This Doom-powered, nautical shooter boldly asks ‘what if Spongebob was on Grownup Swim in 2006’

Persons are doing so many cool issues in Doom modding today, it takes rather a lot to face out. First noticed by Alpha Beta Gamer, Captain Wayne – Trip Desperation does so with aplomb, boasting a grungy “sensible folks doing dumb man,” Duke Nukem-y humorousness and the colourful, nautical enjoyable of Spongebob Squarepants⁠—simply with like, swears and stuff.

The presentation and graphics actually is where Captain Wayne knocks it out of the park⁠—character sprites have an ideal ’90s animation look in an analogous vein to Pizza Tower, and the entire thing’s awash on this groovy, Tequila Dawn shade palette. Critically, I like the environments each right here within the free demo and hinted at in screenshots of later ranges on Steam, it is like “Florida retirement village nautical-themed steakhouse” crossed with “’80s lounge glam.”

Low-cost nautical gags abound, with a few of my favorites together with a ladies’s restroom labeled “No Man’s Head,” and omnipresent advertisements for “Melville Whale Oil.” The soundtrack’s largely a really becoming heavy metallic joint that propels the motion alongside, however I used to be actually tickled by the proggy organ traces developer Ciaran Video games threw in⁠—extra of that, please. The entire thing’s simply acquired this very cheeky, madcap sensibility, and it extends to the gameplay as properly.

Your weapons are traditional boomer shooter staples however all of them really feel nice (I imply, it is constructed on Doom) and have a enjoyable Captain Wayne twist. Most of them are offered as totally different “modes” for the great skipper’s robotic arm, with the lone exception being a completely classico huge ass pirate cannon as your rocket launcher. My favourite is well the standard melee although, right here augmented with a sick instagib cost up perform just like the broadsword in Nightfall. An instakill windup melee energy assault is presumably probably the most slept-on issues you possibly can simply chuck in a shooter to make it immediately extra enjoyable, and it by no means acquired outdated winding one as much as go all “Pow! Right within the kisser.”

The demo’s lone stage does an important job balancing twisty, switchback stage design with “this appears like an actual place,” and there have been some actual standout encounters. My favourite is a traditional boomer shooter area swarm set in and round a resort pool, full with enemies taking pot shots at you from the water as you zoom round poolside. Captain Wayne is enjoyable as hell, and I am now eagerly awaiting the complete game. For now, you possibly can wishlist it on Steam and take a look at its free demo for your self over on itch.io