diff --git a/polymer/build/include/polymer.h b/polymer/build/include/polymer.h
index a97eef3e0..0fa4f646f 100644
--- a/polymer/build/include/polymer.h
+++ b/polymer/build/include/polymer.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 // CVARS
 extern int          pr_occlusionculling;
 extern int          pr_fov;
-extern int          pr_showportals;
+extern int          pr_billboardingmode;
 extern int          pr_verbosity;
 extern int          pr_wireframe;
 
diff --git a/polymer/build/src/polymer.c b/polymer/build/src/polymer.c
index b3f692dba..a24614ea1 100644
--- a/polymer/build/src/polymer.c
+++ b/polymer/build/src/polymer.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 // CVARS
 int             pr_occlusionculling = 1;
 int             pr_fov = 426;           // appears to be the classic setting.
-int             pr_showportals = 0;
+int             pr_billboardingmode = 0;
 int             pr_verbosity = 1;       // 0: silent, 1: errors and one-times, 2: multiple-times, 3: flood
 int             pr_wireframe = 0;
 
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ GLdouble        tempvertice[3];
 
 short           cursky;
 
+short viewangle;
+
 // EXTERNAL FUNCTIONS
 int                 polymer_init(void)
 {
@@ -206,6 +208,8 @@ void                polymer_drawrooms(int daposx, int daposy, int daposz, short
 
     if (pr_verbosity >= 3) OSD_Printf("PR : Drawing rooms...\n");
 
+    viewangle = daang;
+
     ang = (float)(daang) / (2048.0f / 360.0f);
     horizang = (float)(100 - dahoriz) / (512.0f / 180.0f);
     tiltang = (gtang * 90.0f);
@@ -545,6 +549,13 @@ void                polymer_drawsprite(int snum)
 
     curspritedata = vertsprite;
 
+    if (pr_billboardingmode && !((tspr->cstat>>4) & 3))
+    {
+        // do surgery on the face tspr to make it look like a wall sprite
+        tspr->cstat |= 16;
+        tspr->ang = (viewangle + 1024) & 2047;
+    }
+
     switch ((tspr->cstat>>4) & 3)
     {
         case 0:
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/osdcmds.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/osdcmds.c
index 8dccf8804..327ad137f 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/osdcmds.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/osdcmds.c
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ cvar[] =
     // polymer cvars
     { "pr_occlusionculling", "pr_occlusionculling: insert description that noone will ever read", (void*)&pr_occlusionculling, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 512 },
     { "pr_fov", "pr_fov: sets the field of vision in build angle", (void*)&pr_fov, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 1023},
-    { "pr_showportals", "pr_showportals: toggles frustum culling (recommended)", (void*)&pr_showportals, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 1 },
+    { "pr_billboardingmode", "pr_billboardingmode: face sprite display method. 0: classic mode; 1: polymost mode", (void*)&pr_billboardingmode, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 1 },
     { "pr_verbosity", "pr_verbosity: verbosity level of the polymer renderer", (void*)&pr_verbosity, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 3 },
     { "pr_wireframe", "pr_wireframe: toggles wireframe mode", (void*)&pr_wireframe, CVAR_INT, 0, 0, 1 },
 #endif