 27, 2019 |title=Players Choice – Best Upcoming Mod 2019 |url=https://www.moddb.com/groups/2019-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/players-choice-best-upcoming-mod-2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103024347/https://www.moddb.com/groups/2019-mod-of-the-year-awards/features/players-choice-best-upcoming-mod-2019 |archive-date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020 |website=Mod DB}}

Legacy

A spiritual successor to Bloom, titled QDOOM, was officially released by Bethesda in December 2023 as an add-on for Quake, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Doom. The add-on, created by Bloom Team's lead designer and programmer Drugod (Antonio Gonzalez), allows players to experience the first episode of Doom within the Quake engine, featuring enemies from both games.{{Cite web |title=New Add-on Available: QDOOM for Quake |url=https://slayersclub.bethesda.net/en-US/article/new-add-on-qdoom-quake |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=slayersclub.bethesda.net}}{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2023 |title=DOOM, DOOM II And Quake Just Got New Free Add-Ons, Rip And Tear Today |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/12/doom-doom-ii-and-quake-just-got-new-free-add-ons-rip-and-tear-today |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}

Bloom Team is developing a new video game titled Voidwalker, inspired by certain aspects of Bloom.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2023 |title=Drugod on X |url=https://x.com/DrugodTV/status/1736116148679188819 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=X}}{{Cite web |title=Voidwalker on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2709070/Voidwalker/ |access-date=August 8, 2024 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}

References

External links

[https://www.moddb.com/mods/bloom-doomblood-crossover Bloom] at Mod DB
[https://github.com/Drugod/BloomProject Bloom] at GitHub
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPlTk2HK_FJAYHaAyE5ql5w Bloom Team] YouTube channel
[https://www.facebook.com/bloomteam666 Bloom Team] on Facebook