As far as classic '90s megawads are concerned, there are a few key monoliths which we still think back on today - Icarus, Requiem, and the Memento Moris chief among them. But dig a little deeper, and you may just discover some hidden gems...
On Halloween night of 1996, Realm of Chaos hit the scene, a megawad developed by TMT. And no, that's not a typo - they're The Macintosh Team! A mere seven Mac users, given a mere six months, managed to assemble an entire 32-map megawad. It flew under the radar for most, not being as Triple-A as the above-mentioned megawads and not pulling off many complicated puzzles or mapping magic. But in its place, Realm of Chaos distinguishes itself with a prevailing focus on straight-up combat, often in quick and concentrated levels. There's plenty of creative maps and fun action to be had in this hidden classic, and I think it deserves its time in the limelight.
Fortunately, I've been given the privilege to give it that time. With guidance from TMT keystones @DocBob and @Steve D, Realm of Chaos: 25th Anniversary Edition is here!
This revised and recharged version of the classic wad features new graphics and sprites, an included DeHacked patch with original story sequences and automap names, and a major facelift to every single map with permission from the original creators. The fights are badder, the progression is clearer, the lighting is sharper - but the original soul is wholly intact, and it remains 100% vanilla compatible!
Perhaps the biggest addition of all, this edition of Realm of Chaos features a full custom soundtrack of 35 never-before-heard MIDIs courtesy of yours truly! Sticking true to the original project's restrictions, the soundtrack and all above changes were made on my MacBook Air right up until it kicked the bucket.
= = > DOWNLOAD THE MEGAWAD ON IDGAMES! < = =
Update 9/9/24: A 33rd bonus map is in development!
Here are some screenshots for you:
If you've read this far, make sure to check out the development thread for Realm of Chaos 2! @Steve D and I have got a hand in that one, as well, and you're not going to want to miss it.