The Adventures of Square



The Adventures of Square is a stand-alone game for the GZDoom source port. Provided free of charge, it was developed by BigBrik Games, which is a team of longtime Doom community members.

The game has two episodes. The first was released in 2014 and won a Cacoward that year. The second was released in 2018 and also won a Cacoward.

The protagonist, Square, must save the kidnapped scientist Dr. Octagon from the Circle of Evil cult. In addition to battling the cult members (circles) and their army of security droids, Square must protect the civilians (other polygons) he encounters. Settings are rendered in a bright, colorful style reminiscent of cel animation, with many hand-drawn graphics and textures. Voice acting and a complete soundtrack are also included.

Public beta releases began in August 2014, with version 1.0 appearing in November 2014. As of June 2019, the current version is 2.1, available as both a stand-alone Windows executable, called, or an IWAD to be used with GZDoom. The stand-alone version is based on GZDoom version 4.1.3, comes with a separate icon, and is modified to only run The Adventures of Square. According to its press kit, the team will incrementally add levels, resources, and gameplay features to future releases, culminating somewhere in the future with a complete edition of three solo episodes, additional deathmatch maps, and even worse puns. A Mac OS package is available, and Linux support is also planned.

The game features over 100 voice clips for the protagonist, that play at scripted moments, during cutscenes, and randomly throughout the game. Many are shape-based puns, for example:
 * "Nobody puts square in the corner!"
 * "Get out of my face!"
 * "Get off my plane!"

Monsters
Knife Jerk – Carries a knife. Will run up and repeatedly stab to attack. Don’t get cornered. Health points: 50.

Paintgun Jerk – Carries a paintgun. Will fire fast projectiles, which can be dodged, but be wary of any snipers. Health points: 70.

Cannon Jerk – Has a loaded cannon embedded. Will fire heavy cannonball projectiles repeatedly. Usually camped out like turrets. Health points: 90.

Oozi Jerk – Carries an oozi. Very dangerous in groups, since their weapon’s bullets, while inaccurate, cannot be dodged. Health points: 70.

Elite Jerk – Only found in the final level of Episode 1. Carries dual oozis. Very dangerous. Will drop a password disk when defeated, allowing you to proceed. Health points: 140.

Jetpack Jerk – Big, dumb, flies. Carries a laser gun. Jetpack will explode fierily when defeated. Health points: 300.

Ovolt – Weak ground-based enemy that fires electric projectiles. Health points: 70.

Airvolt – As above, but will fly over gaps towards you. Health points: 70.

Revolt – As above, with an extra deadly projectile attack, and harder to take down. Health points: 100.

Angle Fish – Weak water dwellers that will swarm and bite. Health points: 30.

Chatterbox – Robotic enemy which will get up close and personal to sink its teeth into you. Health points: 150.

Shatterbox – Only found in the secret level of Episode 1. When destroyed will hurl out damaging shards of ice over a short distance. Health points: 225.

Cylonder – Robotic enemy with a relentless laser attack. Will explode when defeated. Health points: 300.

Tritankle – Robotic enemy with hard-to-dodge bullet weaponry. Will explode when defeated. Health points: 450.

Color Cube – Robotic enemy with three separate projectile attack patterns. Will explode when defeated. Health points: 500.

Spy Eye – A weak flier with a pouncing attack. Health points: 80.

Eyescreamer – A floating enemy that will hurl gooey projectiles and spit out Spy Eyes. Health points: 400.

Strongman – A tough, athletic enemy with a variety of melee attacks and a hook to drag you closer. Health points: 400.

Mini-Destructinator – A powerful robotic enemy with a vast range of attacks, including homing missiles, goonades, and lasers. Health points: 1500.

Spectra – A ghostly projectile-flinging enemy with the ability to vanish and reappear. Health points: 240.

Dark Spectra – As above, but with a more powerful projectile attack. Health points: 300.

Weapons
Paint Gun – Has infinite ammo. Fires weak purple paint bullets.

Second Paint Gun – Uses paint (blue ammo). Dual-wields with the purple paintgun for double the firepower.

Oozi – Uses ooze (green ammo). Fires a stream of inaccurate ooze bullets, useful for short to medium range. Can be dual-wielded.

Shotbow – Uses paint shells (yellow ammo). Fires a spread shot, useful over medium distances.

Quadcannon – Uses paint shells (yellow ammo). Can fire four powerful spread shots in rapid succession.

Paintgun Cannon – Uses paint (blue ammo). Fires a powerful stream of paint projectiles that will incapacitate most enemies.

Hellshell Launcher – Uses hellshells (red ammo). Fires an explosive round that knocks most enemies out in one hit.

Cresceptre – Uses magic marbles (purple ammo). Fires a steady stream of magic projectiles that seek out the enemy in your crosshair.

Defibrillator – Has infinite ammo. A melee-only weapon useful for repelling enemies in close range, and can also deflect incoming projectiles.

Goonades – Bursts into corrosive goo, trapping enemies. Deadly to all enemies in close range. Hold the right mouse button down to throw them further. Up to nine can be carried.

Items
Burger – Heals 10%.

Lemonade – Heals 25%.

Circool-Aid – Heals 100%.

Soda – Heals 1%, up to 200%.

Cake – Heals 5%, up to 200%.

Pie – Heals 20%, up to 200%.

