View source for Doom II

{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{For|the sequel to the ''[[Doom (2016 video game)|2016 Doom game]]''|Doom Eternal}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Doom II
| image = Doom II - Hell on Earth Coverart.png
| caption = Cover art by [[Gerald Brom|Brom]], depicting the [[Doomguy]] firing a shotgun at a [[Cyberdemon]]
| developer = [[id Software]]{{efn|Ported to PC-98 by Infinity Co., Mac OS by Lion Entertainment, Game Boy Advance by [[Torus Games]], Zodiac by Machineworks Northwest, Xbox 360 by [[Nerve Software]], who also developed the 2019 release, and Nvidia Shield by [[Nvidia Lightspeed Studios]], while the 2024 release was developed by [[Nightdive Studios]]}}
| publisher = id Software{{efn|The European MS-DOS version, Game Boy Advance, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, as well as the 2019 and 2024 releases, were published by [[Virgin Interactive Entertainment]], [[Activision]] and [[Bethesda Softworks]] respectively.}}
| designer = {{ubl|[[Sandy Petersen]]|[[John Romero]]|[[Shawn Green (game designer)|Shawn Green]]|[[American McGee]]}}
| programmer = {{ubl|[[John Carmack]]|[[John Romero]]|[[Dave Taylor (game programmer)|Dave Taylor]]}}
| artist = {{ubl|[[Adrian Carmack]]|[[Kevin Cloud]]}}
| composer = [[Bobby Prince|Robert Prince]]{{efn|The 2024 release featured a new "IDKFA" arrangement soundtrack by [[Andrew Hulshult]].}}
| engine = [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]]{{efn|The 2019 release uses [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]], while the 2024 release uses the [[KEX Engine]].|lead=yes}}
| series = ''[[Doom (franchise)|Doom]]''
| platforms = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[MS-DOS]]}}
| [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]]
| [[PC-9800 series|PC-98]]
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| [[Tapwave Zodiac]]
| [[Xbox 360]]
| [[Xbox One]]
| [[Xbox Series X/S]]
| [[PlayStation 3]]
| [[PlayStation 4]]
| [[PlayStation 5]]
| [[Nintendo Switch]]
| [[Sega Saturn]]
| [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
| [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| [[iOS]]
}}
| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|October 10, 1994}}
| '''MS-DOS'''{{Video game release|WW|October 10, 1994{{efn|name=Sep30|Some online sources point to a September 30, 1994 release date, but that date refers to when the game shipped. The October 10, 1994 date refers to the actual release date of the game.}}}}
| '''Mac OS'''{{Video game release|NA|June 27, 1995|JP|August 1995}} 
| '''PC-98'''{{Video game release|JP|September 29, 1995}}
| '''PlayStation'''{{Video game release|NA|November 16, 1995|EU|December 1995}}
| '''Sega Saturn'''{{Video game release|NA|March 1997|EU|1997}}
| '''Game Boy Advance'''{{Video game release|NA|October 23, 2002<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Doom II'' |url=http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/product.asp?pf_id=227177 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021022095836/http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/categories/products/product.asp?pf_id=227177 |archive-date=October 22, 2002 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=[[EB Games]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Doom II'' |url=http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gamesell/p20872.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041229165450/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gamesell/p20872.htm |archive-date=December 29, 2004 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=GameZone}}</ref>|AU|November 13, 2002<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Doom II'' |url=http://www.gpstore.com.au/product.x?1457213 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030914144429/http://www.gpstore.com.au/product.x?1457213 |archive-date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=[[Gameplanet]]}}</ref>|EU|November 15, 2002<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-11-15 |title=What's New? |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-46991 |access-date=2023-03-25}}</ref>}}
| '''Tapwave Zodiac''' {{Video game release|NA|2004}}
| '''Xbox 360'''{{Video game release|WW|May 26, 2010}}
| '''PlayStation 3'''{{Video game release|WW|November 20, 2012}}
| '''Nintendo Switch''', 
'''PlayStation 4''', '''Xbox One''', '''Android''', '''iOS''' {{Video game release|WW|July 26, 2019}}
}}
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Doom II''''', also known as '''''Doom II: Hell on Earth''''', is a 1994 [[first-person shooter|first-person shooter game]] developed and published by [[id Software]] for [[MS-DOS]]. It was also released on [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]] the following year. Unlike the original ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', which was initially only available through [[shareware]] and mail order, ''Doom II'' was sold in stores, making it the first game in the [[Doom (franchise)|''Doom'' franchise]] to be released initially in stores.

