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Everyone knows about Doom, whether they've played it or not, it was a turning point for gaming that brought the first person shooter into it's own with a bright splash of pixellated blood; not the first, but certainly the most memorable, it refused to shy away from the brutality, violence and horror that have since become the trademark of many top games of the genre.
The first two iterations relied almost solely on pace; move or die was pretty much the order of the day, with a liberal sprinkling of standard fare platforming, secrets and hidden areas, diabolical puzzles and power ups adding some meat to an otherwise lean gaming mechanic, but it was the fiendish level design that made the games truly shine. Often you'd find yourself wandering the same areas, getting lost, backtracking several times before coming across the level exit.
The third outing was a departure. Splitting opinions with a slower, more cerebral approach, Doom 3 pushed for scares with darker, more claustrophobic areas and ducts and bigger, badder demons. It also had a proper story, told via some top quality cut sequences and a host of collectable video and audio discs. Despite it's mixed reception, it should be noted that once again the Doom series was pushing boundaries; movie quality scripting and sound and first class animation, lighting and visuals set this game years ahead of it's rivals.
So what do we get with the fourth?
Bleeding edge...
No pun intended. The Doom graphics engine (Tech 6) is a feat of epic proportions. Environments are detailed, pin sharp and infested with loose debris, smoke, fog, heatwaves, ambient lighting and rich textures, and all with the lowest system overhead I've ever seen. Vulkan, the newly revised OpenGL replacement, produces fluid, flawless results with the minimum of impact on your hardware, allowing for some truly impressive effects without slowing the action.
Character design is equally impressive, the demons displaying qualities proportionate to their weight and size; bulky, bloated demons will lumber and shuffle, hammering away at you with ranged weapons, while agile imps scale walls and leap forward, hurling fire before slashing and biting close range. Learning your enemy is your first, and possibly your most important lesson.
Fast and furious...
Lockdown. This is the repeated mechanic that signals a demon infestation, and you're not getting out until it's cleared. It's not hard to get to grips with; disable the portals, kill everything that moves. Run, jump, climb, shoot, punch and generally destroy as fast as you can. There's no cover, you can't hide and if you get cornered, you're dead meat. Your favourite move should be to shoot on the hoof, then finish your target with a swift kick or punch, conserving your scant ammo and generating some much needed health. "Glory Kills" are your way forward.
Rather cleverly, outside areas (yes, you get to traverse some seriously large areas of the Mars surface) leave you feeling very exposed, despite their fairly linear approach. We'll put that down to clever level design.
Platform shoes...
Better get ready to take some risks. Some of the juiciest upgrades and power ups are shelved away at the top of some insane climbs where you'll need to negotiate moving platforms, tiny ledges and well-timed trots across spaces inhabited by moving heavy machinery. Later in the game you'll acquire some upgraded boots that permit a kind of double jump, increasing your range and mobility. Remember though, the more mobile you are, the more deadly the demons become (cue the Revenant!). Time to pick up the pace...
Close the book...
Story? What story?
It's kind of there, but not...
Story elements are really used for the sole purpose of directing you through the next level. Destroy the argent reactor? Okay, sure. I'll just clear this area of demons first. Reset the satellite array? No problem, I'll just shoot these gribblies with my shotgun on the way. It's a story of sorts, but really it's more about giving you a different reason to rinse and repeat.
Not that it matters...
Does my bum look big in this?
We've had two decades of ever-increasing realism in FPS games; animated reloads, animated upgrading, realistic medical action, in fact any aspect that could be added as a feature for immersion has been, often to great effect. Doom shuns this approach completely, paring away everything it can in favour of speed and fluidity. There's no reloading, picking up med-packs or collecting ammo canisters, you simply walk over them, you either have ammo or you don't. In fact, the only points at which you even pause are when you collect suit or weapon upgrades, or when you're levering open a doorway or activating a console. Slim, sleek, almost simplistic in nature, it leaves you free to face your demons head on.
Hello old friend...
