Doom 3

Doom 3 takes the premises of Doom, such as plot, setting, and monsters, but beyond that this is a very different game. Obviously they've had a lot of time to improve the graphics: everyone says they're great, and it's true. Unforgivably, skin is rendered like plastic, but other than that the game's graphics is just a step or two below a CGI movie like Final Fantasy. There will be moments you will say 'wow', or later, 'dear god'. If you have the hardware for it, (for geeks like me) the game is worth getting on the merits of this alone. One big improvement the graphics engine has over all other games is its treatment of lighting: no longer is there that awful, unrealistic 'ambient' light you see in just about every 3D game. In all the 'dark' games I've played (including the original Doom), you could just turn up the gamma correction to see what was going on. No longer. Now, if some place isn't lit, it's black and that's all you're going to see. This contributes greatly to the scary atmosphere as well as difficulty.

And difficulty does depart significantly from the originals. Doom I and II had a Nightmare difficulty which was somewhat impossible in places, but the 'normal' levels underneath it were quite doable to the point of being still fun, but not especially challenging to a veteran gamer. Being pretty good at games I naturally chose the 'Veteran' difficulty, and got beat silly, especially in later areas. The game designers obviously thought of ways not only to scare the bejeezus out of you, but also to make it hard. Enemies are fewer but don't go down easy, especially if they get a hold of you first. Sometimes you end up having to adopt unconventional tactics, like running and hiding and scaring the demons with your own blast when they find you, or even eluding them completely when possible to save ammo.

At least for a while, this can make the game quite satisfying. But as the game wears on it becomes obvious that the game's design centerpiece, to scare you, no matter how well done, can get old. Sure the moments don't stop where you get scared because a demon climbed up a railing behind you, or something jumps right into your face when you turn a corner. But you learn to expect what start to feel like predictable cheap shots, and eventually find yourself automatically turning around when you hear something in front because you know chances are they dropped more baddies behind you too. That there isn't more variation to break the scary-darkness theme up is a pity because it would have allowed players to relish it all the more, especially given the length of the game.

Providing the variation that does exist are some nods to Half-Life with puzzles, but all the work that went into the physics engine is pretty much wasted here, because they're boring and almost asinine in simplicity. Place a plank over a gap with a crane to get over it. Clue the user to use the crane after a minute or so, even if he's using the crane, just to make sure he gets it. Duh. Carmack himself said that in a game, if you can't do something well, you shouldn't do it at all. When I did encounter them, I found myself really wishing they hadn't bothered with puzzles.

So is this a great game? Well, yes and no. Amazing, have-to-be-seen graphics. Veteran difficulty is a real challenge. Seriously the scariest game you will ever play, by a wide margin (especially if you play at the appropriate difficulty). You may get tired it before finishing. I'd say there are some problems, but on its strengths, Doom 3 is still quite an achievement.

Sorry but what did you expect? A new storyline? Fluffy smurfs that take over the universe in flying mushroom's.

No, its called Doom people, and from that title you can expect blood, guts, horror and dark atmosphere. It follows the original story of the first doom, sure we are going back to mars, but oh what a trip! I am one of those nut's that finished the game in a week. And loved every moment of it. The suspense kept me captivated through the whole game. Aterwards i sat back and went - whoa.

Was it too violent? I think not. towards the end it definitely kicks up a notch or two (people who have finished it will know what i mean) but it draws you back in, a new scare, you think you have seen it all and you are wrong. As for "pornographicaly violent" i think that is illegal...

I enjoyed it, i'd recommend it, ill buy the expansion. I'll see you out there!

In the early 90s, a small town video game developer known as id Software released a first person shooter called Doom. Doom gave us a glimpse what games will be in the future. Then they released Doom 2 over a year later but took a break from the franchise when they released Quake and Quake 2. Over ten years later, Doom 3 hits shelves and it was worth the wait. Here's my review on Doom 3.

Plot: You are a marine sent to the UAC base on Mars for a new job as a security guard. During your trip to Mars, you hear rumors about voices tormenting the personnel, not to mention a series of mysterious accidents and mental illness plaguing the base. Meanwhile Counselor Swann and his bodyguard, Jack Campbell, confront Dr. Betruger, director of the UAC Mars base, about these problems. Soon enough, you're drawn into the conflict. What's even worse, demons from the depths of Hell appear and begin killing every marine, civilian, and scientist all over the base except for one, you. You are the only person standing in the way of the demons' plans for universal domination. 5/5

Graphics: The graphics in the Doom series never looked better. The dark and near-photorealistic graphics really sets the tone of paranoia anywhere you go in the game. The demons truly look their scariest than they were in the previous Doom titles. Doom 3 is a graphic masterpiece. 5/5

Sound: The sound is really atmospheric and will make you wanna look over your shoulder. You'll hear demon voices calling out to you and zombies moaning for your flesh. Chris Vrenna has done an awesome job on the music and sounds of Doom 3. 5/5

Gameplay: No words can describe the gameplay for Doom 3 but one, brilliant. Nuff said. 5/5

John Carmack truly is an innovator in his own right. He and his id Software staff had to risk their own jobs to bring Doom back with new technology and succeeded. Doom 3 is an instant classic just dying to be played.

Final Review: 5/5

Wow, what a game. I'm amazed. The detail is astounding, the intensity and terrifying moments are awesome, and the story is compelling. I won't comment on plot elements or anything, but the whole story background blends very well with the action. I haven't had this much fun since playing System Shock way back in about 1994.

The previous installments of Doom weren't really all that scary to me. With really only Alone In The Dark actually being scary. And although the Thief games had some intense, "scary" moments, DOOM 3 takes 'scary' to a whole new level. This game is definitely not for kids because of the extreme violence and gore, and the visuals and sounds are unnerving to say the least. But it's fun for us die-hard violent type gamers.

It does run a little slow and "chunky" in some places on my system though, even with ALL the graphics settings turned all the way down: P4 1.5GHz, 256Mb Ram, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro 128Mb. Especially when a dozen enemies jump me at once and I'm flailing away with the machine gun, but at least the game is still playable and gorgeous.

Just a note on the details in this game: everything looks fantastic. Railings, piping, jagged pieces of metal flooring, everything looks so realistic. Even the flashlight effect is creepy as hell as you make your way through a dark room or passageway and something jumps out at you. The light casts extremely realistic shadows as it passes over objects like railings and terrain, and I keep jumping at shadows constantly. DOOM 3 reminds me of Half-Life, only a lot more detailed and 10 times more frightening. I have to take a break occasionally after particularly intense moments in the game just to get settled in again. The sounds and the intense combat in this game give me the shivers.

I don't consider myself a very good FPS player, but it's playable even for me on the easiest (Recruit) setting and it didn't take long for me to get the hang of the weapons system and combat. Finally, a FPS I can play right out of the box!

What fun!!

If you ask if I played the new Doom or the others, no I have not yet but they look fun. This is way better than Fortnite. And yes I do agree it could get competitive at times but I overall enjoyed it. To be honest it's scary as hell! I jump like several times while playing this game. Overall great game and I recommend it!