Compared to its predecessor, ''Doom II'' features larger levels, new enemies, a new Super Shotgun weapon, and a new [[power-up]]. ''Master Levels for Doom II'', an [[expansion pack]] with 21 new levels, was released on December 26, 1995. Another expansion, ''No Rest for the Living'', which adds nine extra levels, was developed for the release of the game on [[Xbox Live Arcade]] and is also included in the ''[[Doom 3: BFG Edition]]'', as part of ''Doom Classic Complete'', and as a free add-on for the 2019 [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]] engine port of ''Doom II''. It was also included in the 2024 KEX Engine port.

Reception of ''Doom II'' was very positive, with critics praising that the game refined the already good aspects of the original ''Doom''. It has sold more than 1.8 million copies and earned over $74 million in revenue in the United States alone and is considered to be one of the [[List of video games considered the best|greatest video games ever made]].

''Doom II'' was [[Video game port|ported]] to the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2002, [[Tapwave Zodiac]] in 2004, on [[Xbox Live Arcade]] in 2010, and on [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] in 2019. The release of the ''Doom'' [[Open source|source code]] has facilitated ports to platforms including [[iOS]] and other [[cellphone]] systems. ''Doom II'' was included in the ''Doom'' ports for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]] in 1995 and 1997.

==Gameplay==
[[Image:DOOM2 ingame 1.png|thumb|left|The Super Shotgun in use]]

''Doom II'' was not dramatically different from its predecessor. There were no major technological developments, [[Graphics|graphical]] improvements, or substantial gameplay changes. Instead, the development team took advantage of advances in computer [[Computer hardware|hardware]] since the release of the original game that allowed them to do more with their game [[Game engine|engine]] by making much larger and more intricate levels. The game still consists of the player navigating large nonlinear levels. Each level is infested with demons that can be killed with a variety of weapons that can be picked up throughout the game. Levels are completed by finding an exit, whether it be a switch or a teleporter; the goal is simply to advance to the next area. As with its predecessor, ''Doom II's'' levels can be completed in a straightforward fashion. However, because the levels are [[Nonlinear gameplay|nonlinear]] players can wander off the beaten path, and those that do are often rewarded with bonuses, like health pickups and more powerful weapons. Due to the larger and more complicated maps with larger groups of monsters, the game had somewhat higher system requirements than the original.

Rather than the player playing through three related episodes as in the first ''Doom'', gameplay takes place over 32 levels (two of which are secret levels that can be accessed from level 15), albeit with interludes for when the story develops. Instead of watching the player's progress on a map (as in the original episodes of ''Doom''), the screens between each level simply show a background (a style carried over to the bonus fourth episode of ''Doom'' available in ''[[The Ultimate Doom]]'', the [[retail]] re-release of the original ''Doom''). This also means the player is never forced to lose all of their inventory after completing an episode.

''Doom II'' doubled the number of non-[[Boss (video games)|boss]] monster types and started using bosses from the original ''Doom'' as normal level enemies, in addition to adding a new weapon, the super shotgun (a very powerful [[double-barreled shotgun]]), and a new power-up, the megasphere.

===Multiplayer===
''Doom''{{'}}s [[multiplayer]] functionality was greatly improved in ''Doom II'', including "out of the box" support for a vastly increased number of dial-up modems. The two-player dial-up connection allowed one player to dial into the other player's computer in order to play either cooperatively or in [[Deathmatch (video games)|deathmatch]]-style combat. There was also [[local area network]] (LAN) functionality added, which was improved upon as patches and updates were released. This functionality was later incorporated into the original ''Doom''. As with the original ''Doom'', multiplayer games used to be played using the dial-up or LAN by the internal setup program (setup.exe), through the online service [[DWANGO]] or with once-popular programs like [[Kali (software)|Kali]] and Kahn (using SPX) in Windows 95. Nowadays, in the modern standards, ''Doom II'' can be played with almost any version of Windows across the internet using third-party [[source port]]s such as ''[[Odamex]]'',<ref name="OnlineDoom2"/> ''[[Zandronum]]'',<ref name="Zandronum"/> [[ZDaemon]],<ref name="ZDaemon"/> and are still popular today.<ref name="WyeSoft"/> The [[Xbox Live Arcade]] port of ''Doom II'' supports online multiplayer via [[Xbox Live]].