...in pretty much every sense. Run and gun is back with a vengeance, a truly old school FPS with a brand new shiny skin. Shotguns, chainsaws and the notorious BFG, blood, violence and a lone marine. What more could you ask for?
Is it better than the first?
Yes... no... maybe...
Is it worth playing?
Yes, yes, yes!
10/10
The first two iterations relied almost solely on pace; move or die was pretty much the order of the day, with a liberal sprinkling of standard fare platforming, secrets and hidden areas, diabolical puzzles and power ups adding some meat to an otherwise lean gaming mechanic, but it was the fiendish level design that made the games truly shine. Often you'd find yourself wandering the same areas, getting lost, backtracking several times before coming across the level exit.
The third outing was a departure. Splitting opinions with a slower, more cerebral approach, Doom 3 pushed for scares with darker, more claustrophobic areas and ducts and bigger, badder demons. It also had a proper story, told via some top quality cut sequences and a host of collectable video and audio discs. Despite it's mixed reception, it should be noted that once again the Doom series was pushing boundaries; movie quality scripting and sound and first class animation, lighting and visuals set this game years ahead of it's rivals.
So what do we get with the fourth?
Bleeding edge...
No pun intended. The Doom graphics engine (Tech 6) is a feat of epic proportions. Environments are detailed, pin sharp and infested with loose debris, smoke, fog, heatwaves, ambient lighting and rich textures, and all with the lowest system overhead I've ever seen. Vulkan, the newly revised OpenGL replacement, produces fluid, flawless results with the minimum of impact on your hardware, allowing for some truly impressive effects without slowing the action.
Character design is equally impressive, the demons displaying qualities proportionate to their weight and size; bulky, bloated demons will lumber and shuffle, hammering away at you with ranged weapons, while agile imps scale walls and leap forward, hurling fire before slashing and biting close range. Learning your enemy is your first, and possibly your most important lesson.
Fast and furious...
Lockdown. This is the repeated mechanic that signals a demon infestation, and you're not getting out until it's cleared. It's not hard to get to grips with; disable the portals, kill everything that moves. Run, jump, climb, shoot, punch and generally destroy as fast as you can. There's no cover, you can't hide and if you get cornered, you're dead meat. Your favourite move should be to shoot on the hoof, then finish your target with a swift kick or punch, conserving your scant ammo and generating some much needed health. "Glory Kills" are your way forward.
Rather cleverly, outside areas (yes, you get to traverse some seriously large areas of the Mars surface) leave you feeling very exposed, despite their fairly linear approach. We'll put that down to clever level design.
Platform shoes...
Better get ready to take some risks. Some of the juiciest upgrades and power ups are shelved away at the top of some insane climbs where you'll need to negotiate moving platforms, tiny ledges and well-timed trots across spaces inhabited by moving heavy machinery. Later in the game you'll acquire some upgraded boots that permit a kind of double jump, increasing your range and mobility. Remember though, the more mobile you are, the more deadly the demons become (cue the Revenant!). Time to pick up the pace...
Close the book...
Story? What story?
It's kind of there, but not...
Story elements are really used for the sole purpose of directing you through the next level. Destroy the argent reactor? Okay, sure. I'll just clear this area of demons first. Reset the satellite array? No problem, I'll just shoot these gribblies with my shotgun on the way. It's a story of sorts, but really it's more about giving you a different reason to rinse and repeat.
Not that it matters...
Does my bum look big in this?
We've had two decades of ever-increasing realism in FPS games; animated reloads, animated upgrading, realistic medical action, in fact any aspect that could be added as a feature for immersion has been, often to great effect. Doom shuns this approach completely, paring away everything it can in favour of speed and fluidity. There's no reloading, picking up med-packs or collecting ammo canisters, you simply walk over them, you either have ammo or you don't. In fact, the only points at which you even pause are when you collect suit or weapon upgrades, or when you're levering open a doorway or activating a console. Slim, sleek, almost simplistic in nature, it leaves you free to face your demons head on.
Hello old friend...
...in pretty much every sense. Run and gun is back with a vengeance, a truly old school FPS with a brand new shiny skin. Shotguns, chainsaws and the notorious BFG, blood, violence and a lone marine. What more could you ask for?
