A DOOM 2 mod has been released that adds Animal Crossing’s Isabelle to the game as a companion follower. The DOOM and Animal Crossing fandoms have felt connected in recent months, sharing their anticipation for the new games released on March 20th, Bethesda Softwork’s DOOM: Eternal and Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The gore-heavy demon shredding gameplay of DOOM and the casual relaxing island life of Animal Crossing couldn’t be bigger opposites, but memes and fan art created over the past few months have cemented the two franchises and their fandoms together.
Artists across Twitter have paired up the deadly super soldier Doom Slayer with the cheerful poodle receptionist Isabelle, often depicting the unlikely duo tearing through mobs of demons together or catching bugs on the beach. Fans across the internet were eating up these depictions of the ruthless Slayer enjoying the wholesome activities of Animal Crossing. As the release of DOOM: Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons drew closer, fans of both series wondered what an actual crossover between these two polar opposite games would truly look like.
A DOOM 2 modder has made the hilarious DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons collaboration a reality. According to VG24/7, a modder by the name of “It’s Me Veronica” has added Isabelle into DOOM 2 as an invincible follower companion. The incredibly well-made mod features a pixelated Isabelle that fits right into the graphics of DOOM 2. Isabelle is more than just a cosmetic follower, as she can even attack demons if they get close enough to her. Her attacks are similar to her moves in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a close range hammer swing and an AoE confetti attack. Check out the mod in action below:
Clearly this mod is quite fleshed out, even including Isabelle’s classic Animal Crossing gibberish voice. The mod also features a reference to another shooter which featured a companion to the player, Bioshock Infinite. Isabelle will shout out to the player and toss them health items in the middle of a fight, a gameplay concept that worked incredibly well with Bioshock Infinite’s Elizabeth. Players can also high-five Isabelle by pressing the melee button, which will cause her to do one of her iconic dances or cheers.
The mod is available for download, but is only compatible with GZDoom, a port which allows older DOOM titles to be played on more modern devices. Players can certainly find a handful of other mods that may improve or change the DOOM 2 experience. Through modding, players have been able to breathe new life into old titles and put their own spin on more modern ones. Modding has been encouraged by many developers in the past and creates a great sense of community within any game.
Source: VG24/7