The complete source code for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) version of Doom has been released on archive.org. Although some of the code was partially released a few years ago, this is the first time the full source code has been made publicly available.
↫ Shaun James at GBAtemp
The code was very close to being lost forever, down to a corrupted disk that had to be fixed. It’s crazy how much valuable, historically relevant code we’re just letting rot away for no reason.
It’s worth noting that DOOM SNES used an enhancement chip, so you can’t flash it on a standard flashable cartridge.
I think the value and historical relevance being proposed is greatly overstated. “DOOM” doesn’t automatically make this source code of great importance in any context, especially on SNES. It was neither groundbreaking nor impressive, and didn’t take the hardware to a new level of performance or gameplay. The best compliment you can give it is that in all its hobbled-together, money-grab glory, it managed to satisfy a segment of PC-less kids who desperately wanted to play DOOM.
DOOM on the SNES was a technical achievement (even taking the fact that it used a Super FX 2 enhancement chip), though as a game it kind of sucked. Whether that makes it historically relevant is subjective.
In what way do you think it’s a technical achievement? It’s already known from the previous partial source code dump that the port (although I’d argue it’s more of a remake) used poor & inefficient approaches, likely due to being rushed as a quick money-grab before the SNES EOL. It’s certainly not more technically impressive than many other SNES titles, including SMW2, which uses the same chip. If anything it’s that chip that’s the achievement, not DOOM or its slapped together engine for SNES.