Video Games
‘Hocus Pocus’ Returns as a ‘DOOM’ Mod
No, this isn’t about the Disney classic (though a video game adaptation would be interesting), Apogee Software’s Hocus Pocus is a side-scrolling DOS game released back in 1994 by Apogee Software. You controlled Hocus, a young wizard apprentice, and the goal of this game was to collect all the crystal balls within the 16 levels.
So naturally, that’s just cause to create a DOOM mod based on the game. For the last five years, modder Ravage has been working on Hocusdoom, a total conversion for DOOM 2 that transforms it into a first-person version of Hocus Pocus. Shoot magic at scorpions and bats, shout “Yahoo!” in the original game’s Mario-esque voice, and collect crystals while circle-strafing.
Given the five years of development, this isn’t a quick and dirty mod. The graphics have been given a serious overhaul, changing the hellish landscape into the whimsical fantasy setting for Hocus Pocus. Hey, it’ll keep you busy until DOOM Eternal hits in March 2020.
Video Games
Get Your Lovecraft This Steam Next Fest with the Demo for ‘The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu’ [Trailer]
The summer edition of Steam Next Fest is upon us, and NACON and ACE Team are kicking things off with a new demo for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu after its Closed Beta earlier this month. To mark the occasion, the devteam has released a new trailer that offers a glimpse into the gameplay and the oppressive atmosphere that awaits players in the jungle.
Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror short novel, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu invites players to form a squad of 2 to 4 members to embark on an uncharted continent in search of a legendary city containing invaluable treasures deep within a hostile jungle. The Steam Next Fest demo supports up to 4 players in online co-op, letting you experience the first few hours of the game. Several types of missions are available, ranging from simple treasure hunts to battles against fearsome creatures.
Before each expedition, players gather aboard the galleon to choose a contract and share weapons and equipment. Once they arrive on the continent, the explorers set out in search of treasures and resources to bring back to the galleon’s captain. Ancient forts, remnants of lost expeditions, await discovery. They allow players to establish a new starting point to venture deeper into the jungle as expeditions progress.
But the jungle hides even more terrifying dangers. As they venture deeper into the jungle, their perception of reality gradually becomes corrupted until their sanity reaches a critical point. Visual and auditory illusions disorient the adventurers, potentially causing accidental sabotage that could jeopardize the mission. Even death offers no respite: fallen comrades may return in a corrupted form and turn against their allies.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu will launch July 15 on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and the Xbox Series. Pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions are now open.