Doom 64

"Is it Doom? Or is it a 3D game that looks like Doom?"

The N64 has some great games, excuse me, tons of great games, and by far one of my all-time favorites is Doom 64. Of course, some people to this day say that Doom 64 isn't a true Doom game, for reasons beyond me, but I think it is! In fact, I think that it is one of better Doom games out there! After all, it has the Doom formula: you, lots of guns, lots of enemies, lots of levels, lots of FEAR! Plus, it is on the N64! That in itself is a pretty big achievement.

Story 8/10- As usual, not much for a storyline. Then why did I give it an 8? Because in FPS, I don't want much of a story, I just want to get on with the game. You just run and gun. ID Software seems to use this concept a lot, but it is a good concept nonetheless. I think more FPS should have a run and gun concept.

Graphics 9/10- Aside from the fact that they are very dark, the graphics are ''pretty''. That is, the graphics are much smoother, and the frame rate is much faster. The enemies can still be pixilated at times, but they are much better drawn than those from Final Doom. Also, the color is much better. The Spectres are actually invisible, and the humans actually look like humans, not like guys with green hair.

Gameplay 9/10- Just like all the other Doom games, but this one has a few differences. We have a new enemy, the Nightmare Imp, and some enemies have new names. The Demons are now Bull Demons. Also Cacodemons have an uglier face. We also have have a new weapon, the Laser Rifle, first found in Level 12. This gun can end up 3x more powerful than the BFG 9000. WOW! There are 32 levels, and now there is a level-skipping feature. Level 1 can take you directly to Level 32.

Sound 7/10- The sound is great, since all the enemies and guns sound real. The music, on the other hand, needs some work.

Verdict-
Story 8/10
Graphics 9/10
Gameplay 9/10
Sound 7/10
Replay Value 7/10

Pros:
Great variety in guns and enemies.
Lots of levels and secrets
One of the N64's better FPS

Cons:
Too dark even for a Doom game
Music could be better
Repetitive at times due to design

Final Word- Doom 64 will probably be argued about for years. But it is a good game, and you will enjoy it. It is worth your money, but make sure you don't pay too much for it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/18/02, Updated 10/20/02