==Plot==
Immediately following the events in ''Doom'', the player once again assumes the role of [[Doomguy]]. After defeating the Spider Mastermind, the marine finds a portal to Earth opened by demons. After returning to Earth, the marine finds that it has also been invaded by the demons, who have killed billions of people.<ref name="classicdoomtext"/><ref name="lombardi199407"/>

The humans who survived the attack have developed a plan to build massive [[Spacecraft|spaceships]] which will carry the remaining survivors into space. Unfortunately, Earth's only ground spaceport has been taken over by the demons, who placed a barrier over it, preventing any ships from leaving.<ref name="classicdoomtext"/> The marine battles hordes of [[demons]] and is able to deactivate the force field, allowing the remaining humans to escape. Once all the survivors have escaped Earth, the marine is the only human left on the planet.<ref name="timbrastowguide"/>

Just as he sits down to await death, knowing that he saved humanity, the marine then receives an off-planet transmission from the survivors in [[orbit]], who have managed to find out where the armies of Hell are coming from. The message reveals that the demonic base is in the center of the marine's own hometown. He then fights through the city until he reaches the base, but sees there is no way to stop the invasion on that side. He decides to step into the portal to try deactivating it from the other side, entering Hell.

After fighting through the hordes of Hell, the marine reaches the location of the biggest [[demon]] he has ever seen, called the Icon of Sin ([[Baphomet]]). He kills the Icon of Sin by firing rockets into its exposed brain. Its death causes devastation in Hell, and the portal to Earth is sealed. The marine wonders where evil people will go when they die now that Hell has been destroyed, and reflects that rebuilding the world will be more fun than saving it as he begins his journey back home.

==Development==
Most of the levels were designed by [[Sandy Petersen]],<ref name="JRShoot"/> with [[American McGee]] playing a significant role as well. The final level, ''Icon of Sin'', contains an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] where two of the artists put the severed head of [[John Romero]] as the [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] hidden behind the icon on the wall which must be damaged by rocket [[splash damage]] three times to win the game. Romero, while playing the level to work on its sound effects, accidentally stumbled upon this in-joke of himself. After realising what his co-workers had done, Romero himself answered by recording his voice saying "To win the game, you must kill me, John Romero", putting it through various [[Audio filter|filters]] to distort it, then reverse the recording to create the "demonic chant" spoken by the head upon spotting the player.<ref name="JRInterview"/><ref name="IconSin"/> The photo that was scanned for the "[[John Romero|John Romero's]] head"-sprite was from a [[Businessweek]] photo shot in 1994.<ref name="JRBusWeek"/> One of Petersen's ideas that never made it to the final game was replacing the Fists weapon with a hand axe.<ref name="JW&SP"/>

Advertising for the game was between $3 million and $5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85642173/newsday-suffolk-edition/ |title=It's war in Game Industry |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |page=55 |date=September 16, 1994 |accessdate=September 23, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Releases==
''Doom II'' was released for DOS on October 10, 1994 (one of the days of the [[Doomsday rule]] and exactly ten months after the original) in North America and Europe; distribution was handled by [[GT Interactive]].<ref name="DoomsdayRule" /><ref name="DoomII-20Years" /><ref name="DoomBlue" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gtinteractive.com/1eftKro1/press/doom2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19961105180838/http://www.gtinteractive.com:80/1eftKro1/press/doom2.html|title=Doom II : Hell on Earth now available from GT Interactive Software; more than 500,000 fans pre-order hyper-realistic combat game|website=[[GT Interactive]]|archivedate=November 5, 1996|date=October 10, 1994|accessdate=August 12, 2024}}</ref>

In 1995, a port for Mac OS by Lion Entertainment Inc. was released,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Chris |date=April 26, 2000 |title=More Mac Games |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/more-mac-games/1100-2467294/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as a port for the PlayStation.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} An [[Atari Jaguar]] port was also announced early in the year, but was never released.<ref name="MF28">{{cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=Scene: Atari '95 - Eine Auswahl an geplanten Titeln |url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMegaFun_DE_1995-01.pdf&page=22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200730131734/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:MegaFun_DE_1995-01.pdf&page=22 |archive-date=2020-07-30 |magazine=[[:de:Mega Fun|Mega Fun]] |publisher=[[:de:Computec Media Group|CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG]] |page=22 |issue=28 |lang=de}}</ref> Likewise, a [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]] version was announced to be in development by [[Art Data Interactive]], but it never materialized.<ref name="3DO-Doom2" /><ref name="3DO-Doom2Preview" /> In 1997, a port for the Sega Saturn was released.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

