Prodeus
A retro first-person shooter re-imagined with modern rendering techniques.
Prodeus is a first-person shooter from Bounding Box Software, published by Humble Games. Funding came from a Kickstarter campaign in April 2019, and an early access version appeared on November 9, 2020. The finished game reached macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in September 2022. A downloadable content pack was announced in 2023.
The developers call it a reimagining of old-school first-person shooters using modern rendering. Gameplay echoes 1990s titles like Doom and Quake: players explore intricate levels, often hunting for keys to advance, and fight enemies at high speed with a range of weapons. An automap, similar to those in Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Metroid Prime, helps with navigation and secret hunting. A modern game engine adds dynamic lighting, particle effects, interactive environments, a gore system, and a responsive soundtrack. While the game can be played with its full modern look, players can also apply shaders for a pixelated appearance, simulating resolutions as low as 360p or even 216p.
In the story, humanity harnessed power from a hellish dimension, becoming technologically advanced and even evolving into a new species called the Prodeuns. The Chaos—monsters from that dimension—discovered humanity and opened a portal to destroy Earth. Most humans died in the war, and the Prodeuns took over, forcing everyone to convert. A small group fled on a ship and devised a plan to reach the Prodeun base and defeat both the Prodeuns and Chaos. All but the protagonist, known only as the Prodeus Agent, are killed by Chaos, leaving the Agent to complete the mission alone. The Agent tries to infiltrate the Prodeun base but is turned into a Prodeun, surviving and boarding a train. Traveling across the ruined landscape, the Agent destroys key facilities for both sides. The Chaos attempt to freeze the world with a space station, but the Agent knocks it off course. Eventually reaching the Prodeun base and weakening them, the Agent enters the Chaos dimension and kills their leader, the Hunter. With the Hunter dead, all Chaos are forced back and sealed away. The Prodeuns inherit Earth, and the Agent steps through a portal into a utopian dimension.
Developers Mike Voeller and Jason Mojica met while working on Singularity at Raven Software.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Prodeus
- Developer
- Bounding Box Software
- Publisher
- Humble Games
- Engine
- Unity
- Composer
- Andrew Hulshult / James Paddock
- Platforms
- macOS / Microsoft Windows / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X/S
- Release
- September 23, 2022
- Genre
- First-person shooter
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Prodeus was developed by Mike Voeller and Jason Mojica, who met while working at Raven Software on Singularity. By 2017, Voeller had left the industry to pursue the idea for a retro first-person shooter that would become Prodeus. Mojica reconnected with Voeller and left his job at Starbreeze Studios to join the project. They later recruited Andrew Hulshult for the soundtrack and Josh 'Dragonfly' O'Sullivan from the Doom modding community for level design. The game was announced in November 2018, with its launch trailer and gameplay demos created using a pre-alpha version.
The developers considered community engagement a core principle from the beginning, so Prodeus includes an integrated level editor from day one. Anyone who owns the game on a PC has access to the same tools used by the developers to create levels from scratch. The level editor is built specifically for Prodeus and designed for speed and ease of use. Despite originally promising a native Linux version, it was announced on September 5, 2022 that the game would instead be tailored for the Proton compatibility layer, citing issues with platform support from the Unity game engine.
Prodeus received 'generally favorable' reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. A DLC was announced for the game in 2023.
Reader's Guide
Prodeus occupies a notable position in the 2010s first-person shooter landscape as a crowdfunded title that explicitly channels the design of classic 1990s shooters like Doom and Quake while employing a modern game engine. Its gameplay involves exploring complex levels, searching for keys to progress, and engaging enemies in fast-paced combat with a variety of weapons. An automap similar to those in Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Metroid Prime aids navigation and secret discovery. The game extends the classic experience with dynamic lighting, particle effects, interactive levels, a gore system, and a dynamic soundtrack. Players can apply shaders to give the game a pixelated look, simulating resolutions down to 360p or even 216p.
The game's significance lies partly in its development story: created by industry veterans who left established studios to pursue a retro-inspired vision, and built with community engagement as a core principle through an integrated level editor. The game's plot follows a protagonist known as the Prodeus Agent, who must defeat both the Chaos monsters and the Prodeuns after humanity's near-extinction. The game's reception was generally favorable, and a DLC was announced in 2023, indicating continued support for the title.
Did You Know?
- Prodeus was crowdfunded via a Kickstarter campaign in April 2019.
- The game includes an integrated level editor that gives PC owners the same tools used by the developers.
- Players can apply shaders to simulate resolutions as low as 216p.
- A DLC for Prodeus was announced in 2023.
More in First-Person Shooters of the 2010s, Part 1 1-24
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