Catacomb Abyss
A shareware first-person shooter continuing Petton Everhail's quest.
Catacomb Abyss is a fantasy-themed first-person shooter developed by Softdisk and released in November 1992 for DOS. It is the fourth entry in the Catacomb series and the first of the Catacomb Adventure Series, a trilogy of sequels created by an in-house team after id Software's contract with Softdisk ended. The game is notable for being a shareware release that continued the story of the high wizard Petton Everhail, and for using a 3D engine originally developed by id Software.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Catacomb Abyss
- Developer
- Softdisk
- Designer
- Greg Malone
- Programmer
- Nolan Martin · Michael Maynard · James T. Row
- Artist
- Adrian Carmack · Jerry K. Jones · Carol Ludden · Steven Maines
- Engine
- Prototype of Wolfenstein 3D engine
- Platforms
- DOS, Windows, MacOS
- Released
- DOS · November 1992 · Catacombs Pack · Windows, OS X · March 2013
- Genre
- First-person shooter
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Catacomb Abyss was developed after the contract between Softdisk and id Software ended, leaving Softdisk with ownership of the 3D engine and intellectual property of Catacomb 3-D. A new in-house team was formed to produce three sequels known as the Catacomb Adventure Series. The new team spent most of 1992 to produce Catacomb Abyss and its sequels Catacomb Armageddon and Catacomb Apocalypse.
Reader's Guide
Catacomb Abyss holds significance as a transitional title in the early history of first-person shooters. Its shareware distribution model, inspired by the success of Commander Keen, allowed gamers to freely play and distribute the first part of the game, with an electronic catalog advertising the full trilogy. The game's levels introduced more varied environments than its predecessor, including outdoor areas with lightning, an ancient aqueduct, and hellish corridors. A 2021 retrospective review in PC Gamer described the game as 'incredibly primitive' yet 'an interesting glimpse at a direction shooters could have gone, had Wolfenstein and Doom not laid down the templates for the next few years.' The game's development team later contributed to other notable titles: Mike Maynard and Jim Row formed JAM Productions and developed Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, while Greg Malone became creative director for Duke Nukem 3D.
Did You Know?
- Catacomb Abyss introduces a radar called the Crystal Sphere that shows magic missiles and nearby enemies.
- The game includes an hourglass-shaped item that temporarily freezes time when picked up.
- The shareware version of Catacomb Abyss could be freely distributed and played to encourage purchase of the full trilogy.
- The game contains sixteen regular levels and three secret levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Catacomb Abyss?
Catacomb Abyss is a dark fantasy first-person shooter in which you guide the high wizard Petton Everhail through another perilous underground quest. It shipped as a shareware DOS title in November 1992.
Who developed Catacomb Abyss?
Softdisk published the game, but the actual work was done by their own in-house studio rather than an outside contractor. It was the first installment of the three-part Catacomb Adventure Series, produced after id Software's development contract with Softdisk expired.
Where does Catacomb Abyss sit in the Catacomb series?
It is the fourth game overall in the Catacomb franchise and the direct sequel to Catacomb 3-D. At the same time, it opens the Catacomb Adventure Series trilogy.
What 3D engine powers Catacomb Abyss?
The game relies on a 3D engine that id Software originally built for the earlier Catacomb titles. Softdisk kept using that engine for their in-house sequels even after the id partnership had ended.
How was Catacomb Abyss distributed?
It was sold as a shareware package, letting players download and play a limited portion before buying the complete version. That model was standard for DOS-era titles in the early 1990s.
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