Fizz-O Pop – Heals 50%, up to 200%.

Cardboard Box Armor – Grants 33% damage protection and 50 armor points.

Wooden Box Armor – Grants 50% damage protection and 100 armor points.

Brick Armor – Grants 75% damage protection and 150 armor points.

Alumoonium Armor – Grants 90% protection against enemy fire and 200 armor points.

Happy Sphere – Heals 100%, up to 200%.

Silly Sphere – Grants 200% health and 150 armor points.

Devil Sphere – Grants double damage for 40 seconds.

Holy Sphere – Grants flight and immortality for 30 seconds. Very rare to find.

Fishtank – Prevents against drowning underwater, and is required to traverse vacuums in outer space. Lasts 90 seconds.

Props
Wooden Crates – Not common. Generally do not contain anything.

TNT Crates – Most common. Explode violently when destroyed, and can be used against enemies or the player equally. Detonating them in front of cracked walls will blast the wall apart.

Nukage Crates – Found in hazardous areas. When destroyed, they scatter green goo, akin to the goonades – although this is a hazard to enemies and players alike.

Fizz-O Crates – Only found in the Fizz-O Pop Factory (Episode 1, Area 8). When destroyed, they create a bubbly explosion that painfully thrusts away nearby enemies (or players).

Levels
Episode 1: Cornered by Circles (Square-ware)


 * Training Course (After 1.1, this level is accessible only with "map training") by James Paddock (Jimmy)
 * by Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy)
 * by Richard Frei (Tarnsman)
 * by Walker Wright (Pavera)
 * (Exit to secret level) by Walker Wright (Pavera) and Xaser Acheron
 * by Gus Knezevich (Alfonzo) and Xaser Acheron
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy) and Xaser Acheron
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy) and Xaser Acheron
 * (Boss level) by Richard Frei (Tarnsman) and Conor Maddin (ClonedPickle)
 * (Secret level) by James Paddock (Jimmy)

Episode 2: Galactic Lunacy (Secant Edition)


 * by Xaser Acheron and Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by Gus Knezevich (Alfonzo), Richard Frei (Tarnsman) and Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by Matt Tropiano (MTrop) and Richard Frei (Tarnsman)
 * (Exit to secret level) by Richard Frei (Tarnsman)
 * by Xaser Acheron and Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy) and Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * (Exit to secret level) by Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by Richard Frei (Tarnsman)
 * by Richard Frei (Tarnsman) and Xaser Acheron
 * (Boss level) by James Paddock (Jimmy) and Xaser Acheron
 * (Secret level) by Xaser Acheron and Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * (Secret level) by Matt Tropiano (MTrop)

Square-off play (deathmatch)


 * by Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy)
 * by Matt Tropiano (MTrop)
 * by James Paddock (Jimmy)

Soundtrack
Episode 1


 * E1A1: "i am a vacuum cleaner" by Xaser Acheron
 * E1A2: "Crapchute" by James Paddock
 * E1A3: "Canoe Not?" by James Paddock
 * E1A4: "Hornswoggle" by Gus Knezevich
 * E1A5: "Regormortiz" by James Paddock
 * E1A6: "Blue Flunky" by Gus Knezevich
 * E1A7: "Strombology" by Xaser Acheron
 * E1A8: "Factotum" by Xaser Acheron
 * E1A9: "Launch Time" by James Paddock
 * E1A10: "HELLO SUBMARINE" by James Paddock
 * Boss: "store it in the phryg" by Jazz Mickle and James Paddock
 * Ending cinematic: "Exosphere" by Gus Knezevich and James Paddock

Episode 2


 * E2A1: "Polygoon Platoon Upon the Moon" by Xaser Acheron and James Paddock
 * E2A2: "Jet Your Own Pack" by James Paddock
 * E2A3: "Space Hopper" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A4: "Ice Cream Time Machine" by Xaser Acheron
 * E2A5: "Rhyme of the Pixie Barbarians" by Gus Knezevich
 * E2A6: "Bobby Prince, Pay Your Fares!" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A7: "Incubutter" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A8: "Cowculus" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A9: "Lunartech Fridge" by James Paddock
 * Lava Ascent: "Lunartech Lava" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A10: "Trianger" by James Paddock
 * E2A11: "Countricide" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * Gunfight: "Banjo Inferno (Xaser's 'The Final Texas' Mix)" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * E2A12: "Pyramidine" by James Paddock
 * Boss: "Lollapalooza" by Gus Knezevich and James Paddock
 * Ending cinematic: "Turquoise Octagon Moon" by James Paddock

Square-off


 * DM01: "Coconut Crush" by Paul Corfiatis
 * DM02: "Crapchute" by James Paddock
 * DM03: "dunk monk" by Jazz Mickle
 * DM04: "Hornswoggle" by Gus Knezevich
 * DM05: "Cowculus" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * DM06: "Jet Your Own Pack" by James Paddock

Miscellaneous


 * Title music: "Cubular!" by James Paddock and Xaser Acheron
 * Intermission music: "Oblongitude" by James Paddock

Trivia

 * The included executable in the standalone version of The Adventures of Square,, was previously based on GZDoom 3.3.1 with version 2.0 and GZDoom 2.4.0 with version 1.4, respectively. Prior to that, version 1.3 supplied separate builds based on ZDoom 2.8.1 and GZDoom 2.1.1.