Doom 3 Review

[NOTE: I am still playing through Quake 4, and it's going slowly due to school, work, and the necessity of getting some sleep between the two. So, I'm going ahead with my review of Doom 3]

Many people remember Id Software's early works, such as Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3-D. And their more recent hit, Quake 3, not only was a hugely popular game in it's own right, but it's graphics engine was the basis of numerous others, such as Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force. Yet the game that really took Id Software into the wild blue yonder and helped define the First Person Shooter (FPS) genre was Doom, the story of a lone Marine's battle with the legions of Hell. Id Software made a few sequels and expansions to the original game, but they all used the original Doom engine and would be better described as expansion packs, as the gameplay mechanic remained relatively unchanged.

Id Software took this franchise to a new level with Doom 3, which was one of the most highly anticipated games of 2004. While it is true to the frenetic, run-and-gun roots of the original, and it is a beautiful game, Doom 3 goes to prove that beauty is only skin deep.

Let's start with the positive. Graphically, Doom 3 is gorgeous. The textures and lighting are just mind-boggling--in fact, they're some of the best I've ever seen, particularly with respect to the metallic and organic surfaces replete through the game. The way the player's flashlight shines looks quite a real one would being shined into a muggy, dimly-lit room. Doom 3 has other bells and whistles that are quite nice, such as per-pixel hit detection. Basically, if you shoot a rocket at a monster's legs, it may very well fly right between them. Hit detection is no longer based on a "box" around a given character or monster model.

The sound really puts the player in the mood in this game. From the muted shuffling and gurgling of zombies, to the sudden and seemingly random ceiling panel crashing to the floor, you could swear it sounds like you're being stalked by Hell's army in a science station, which is the whole point. This game is best played with the lights off and a pair of headphones. I have a pair of Zalman 6.1-channel surround headphones, and those enhanced the sound experience further. Just be careful about the volume, as certain monsters have ear-splitting screams (such as the Imp), but others have a hushed skitter.

Storywise, it isn't too deep. The plot is elaborated upon by way of computer screens and people's PDAs you acquire along the way, but one can play through the game fine and enjoy it for what it is: a feral action game, not an interactive movie with interwoven plots and layered sub-context. Here's the gist: you're a Marine on Mars guarding a research facility when all Hell breaks loose during an experiment...literally.

My biggest beef with this game, however, is with what is the most important aspect of a game: the gameplay. I mean, you are playing the game, not just watching it. Pretty graphics, whiz-bang touches, and nice sounds are good things to have, but they are icing on the cake. Playing a pretty game lacking gameplay is like eating a hollow cake with buttercream icing--tasty, but unsatisfying. To be fair, the game does get off to a great start, with moments where I jumped and nearly screamed (don't want to describe any in detail, as that would spoil the surprise). But after the first level or two, it gets to be formulaic. Step one, enter room. Step two, see teleportation animation. Step three, pretend to be surprised. Step four, shoot [insert monster here] in the [insert weak point here] with [ insert favorite weapon here]. Rinse and repeat. I mean, I enjoyed the game for what it is, a sci-fi action shooter, but I didn't come away with the sense of awe and wonder as I did after playing through Half-Life 2. Also, there isn't much replay value other than trying it on harder difficulty levels. In other words, if you've seen an Imp jump out a closet once at you, you've seen 'em all.

All in all, it's a decent shooter, and I highly recommend it (the PC version can be had cheap in the pre-owned section of your local video game store). Just don't expect to be blown away (no pun intended) by a shooter that redefines the genre. If you like plot and puzzles, then you'll come away wanting. If you loved the mindless action of the original Doom, you'll feel right at home. Feel free to post constructive criticism in the comments area, as this is my first attempt at a written video game review.