Anyone who was even somewhat aware of pop-culture in the 90's knows about "Doom." Developed by id Software, the original 1993 release became an instant icon and an overnight success. One of the earliest examples of a first-person shooter, "Doom" was just a ton of bloody, visceral fun as you took control of an unnamed marine forced to wage war against the forces of Hell itself. Sequels and spin-offs were aplenty, but that original game is still something that gamers of its time continue to cherish. Especially with 2004's "Doom 3"- the last major installment in the series- taking the series in an all- together different direction that favored slower, methodical chills and thrills over the ferocious "rip and tear" combat of prior entries.
But in 2016, "Doom" came back in the most pleasant (and delightfully unpleasant) of ways possible. Teaming with the phenomenal Bethesda Software, id has effectively rebooted the franchise with "Doom" 2016- a sort-of old-fashioned callback to what made the original game so much fun. This latest "Doom" makes no qualms and is very upfront about what it is- an old-school, guns-a-blazing first person shooter experience that aims solely to entertain and enthrall the player with non-stop action and fast-paced gameplay. I'm literally in awe of just how much fun this game is, and how wonderful a continuation of the franchise it turned out to be. This is without doubt the ideal continuation of the classic franchise.
For reference, this review is based on my experience playing several hours of the game on a Playstation 4 Pro. From a first-impression standpoint, the game is quite stunning. The graphics are wildly detailed and very immense, with majestic and open environments that stretch as far as they eye can see with great detail and absolutely exquisite and smooth creatures and enemies that hold up under scrutiny even when viewed up close and personal. The game runs incredibly smooth, and there's no sign of lag or lowered frame rates during even the most intense of encounters with dozens of monsters all at once. The sound design is top-notch and everything from the background music to the voiceovers to the howls of agony as you tear your way through the hordes of Hell is crystal clear and very nicely stylized for maximum impact. Both visually and audibly, the game is near-perfect, and it's one of the more impressive releases of 2016 that I've had the pleasure of witnessing.
The controls are just a dream. Everything is fluid and responsive and you never feel like you're being cheated out of anything or that you're not in complete control. Every single button on the controller is assigned a function that feels optimal for the gameplay, and even the most inexperienced of players will quickly find themselves having memorized and mastered the control-scheme. I myself have some trouble with hand-eye coordination and usually take several hours to fully "comprehend" the controls for most games... but I had it down perfect by the end of the first mission. The game's difficulty is also great, giving you multiple levels to chose from that all seem to function very well for any given player. Even if you're stuck on easy mode, you'll still feel accomplished at the end of each mission because it's not too easy, and feels perfectly balanced for new players.
The game's story seems more like an afterthought, but it's there for those who care about narrative. Cleverly however, the developers have structured the game in such a way that the plot never bogs down the gameplay, so those who want to dive headlong into battle will never feel like they're being held back. You're given snippets of story here and there, but it's doled out in small doses and generally results in immediate combat or the opportunity for our unnamed hero to do something fun and entertaining. Ex. The first real "exposition dump" is delivered via computer monitor, and we hear just enough to understand what's going on before our latest "Doomguy" simply knocks the monitor away and runs into the next room to combat some more demonic creatures. Not only do you get brief and concise story establishment, but it also informs the character of our hero's mentality and attitude.
If I were to point out any flaws, it's that early on in the game, as you get used to the controls, the game can be a bit unforgiving. Especially as button-prompts appear very small (it took me minutes of staring at the screen to figure out that I had to push down the right thumbstick to perform the new "Glory Kill" mechanic, because even on a 60" screen, the button-prompt was barely the size of a dime) and the game doesn't always give you the best context clues as to what you're meant to be doing. Also, the multiplayer mode is pretty weak.
But beyond those minor issues, "Doom" 2016 emerges as one of the most entertaining and enthralling gaming experiences of our time. It successfully re-invigorates the franchise with incredible modern visuals, expert sound design, tight controls and an anemic but fun little storyline. In many ways, it is the ideal way to re-introduce the iconic series to new fans, while never losing focus on what made the original game so magical. This is "Doom", plain and simple. Just on steroids and with a really nice face-lift. There's no other way to say it, for me, it gets a perfect 10 out of 10. Rip and tear!