A [[Porting#Porting in gaming|port]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]] was released in 2002, for the [[Tapwave Zodiac]] in 2004, for [[Xbox Live Arcade]] in 2010,<ref name="Shacknews-DM2" /><ref name="XboxLive-DM2" /> and for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Xbox One]] in 2019, with the latter-most platforms (with [[PlayStation 5]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]] versions) receiving a further expanded port in 2024 alongside the original ''Doom''.<ref name="OriginalDoom" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=2024-08-08 |title=DOOM and DOOM 2 Getting New Enhanced Versions With a Brand-New Episode and More |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/doom-and-doom-2-new-enhanced-versions-steam-listing-leaked-quakecon-2024 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2024-08-08 |title=Doom and Doom II get a 'definitive' re-release that's packed with upgrades |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/8/24216379/doom-doom-ii-definitive-re-release |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=[[The Verge]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="3DO-Doom2PreviewII" />

The release of the ''Doom'' [[Open source|source code]]{{When|date=May 2025}} has facilitated ports to many other platforms, including [[iOS]] and other cellphone systems.

In August 2024, Bethesda announced a definitive edition at QuakeCon called ''Doom + Doom II''. The new edition also includes ''TNT: Evilution'', ''The Plutonia Experiment, Master Levels for Doom 2, No Rest for the Living, Sigil'' (by [[John Romero]]), a new deathmatch map pack with 26 maps, and a new episode titled ''Legacy of Rust. Legacy of Rust'' was developed by id Software, [[Nightdive Studios]], and [[MachineGames]]. The bundle also included in-game mod support across both titles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Id Software just surprise launched Doom + Doom 2, a 'definitive' bundle that adds cross-platform multiplayer and in-game mod support to every retro Doom |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/id-software-just-surprise-launched-doom-doom-2-a-definitive-bundle-that-adds-cross-platform-multiplayer-and-in-game-mod-support-to-every-retro-doom/ |website=PC Gamer |access-date=13 August 2024 |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |date=8 August 2024 }}</ref> 

On 10th of April{{Year needed|date=May 2025}} ''Sigil II'' was officially added to the ''Doom'' + ''Doom II'' edition.<ref>title=DOOM + DOOM II Update 3 Release Notes
Update 3 is live! |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2280/view/541102686549836357 |date=10 April 2025</ref>

==Expansions==
{{See also|Final Doom}}

===''Master Levels for Doom II''===
''Master Levels for Doom II'' is an official [[expansion pack]] for ''Doom II'' which was released on December 26, 1995 by [[id Software]].<ref name="ml-faq" /> The CD contains 20 [[Doom modding|WAD]] files created by various authors under contract. There is also a bonus called ''Maximum Doom'' consisting of over 3,000 [[Homebrew (video games)|homebrew]] levels.<ref name="MaxDoom"/> Romero wrote about the origin of the expansion in 2023. Back in 1995, some retailers were selling disks in stores that simply contained many ''Doom'' WADs scraped from the internet. Though the levels were available for free online, many players had slow internet access at the time and so would purchase the disks, which were "selling like hot-cakes". Realising this, id decided to officially license a similar disk by approaching mappers and commissioning them for levels, in addition to the large shareware collection. More broadly, the disk was part of an effort by Romero to diversify id Software's income at a time when much of the team was waiting for the [[Quake engine]] to be ready.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Romero |first=John |title=DOOM Guy: Life in First Person |publisher=Abrams Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-1419758119 |pages=236–247}}</ref> Reviewer Ed Dawson for ''[[PC PowerPlay]]'' praised the quality of the levels, but noted the "uniformly medium size" of the commercial levels and the high purchase price for predominantly shareware content.<ref name=PCPP>{{Cite journal |last=Dawson |first=Ed |date=May 1996 |title=Master Levels For Doom II |url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-001-1996-05 |journal=PC PowerPlay |issue=1 |pages=62}}</ref>

