Spear Resurrection is a mod for Spear of Destiny, made by AReyeP & MCS. It was released on November 29, 2001.
Genesis[]
The mod was in the works for roughly one year. It caused quite a stir in the modding community, and raised the bar for modding for years to come. In many cases, it became the symbol of before and after in terms of Wolfenstein 3D mods.
The first screenshots were posted at the Wolfenstein 3D Dome on April 16, 2001. These shots depicted the many new graphics and features. At this stage, the status bar had been finished, though some sprites were different to the November 2001 release (the oil drum was taken from DOOM and the Wolfenstein 3D chaingun was still featured as pickup sprite) and levels 2 and 3 looked different to their released counterpart. However, this may have been arranged simply for the screenshots to depict as varied an atmosphere as possible.
On May 30, further screenshots were posted and the list of coding features:
- Original Spear code used
- Copy protection removed
- Original Spear palette and Spear sign on screen used
- "Read This", Help Text, Intermission text, and End text added
- Extra weapon with separate ammo added
- Easycheat (no more Shift-Alt-Backspace to enter cheat mode)
- Get Current Ratio option added to cheats
- No Clipping added to cheats
- No red damage flash when in God mode
- 2 extra keys added
- Landmines added - random damage that is also dependent on skill level being played - these hurt enemies as well as player
- Exploding Barrels that, depending on range, hurt you and the enemy. (Amount of damage also depends on skill level being played)
- Breakable Columns
- Maximum 125% health, and 150 of each ammo type (total of 300 ammo)
- External demo support
- Ambient sounds
- 2 extra unlocked doors
- Locked elevator door
- Animated objects such as torches that can act as normal blocking objects
- Godmode artefact
Final screenshots were then released on October 26, where the levels depicted and the graphical changes corresponded to the finally released version. Release then followed on November 29.
Description[]
The mod features 23 levels, making it the first Spear of Destiny mod to go beyond the 21 level limit. The storyline was meant as a direct follow-up to that of Spear of Destiny. In addition to the numerous coding changes listed above, the mod also featured virtually all-new graphics, sounds and music. Some of the music originated in games outside Wolfenstein 3D, including Duke Nukem 3D, DOOM, Blake Stone and Rise of the Triad in addition to unique MIDI files.
Some of the graphics were based on an older set of AReyeP's, entitled CIG Wolfenstein. This was not publicly available at the time, however. Brand new bosses were featured, and the guard, SS and officer enemies were also edited, though still recognizable. Rather than the chaingun, a brand new rapid-fire weapon was introduced; the MCS which features both as Mk3 and Mk4 and it uses its own unique ammo, and has its own ammo counter on the status bar.
Team[]
AReyeP took responsibilities for the mapping and the graphics and sounds, and MCS took care of the coding in addition to making the infamous opening level. This level would be among the first outside introductory levels that numerous mods would emulate over time.
Legacy[]
An editor's version was later released, as was an extensive hintbook. This paved the way for mods and map sets, though compared to the mod's extreme popularity, not that many mods that used the editor's version as a base were ever released. It was also an early mod to feature music from outside sources, edited to fit the limitations of IMF. Furthermore, there had not been a similar mod before that so thoroughly replaced every graphic and sound.
Spear Resurrection's audiovisual atmosphere would also be a major influence and springboard for the duo's next project, End of Destiny.
Ports[]
An SDL port was released on October 1, 2011 shortly before the mod's 10th anniversary which was also marked by an anniversary edition.
Add-ons[]
Two third party map sets, called Spear Resurrection Master Levels and The Anticipation, were also created by Ian Summerfield and ack respectively. The Rise of Hitler and Southern Hell were also made using the Spear Resurrection executable as a base. In 2024 The Revocation was released by Thomas Weiling.
Screenshots[]
External links[]
- Download Spear Resurrection (DOS) at The Wolfenstein 3D Dome (archived)
- Download Spear Resurrection (SDL) at AReyeP and MCS' Wolf 3D Add-ons & Total Conversions Page
- Download Editors' version at AReyeP and MCS' Wolf 3D Add-ons & Total Conversions Page
- Download at MediaFire: DOS | SDL | Editors
- SDL release thread at DieHard Wolfers
- Support forum at DieHard Wolfers
- Polls: DHW 1 DHW 2 DHW U-Rate-It Haven 1 Haven 2
- News at the Dome: SEP/OCT 2011 MAY/JUN 2011 OCT/DEC 2001 MAY/JUN 2001 MAR/APR 2001
- YouTube videos: Lingyan203 Squakenet AReyeP Diehardwolferrr MexicanMadMan Moraduke