Is it better than the first?
Yes... no... maybe...
Is it worth playing?
Yes, yes, yes!
10/10
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pete_21 wrote:
I do actually quite fancy it, will pick it up when I have time to play it (and have some cash spare).
The campaign has 13 levels ... just watch out for 'tricky jumping' in levels 4 and 5 ;¬)
Don't do MP on Doom ever ... just stick with SP campaign :¬)
I do actually quite fancy it, will pick it up when I have time to play it (and have some cash spare).
The campaign has 13 levels ... just watch out for 'tricky jumping' in levels 4 and 5 ;¬)
Don't do MP on Doom ever ... just stick with SP campaign :¬)
I do actually quite fancy it, will pick it up when I have time to play it (and have some cash spare). Did try the multiplayer beta which didn't blow me away TBH but I do fancy the campaign.
Good review BTW Chas.
Good review BTW Chas.
pete_21 wrote:
So it's not just Halo with demons then...? ;)
No chance pete ... Halo on the PC was good ... but!
Play the Original Doom Trilogy ... Doom, Ultimate Doom and Final Doom ... then play Doom 3 ... and then play Doom 2016!
It's a case of 'whatever floats your boat' ... but you'll get an insight into the history of FPS and I've not even begun to get started with Wolfenstein or Quake ;¬)
So it's not just Halo with demons then...? ;)
No chance pete ... Halo on the PC was good ... but!
Play the Original Doom Trilogy ... Doom, Ultimate Doom and Final Doom ... then play Doom 3 ... and then play Doom 2016!
It's a case of 'whatever floats your boat' ... but you'll get an insight into the history of FPS and I've not even begun to get started with Wolfenstein or Quake ;¬)
pete_21 wrote:
So it's not just Halo with demons then...? ;)
God, no!
The multiplayer part is a little like that, but the single player is Doom through and through.
I disliked Halo with a passion, it always felt cheap compared to Doom and Wolfenstein. This is like retro re-mastered, and comparing it to Halo is like comparing a thoroughbred to an old nag.
So it's not just Halo with demons then...? ;)
God, no!
The multiplayer part is a little like that, but the single player is Doom through and through.
I disliked Halo with a passion, it always felt cheap compared to Doom and Wolfenstein. This is like retro re-mastered, and comparing it to Halo is like comparing a thoroughbred to an old nag.
So it's not just Halo with demons then...? ;)
Big download pb ... enjoy though :¬) Just about to resume my Doom campaign ;¬)
You'll have to add me on Steam pb
You'll have to add me on Steam pb
Good review.
You say everyone has heard of Doom but my heart sinks when I go on to Xbox One forums on Facebook and people are oblivious to the originals.
I remember how much Wolfenstein and Doom impacted me back in the 286/.386 days, buying the discs off the ads in the back of magazines. Just went and got a copy of this latest one and downloading on my PC now.
You say everyone has heard of Doom but my heart sinks when I go on to Xbox One forums on Facebook and people are oblivious to the originals.
I remember how much Wolfenstein and Doom impacted me back in the 286/.386 days, buying the discs off the ads in the back of magazines. Just went and got a copy of this latest one and downloading on my PC now.
DL wrote:
chasfh wrote:
[i]
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
Totally agree...for me better than The New Order.[/i]
Ehh... I still prefer the New order, but only just.
chasfh wrote:
[i]
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
Totally agree...for me better than The New Order.[/i]
Ehh... I still prefer the New order, but only just.
chasfh wrote:
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
Totally agree...for me better than The New Order.
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
Totally agree...for me better than The New Order.
I can't remember what game(s) I've used a similar map in before, but I'm sort of used to it I suppose. The whole 3D map thing is a bit hard to pull off, and I agree that it would be much better presented "Wolfenstein - stylee" for example, rather than overlaid in the current fashion, but it really doesn't bother me too much to be honest.
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
Speaking of which, I finally played The Old Blood, and boy is that a tasty treat! RTCW reimagined, pretty much...
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