===''No Rest for the Living''===
''No Rest for the Living'' is an expansion pack developed for the release of ''Doom II'' on [[Xbox Live Arcade]] for the Xbox 360. It was developed by [[Nerve Software]], under the direction of [[id Software]] and was released on May 26, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=May 25, 2010 |title=''Doom II'', ''Green Day'' demo lead XBL releases |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/doom-ii-green-day-demo-lead-xbl-releases/1100-6263635/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It consists of eight regular levels and one secret level. It is also included in the 2012 ''Doom II'' release from ''[[Doom 3: BFG Edition]]'', as part of ''Doom Classic Complete'' for the [[PlayStation Network]], and has been released as a free add-on for the 2019 [[Unity engine]] port of ''Doom II''. Although no detailed plot information is given, this expansion appears to take place after the main campaign of ''Doom II''. Brandon James, president of Nerve Software, said this expansion was designed to be played on Ultra-Violence difficulty, contains "a plethora of secrets to find," and "is geared toward a more hardcore experience."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=December 2009 |title=Insert Coin: Doom II |url=https://archive.org/details/OXM_2009_12-web |magazine=Official Xbox Magazine |issue=103 |pages=24 |issn=1534-7850}}</ref>

===''Legacy of Rust''===
''Legacy of Rust'' was developed by id Software, Nightdive Studios, and MachineGames. Released on August 8, 2024, ''Legacy of Rust'' is the first official episode since ''Doom II'' to feature brand-new enemies/weapons. The new episode is divided into two chapters, "The Vulcan Abyss" and "Counterfeit Eden," which contain a combined total of 16 maps.<ref>{{cite web |title=31 Years Later, DOOM Is Still Getting Official New Content (& It's Available Now) |url=https://screenrant.com/doom-new-episode-legacy-rust-doom-2-bundle/ |website=Screen Rant |date=8 August 2024 |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
{{Video game reviews
 | MC = PC: 83/100<ref name="MC"/><br />GBA: 77/100<ref name="MC-GBA"/><br />X360: 77/100<ref name="MC-X360"/>
 | Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}} (DOS)<ref>{{cite web |last=House |first=Matthew |title=Doom II |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14065 |publisher=AllGame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114141910/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14065|archive-date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref><br />{{Rating|4|5}} ({{nowrap|Macintosh}})<ref>{{cite web |last=House |first=Matthew |title=Doom II |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=532 |publisher=AllGame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114135833/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=532 |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2023}}</ref>
 | NGen = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="NG"/>
 | PCPP = 3/10 <small>(Master Levels)</small><ref name="MasterLevels"/>
 | GSpot = 8.5 /10 <small>(PC)</small><ref name=Spot>{{cite web |last=Gamespot Staff |date=May 1, 1996 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/doom-ii-review/1900-2539987/ |title=Doom II Review (GameSpot) |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref>
 | GSpy = {{rating|4.5|5}} <small>(GBA)</small><ref name=Spy>{{cite web |last=Fryman |first=Avi |date=October 26, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041030134428/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/doom-ii/547320p1.html |archive-date=October 30, 2004 |url=http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/doom-ii/547320p1.html |title=GameSpy: Doom II |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref>
 | rev1 = ''[[MacUser]]''
 | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="macuser"/>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2Score = A<ref name=ET>{{cite magazine |last=Nashawaty |first=Chris |date=October 28, 1994 |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/10/28/pc-game-review-doom-ii-hell-earth/ |title=PC Game Review: 'Doom II: Hell on Earth' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref>
}}

The reception of ''Doom II'' was positive, with reviewers saying it refined everything that made the original ''Doom'' good.<ref name="GR-DM2"/> The game was reviewed in 1995 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #216 by [[David Cook (game designer)|David "Zeb" Cook]] in the "Eye of the Monitor" column, who stated that, "if mindless but intense carnage is what you want, you'll get your money's worth. It's just not a must-have, keep-on-the-hard-drive-forever game. If you need to have more ''Doom'', get this."<ref name="Dragon216"/>

Writer/game designer [[Chris Crawford (game designer)|Chris Crawford]] used the level "Barrels O' Fun" to illustrate a point about death in video games, explaining he chose the level as his example because it is "one of the most complex and sophisticated challenges in one of the very best games of the 1990s".<ref name="NextGen-DM2"/>

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "Now that the first person interface has become the design of choice for the entire industry, Id will need to find new innovations, or it will quickly find it's playing catch-up in its own game niche."<ref name="NG"/>

===Awards===
''Doom II'' won the [[Origins Award]] for ''Best Fantasy or [[Science fiction]] Computer Game of 1994''.<ref name="OriginsAward"/>

