A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (2024)

A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (1)

The OG Doom community has done it again: Less than 24 hours after Bethesda announced Doom: The Dark Ages at the Xbox Games Showcase, modder Craneo has added a functional Shield Saw—it's a shield that is also a saw—into the original Doom.

The mod converts the famous Doom chainsaw into the soon-to-be-famous Shield Saw. It's essentially the same as the original lumberjack tool, with a couple of significant upgrades: It looks really cool, it will protect you from incoming damage (it's a shield, after all), and yes, you can throw it to mess up the bad guys Captain America style.

aight I kinda ended up trying to make actual decorate for it... it works, will upload in a bit. pic.twitter.com/OORmCydVL0June 10, 2024

I tried out the Shield Saw myself and if anything, it's a little too good: When the shield is raised (via the right mouse button) it blocks all incoming damage, no matter where it comes from. I allowed myself to be surrounded by zombies and imps, and took zero damage, even after moving to stand beside an explosive barrel, which did eventually explode—no harm done. Turning my back on a notoriously aggressive pinky demon returned the same result: Shield up, no damage. In your face, Pink!

I mention that point not to complain, but simply to point out that the Shield Saw mod isn't perfectly refined yet. But of course it isn't: Craneo made the mod in roughly the same amount of time I need to decide what I'm going to eat for supper. To stretch that analogy further, I think of it a bit like a trip to Fast Eddie's: It may not be the best burger in the world but it's pretty damn good, and I got it in 12 seconds.

Others were equally impressed:

A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (3)

How the hell did you make that so fast? pic.twitter.com/nW7aKRy1ieJune 10, 2024

Craneo hasn't indicated if they're going to keep working on the mod to make it a little less OP, or if it is what it is, and that's just fine. They have, however, hinted that the other big innovation in ultraviolence in Doom: The Dark Ages—the one I like to call the Skul-Gun, and no that's not a misspelling—could be on tap next:

A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (4)

For now, you can snag the Doom Shield Saw mod here.

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (5)

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

More about fps

XDefiant will get team deathmatch in 'a couple weeks' because we hassled them about it lotsOne of my top early access games is finally getting a second level: a 3-hour underground factory-city with an overhauled, Thief-style stealth system, a new RPG hub area, and an explanation for where all those FPS crates come from

Latest

Casper Van Dien is loving the Starship Troopers renaissance but still finds it mind-boggling some take it at face value: 'My grandfather fought against the Nazis, and it's not a pro-war film—Everybody f***ing dies!'
See more latest►

See comments

Most Popular
XDefiant will get team deathmatch in 'a couple weeks' because we hassled them about it lots
One of my top early access games is finally getting a second level: a 3-hour underground factory-city with an overhauled, Thief-style stealth system, a new RPG hub area, and an explanation for where all those FPS crates come from
A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect
Vile treachery: When you 'ran' on the Citadel in Mass Effect, it just changed the FOV to make it look like you were going faster
WB Games promises Suicide Squad 'will complete its currently announced roadmap'
Repeatedly delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake is now set for release in 2026 and no longer has 'remake' in the title
It's been 729 days since the last appearance of Silksong, and the Hollow Knight fans are in a bad way
A new Anno city builder is coming in 2025, this time set in Ancient Rome
I'm slightly less panicked about Dragon Age: The Veilguard after seeing 24 seconds of gameplay
Casper Van Dien says Helldivers 2 may be 'a good tribute' but now he's Johnny Rico again, and Starship Troopers fans better 'come in here and help us kill some damn bugs—Yeah!'
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not depict 9/11, Treyarch confirms
A modder has already brought Doom: The Dark Age's new 'Shield Saw' to the 1993 original, and it's pretty close to perfect (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6423

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.