Doom 3

"Get your @$$ to Mars"

DOOM 3

9/10

A little-known developer named id Software leapt to the forefront of PC gaming in the early 1990's with its blockbuster titles, DOOM and DOOM II. Widely considered to be the most influential first-person shooter of all time, DOOM thrilled gamers with its dark storyline, violent gameplay and innovative interface. Over ten years after id's masterpiece changed the face of gaming, the long-awaited followup was released. It could easily be argued that DOOM 3 is more of a remake than an actual sequel, but the tremendous evolution of the engine is more than worthy of the title "classic".

<Graphics>

One word: WOW. id obviously sold their souls to get these graphics out of the Xbox. There is little obvious difference between the console version and the optimized PC version. Lighting effects, photorealistic visuals, bump mapping, the list goes on and on. The use of darkness to heighten fear is a great touch; many rooms are pitch black, requiring you to lower your weapon and turn on your flashlight, only to see the dripping fangs of a bloodthirsty creature. Play at night, and I DARE you not to get scared. The combination of sterile steel hallways and the pulsating, vile depths of Hell is simply brilliant. Cool little details abound; blurry pentagrams appearing on viewscreens, blasphemous messages written on the walls in blood, hellish visions hijacking the screen at times, all add to the wonderfully spooky ambiance. I did wish for more variety in NPC faces, but with graphics this good it's understandable if id didn't have any more room.

Most of the classic beasts are back, completely redesigned and more frightening than ever before. Some new monsters have been included this time around, including an infernal cherub and a walking inverted humanoid head reminiscent of John Carpenter's version of The Thing.

<Sounds>

There is little music in the game, but no matter; there doesn't have to be any. The symphony of whirring machinery, shrieking demons, and roaring gunfire is dead-on. What music there is perfectly accompanies the action, thumping along in the background. Listen for spooky whispering, mumbling in Latin, malevolent laughter, and the echoes of sobbing coming from somewhere in the base.

The voice-acting is also excellent; aside from the few human characters you come into contact with, audio logs are also scattered about, offering clues and additional information for the game's lone anonymous space marine.

<Controls>

Guide your marine through the inky, haunted halls of the Martian base with great controls. Everything is easy to find on the controller, and if the default button scheme doesn't cut it, there are several more to choose from. Weapon quick-keys can be assigned to the D-pad, ensuring that the best gun for any situation is just a press away. In other words, if you die, it's more than likely your own fault, not the game's.

<Storyline and Gameplay>

DOOM 3 basically ignores the events of the first two editions, starting back at the beginning. You assume the role of a grunt sent to Mars to do security work for the infamous Union Aerospace Corporation. Shortly after you arrive, the power goes out, most of your allies are slaughtered, and the nasties pour out of the woodwork. Your initial goal is to link up with other survivors and emerge from the chaos alive, but you eventually discover why the creatures have appeared. Ultimately, you must stop the demon invasion and seal off the gateway to Hell. When compared to the originals, there's a great deal more character and story development.

DOOM 3 has taken some flak for not being as deep as other shooters *cough*Halo 2*cough*. This is because DOOM 3 isn't like other FPS games; it's a survival horror/FPS. When was the last time a braindead zombie in Resident Evil used tactics and strategy against you? The demonic hordes want nothing other than to devour your flesh, and your only recourse is to pump them full of lead, plasma, and rockets.

The original DOOM was a frag-anything-that-moves straight up action game, and its sequel followed the formula. DOOM 3 stays within the basic structure, but departs somewhat. You recieve simple objectives, like finding security clearance or sending a distress signal; nothing too cerebral.

I occasionally wanted more boss encounters (there are only a handful, and all are exciting) to break up the hallway-searching and boomsticking, a small complaint. The original weapons have all returned, and a mysterious but powerful artifact joins the list.

DOOM 3 supports Xbox Live multiplayer modes: four-player deathmatch and two-player cooperative. The deathmatch mode simply can't compare to the heights of excellence reached by Halo 2, but the co-op mode is fairly enjoyable. The single-player experience was tweaked to include a second marine (less ammo, more monsters), and is worth a try. However, it's much better (and scarier) when you're alone.

<Conclusion>

Played Halo 2 to death? Looking for a scare? DOOM 3 is your best bet. Even if you don't have any nostalgic memories from the originals, DOOM 3's phantasmagoria will have you coming back for more, easily earning a 9/10 from this satisfied gamer. With sweaty palms, you'll grip your controller in a dark room, wondering what that noise was in the shadows. Hold that shotgun tight, marine. It's just you... and them.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/17/05