===Sales===
According to [[David Kushner (writer)|David Kushner]] in ''[[Masters of Doom]]'', id Software shipped 600,000 units of ''Doom II'' to stores in preparation for its launch. This initial shipment sold out within a month on shelves, despite its being expected to last for three months.<ref name="mastersdoom"/> Pre-orders for the game were so massive that it was difficult to buy from a store. The game products were displayed on pallets rather than shelves.<ref name="Pioneer-GTInteractive"/> The game was the United States' highest-selling software product of 1994,<ref name="latimes"/> and sold more than {{nowrap|1.2 million}} copies within a year.<ref>{{cite book |last1=O'Connell |first1=Brian |title=Gen E: Generation Entrepreneur is Rewriting the Rules of Business |date=1999 |publisher=[[Entrepreneur Press]] |isbn=978-1-891984-07-5 |page=50 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEHyAAAAMAAJ |quote=Doom II soon rolled out and was an instant hit, selling more than {{nowrap|1.2 million}} copies within a year}}</ref> It placed 10th for 1996, with 322,671 units sold and $12.6 million earned in the region that year alone.<ref name="slow"/> According to [[PC Data]], which tracked sales in the United States, ''Doom II'' sold 1.81 million units and earned $74.7 million in revenue in the United States. This led [[PC Data]] to declare it the country's third-best-selling computer game for the period between January 1993 and April 1998.<ref name=1993-1998>{{cite magazine |author=Staff |title=Player Stats: Top 10 Best-Selling Games, 1993 – Present |date=September 1998 |issue=170 |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |page=52}}</ref> Its revenues in that country ultimately reached $80 million, while those in Europe reached $20 million. Of the latter figure, Kushner wrote that "30 percent [...] came from Germany—a country that had banned the game from its shelves."<ref name="mastersdoom"/>

In [[Australia]], the game sold 10,000 copies in the first two days of its release.<ref>{{cite web |first=Tony |last=Sarno |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85839216/ |title=The Doom Boom |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |page=38 |date=October 25, 1994 |accessdate=September 23, 2021 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 2022, John Romero created a new level called "One Humanity"<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Humanity |url=https://romero.com/shop/p/onehumanity |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Romero |language=en-US}}</ref> for the game to raise money for the [[Ukrainian Red Cross Society|Ukrainian Red Cross]], and the [[Central Emergency Response Fund|United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund]] following the outbreak of the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref name="DoomUkraine"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=2022-03-04 |title=John Romero releases new Doom II map to "support the Ukrainian people" |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/03/john-romero-releases-new-doom-ii-map-to-support-the-ukrainian-people/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-07 |title=Doom designer creates new level to support Ukraine |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/doom-designer-creates-new-level-to-support-ukraine |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref> By March 2022, the new level had raised more than $29,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2022-03-08 |title=John Romero's new Doom 2 level raises over $29,000 for Ukraine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/john-romeros-new-doom-2-level-raises-over-dollar27000-for-ukraine/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|1=30em|refs=

<!-- Not in use
<ref name="Origins">{{cite web |url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1994 |title=1994 - Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design, List of Winners |access-date=2009-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614193353/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1994 |archive-date=June 14, 2008}}</ref>
Not in use-->

