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Doom (2016)
Console: Ps4/ Xbox One
Release: 2016
Video games come in all shapes and sizes. There's something on offer for pretty much everyone. Some players use gaming to escape the realities of daily life and immerse themselves into a new world. Some use it as an opportunity to put their brains and reflexes to the test with games of skill or strategy. Others play for the challenge- the sense of achievement and the buzz it creates is a huge part of the appeal.
But sometimes, after a long hard day at work- a guy just wants to kick back and play Doom.
This reboot of the beloved series is an absolute behemoth of a game. A juggernaut which smashes through the First person shooter genre and destroys everything in it's path. From the very moment the game starts, right through to the conclusion of its gory 10 hour+ campaign, the action is hard hitting, fast paced, and relentless.
As you'd expect from a Doom game, there's no long drawn out opening cut scenes. No real explanation as to why you're there or what you're doing. You're simply given a pistol, and unleashed on the thousands of Demonic hordes waiting for you.
Unlike some of the earlier iterations though- there is actually some semblance of a story here and it's borderline good. But let's face it, no one plays Doom for its gripping plot do they?
The game splits it's time between 2 main areas- Mars and Hell- with both having a distinct look and feel which helps to mix things up. Mars is futuristic with an emphasis on man-made structures, buildings, machines and computers. Hell is totally the opposite. Rocky, cavernous, and claustrophobic at times, with lava seemingly spewing from everywhere. Just when one area starts to get a little stale, we switch to the other. It swings back and forth like this for most of the game, and I would say the developers got things perfectly balanced in this regard.
The weapons are everything you'd expect to find in a Doom game. With a large variety to choose from, everything except the shoddy starting pistol packs a hell of a punch.
The standard rule in modern First person shooter (FPS) games is find a weapon you love, and stick to it- but Doom tears that rulebook to shreds! You will use every gun in your arsenal and you'll be forced to switch between them regularly due to the way the game handles ammo. The ammo is very cleverly distributed throughout the campaign. It never quite feels like there's not enough- but equally there's not an abundance of it either, forcing you to familiarise yourself with all of your offensive options.
Doom manages to distinguish itself from others in the genre with a couple of key differences:
- Firstly, staying true to Doom's roots- aiming down the sights is not an option here (with the exception of one gun), which seems like a crucial mechanic to be missing when talking about an FPS. For all of you COD and Far Cry players- this definitely takes a bit of getting used to. But once you do, it will feel totally natural.
- Then there's the 'stagger' mechanic. After pumping the demons with enough bullets, they glow yellow or blue; this means they're 'staggered'. If you can get close enough to them in this state you can finish them off with a gruesome melee kill. Not only does this look and feel immensely satisfying, but it also rewards you with extra health pickups- useful indeed.
- The final ace up Doom's sleeve to set it aside from other FPS games is a returning fan favourite, the chainsaw- a melee weapon which requires fuel canisters to use. You can find these sparsely populating the maps. In another clever move by the developers, killing an enemy with the chainsaw makes them drop a load of ammo for your weapons. Between this and the stagger option, it really adds a welcome new layer of strategy to the otherwise chaotic, frenzied combat.
The enemy variety sees lots of returning Doom demons such as the Mancubus- but they never looked quite this good before thanks to the super impressive visuals. We experience every bone crunching melee kill in glorious detail.
Powerups and upgrades are handled in the usual Doom way- find a secret area, complete a challenge in a time limit etc. The power ups, particularly the berserk and quad damage, are tremendously useful and, like being reunited with a lost puppy dog; you will be incredibly glad to find them. The upgrades though- truthfully seemed a little pointless. I found myself with lots of unused ones at the end of the game as I just didn't know what to spend them on.
Doom is at its best when you're in the heat of battle, mowing down dozens of demons as quickly as they respawn, using any gun that has ammo left, all while staying mobile and not letting them back you into a corner. I haven't experienced such exhilarating encounters in a first person shooter for a very long time.
The soundtrack that accompanies these fights is equally thrilling and perfectly matches the pace of the game, keeping the adrenaline pumping throughout.
The handful of boss battles are also well put together, and extremely challenging even on normal difficulty.
I enjoyed my time with Doom immensely. If you are yet to play this game, or are new to the Series altogether- this is the perfect starting point. The developers have struck a perfect balance between staying true to the 1993 roots and bringing Doom roaring into the 21st century with a reboot they can be extremely proud of.
Now.... go raze some hell!
Verdict: 8.5/10
By @damoroso4
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