maxglen

Doom 3 is a really interesting game. I'm gonna rip the band-aid off early and say that I don't really enjoy it, at least not in the way I typically enjoy the Doom franchise. Each game in the franchise has elements of horror integrated in some way shape or form, with a concept like Doom's, that's kind of a given, but Doom 3 is the only title in the series I would actually go as far to call a "horror" game and it's a doozy at that... This game takes what 64' leaned into with its slower pace and unnerving atmosphere and runs with it. Though the DNA of the franchise is still here in spirit and how certain areas of the game are designed, etc. The pacing, tone, narrative focus and gameplay mechanics such as reloading, torch management and more make this quite a different beast to its predecessors and even those that followed. It's a title that constantly feels like it's trying to get under your skin; areas are dimly lit, demons have been redesigned to be genuinely disturbing (damn those Cherubs...), what soundtrack there is is eerie and surreal, aiming is often inaccurate lending tension and frustration to combat scenarios and that's just what's on the surface. It's an entirely different kettle of fish and objectively a pretty good game but it just isn't what we've come to expect from a Doom game, it isn't really a game to be enjoyed, rather an experiment to be experienced, an experiment that effectively led to the franchise as a whole being put on the shelf for a decade. There's a certain niche of people who will adore this game and I think it's a game worthy of adoration, I just won't be rushing to play it again.

A decent 7/10.