<ref name="ml-faq">{{cite web |url=http://www.cultmovies.dk/mlfaq102.htm |title=The Un-official Master Levels for Doom II FAQ |last=Larsen |first=Henrik |author2=John W. "Dr.Sleep" Anderson |author3=Jim Flynn |author4=Shawn Green |author5=Chris Klie |author6=Sverre Kvernmo |author7=Ledmeister |author8=Rez |author9=Rob Hayward |author10=Tom Mustaine |author11=John Romero |access-date=2009-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903215007/http://www.cultmovies.dk/mlfaq102.htm |archive-date=2009-09-03}}</ref>
<ref name="Shacknews-DM2">{{cite web |last=Brahmin |first=Mad |url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59971 |title=Shacknews |date=13 August 2009 |publisher=Shacknews |access-date=2012-06-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028145824/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/59971 |archive-date=2010-10-28}}</ref>
<ref name="XboxLive-DM2">{{cite web |author=Jim Reilly |url=http://uk.xboxlive.ign.com/articles/101/1013852p1.html |title=IGN |publisher=Uk.xboxlive.ign.com |access-date=2012-06-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218134644/http://uk.xboxlive.ign.com/articles/101/1013852p1.html |archive-date=2012-02-18}}</ref>
<ref name="OriginalDoom">{{cite web |title=The Original DOOM, DOOM II And DOOM 3 Have All Surprise Launched On Nintendo Switch |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/07/the_original_doom_doom_ii_and_doom_3_have_all_surprise_launched_on_nintendo_switch |work=[[Nintendo Life]] |first=Ryan |last=Craddock |date=2019-07-26 |access-date=2019-07-26}}</ref>
<ref name="OnlineDoom2">{{cite web |url=http://www.odamex.net/ |title=Online Multiplayer Doom, Doom 2, and Quex Quest |date=2013-02-19 |work=odamex.net |access-date=2013-02-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310023344/http://odamex.net/ |archive-date=2013-03-10}}</ref>
<ref name="Zandronum">{{cite web |url=http://zandronum.com/ |title=Zandronum - Multiplayer ZDoom |publisher=Zandronum.com |access-date=2013-02-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302224843/http://zandronum.com/ |archive-date=2013-03-02}}</ref>
<ref name="ZDaemon">{{cite web |url=http://zdaemon.org/ |title=Online Multiplayer Doom |publisher=Zdaemon.org |access-date=2008-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024170843/http://www.zdaemon.org/ |archive-date=2008-10-24}}</ref>
<ref name="WyeSoft">{{cite web |url=http://doom.wyesoft.com/ |title=Classic Doom Online |publisher=Doom.wyesoft.com |access-date=2012-06-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316073756/http://doom.wyesoft.com/ |archive-date=2012-03-16}}</ref>
<ref name="classicdoomtext">{{cite web |url=http://www.classicdoom.com/doomtext.htm#doom2 |access-date=June 25, 2011 |title=DOOMTEXT.HTM: Storylines for Doom, Doom II, Final Doom, Doom 64 |author=Transcripts from printed manuals by Ledmeister}}</ref>
<ref name="lombardi199407">{{Cite magazine |last=Lombardi |first=Chris |date=July 1994 |title=To Hell and Back Again |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=120 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=20–24}}</ref>
<ref name="timbrastowguide">{{cite web |url=http://www.classicdoom.com/hosted/brastow/pfpcd2.htm#7 |title=Doom II FAQ/Walkthrough |date=May 13, 2009 |access-date=June 25, 2011 |author=Tim Brastow}}</ref>
<ref name="JRShoot">{{cite magazine |title=Does John Romero Still Enjoy Shooting People? |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=30 |date=June 1997 |page=10 |url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n10}}</ref>
<ref name="JRInterview">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/zXGu0gJQJC8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20131013025040/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXGu0gJQJC8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite interview |last=Romero |first=John |subject-link=John Romero |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXGu0gJQJC8 |via=[[YouTube]] |title=John Romero talks about being the final boss in Doom 2 |place=[[FanX|Salt Lake Comic Con]], 2013 |date=September 5–7, 2013 |type=Live interview}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
<ref name="IconSin">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/aklPwXLX9mw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190819131449/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklPwXLX9mw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aklPwXLX9mw |title=Real speech of Icon of Sin |via=[[YouTube]] |date=December 28, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
<ref name="JRBusWeek">{{cite tweet |last=Romero |first=John |author-link=John Romero |user=romero |number=542956102368129024 |date=December 11, 2014 |title=The Icon of Sin, original scan of my head from a Businessweek photo shoot in 1994. Not the exact pic, but from then.}}</ref>
<ref name="JW&SP">{{Cite magazine |date=April 1994 |title=Interview with Jay Wilbur and Sandy Petersen |url=https://archive.org/details/pcjokermaerz1994images/page/n59 |magazine=PC Joker |issue=21 |pages=61–63}}</ref>
<ref name="3DO-Doom2">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_3_Issue_07#page/n42/mode/1up |title=E-3 The Biggest And Best Electronic Entertainment Show Ever! – '95 Next Generation Software Listing |magazine=[[GameFan]] |volume=3 |issue=7 |date=July 1995 |page=41}}</ref>
<ref name="3DO-Doom2Preview">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/3DO_Magazine_Issue_10_1996-05_Paragon_Publishing_GB#page/n32/mode/1up |title=Preview – Coming Soon |magazine=[[Paragon Publishing|3DO Magazine]] |issue=10 |publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]] |date=May 1996 |pages=33–34}}</ref>
<ref name="3DO-Doom2PreviewII">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/stream/3DO_Magazine_Issue_12_1996-07_Paragon_Publishing_GB#page/n32/mode/1up |title=Preview – Coming Soon |magazine=[[Paragon Publishing|3DO Magazine]] |issue=12 |publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]] |date=July 1996 |pages=33–34}}</ref>
