Punching is where it’s at with this ‘gunless’ Doom 2 mod

Let’s face it, when playing Doom or Doom 2, the only reason to start punching enemies is that you’ve just picked up the Berserk power-up. Either that or you have a sadistic, unquenchable desire to know how long it takes to down a Cyberdemon with fisticuffs. Hint: it’s probably a long time.

Anyway, if you’re tired of being given the easy route with weapons, ModDB user has the solution. With “Gunless” installed, you can strip away the need for pistols, shotguns, and rocket launchers, as this mod only allows you to use your punches to quash the demons of hell.

Making a case that guns in Doom 2 are (and I quote) “for wussies after all,” this download replaces all weapon sprites with just the Doomguy’s fists, which includes numerous variations on the punching animation.

Mano a Imp-o

Now, I haven’t had a chance to check out the mod myself, but from the images on the download page, it looks like you still get projectiles. It’s just they’re now coming from your knuckles instead of from the business end of a plasma rifle or something.

In any case, Doomguy will no longer have to worry about lugging around all manner of arsenal. Not when he can mow down the denizens of the underworld with naught but his mitts and a “duke it out” mentality.

Once again, we find ourselves drawn back to the allure of classic Doom. The modding community has kept us coming back for more with some pretty interesting ways of playing id Software’s iconic FPS. We may be moving forward, what with Doom: The Dark Ages coming in 2025, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before people stop playing and tinkering with the OG entries in the series.