<ref name="DoomsdayRule">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/10/10/pac-man-tetris-and-now-its-dooms-day/dcb829db-cdbe-4e19-b3e5-9f9681d8097b/ |title=PAC-MAN, TETRIS -- AND NOW IT'S DOOM'S DAY |first=Dave |last=Nuttycombs |date=October 10, 1994 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="DoomII-20Years">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/retro-gaming/a603734/doom-2-hell-on-earth-turns-20-years-old-this-week-and-its-still-great/ |title=Doom 2: Hell on Earth turns 20 years old this week, and it's still great |first=Ian |last=Dransfield |date=October 18, 2014 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="DoomBlue">{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/archives/oct98-2.html |title=Out of the Blue |date=October 10, 1998 |website=Blue's News |access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="MaxDoom">{{cite web |url=http://idsoftware.com/killer/doommac.html |title=Master Levels for Doom II (1994) |publisher=[[id Software]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980204060123/http://idsoftware.com/killer/doommac.html |archive-date=February 4, 1998}}</ref>
<ref name="mastersdoom">{{cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |title=[[Masters of Doom|Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created An Empire And Transformed Pop Culture]] |publisher=[[Random House]] |at=182, 210 |year=2003 |isbn=0-375-50524-5}}</ref>
<ref name="Pioneer-GTInteractive">''Online Game Pioneers at Work'', p. 251</ref>
<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902121050/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-03-23/business/fi-46298_1_interactive-game/2 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-23-fi-46298-story.html |title=News Analysis: Playing the Interactive Game |author=Pitta, Julia |date=March 23, 1995 |page=2 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url-status=live |archive-date=September 2, 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="slow">{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518142834/http://articles.latimes.com/1997-03-03/business/fi-34360_1_pc-game |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-03-fi-34360-story.html |title=''Myst'' Opportunities: Game Makers Narrow Their Focus to Search for the Next Blockbuster |date=March 3, 1997 |author=Miller, Greg |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=May 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=DOOM II for PC Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=August 5, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303083653/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/doom-ii |archive-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>
<ref name="MC-GBA">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |title=Doom II for Game Boy Advance Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="MC-X360">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/doom-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360 |title=DOOM II for Xbox 360 Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine |title=Finals |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=1 |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |date=January 1995 |page=94}}</ref>
<ref name="MasterLevels">{{Cite journal |last=D. |first=E. |date=May 1996 |title=Master Levels for Doom II |url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-001-1996-05 |journal=[[PC PowerPlay]] |issue=1 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-001-1996-05/page/n61 62]}}</ref>
<ref name="macuser">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221033422/http://macuser.zdnet.com/mu_0396/personal/gameroom.html |url=http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0396/personal/gameroom.html |title=The Game Room |author=LeVitus, Bob |date=March 1996 |work=[[MacUser]] |archive-date=February 21, 2001 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 23, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
<ref name="GR-DM2">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197142-doom-ii/index.html |title=Doom II for PC |publisher=GameRankings |date=1994-09-30 |access-date=2012-06-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718214652/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197142-doom-ii/index.html |archive-date=2012-07-18}}</ref>
<ref name="Dragon216">{{cite journal |title=Eye of the Monitor |author=Cook, David |journal=Dragon |issue=216 |date=April 1995 |pages=63–66 |author-link=David Cook (game designer)}}</ref>
<ref name="NextGen-DM2">{{cite magazine |last=Crawford |first=Chris |title=The Way Games Ought to Be |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=17 |date=May 1996 |pages=126–7}}</ref>
<ref name="OriginsAward">{{cite web |url=http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1994 |title=Origins Award Winners (1994) |access-date=2007-09-18 |publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830114223/http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1994 |archive-date=2007-08-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="DoomUkraine">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/03/03/john-romero-releases-new-doom-2-level-to-raise-money-for-ukraine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303141615/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/03/03/john-romero-releases-new-doom-2-level-to-raise-money-for-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |last=LeBlanc |first=Wesley |title=John Romero Releases New Doom 2 Level to Raise Money for Ukraine |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=2022-03-03}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/doom-ii_}}

{{DOOMgames}}
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