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.

I'm a big fan of the Amazing Digital Circus, I've enjoyed each episode to this point and with each episode the show has reached increasingly impressive highs for me. I was blown away with how the show integrated such mature topics and treated its characters with more humanity and nuance than many premier televisions shows with massive budgets. Each episode has given us insight into a different member of the gang; episode one and two primarily focused on Pomni but we've since had episodes that fleshed out Kinger, Gangle, Ragatha and with this episode, Jax. To say this episode just does leg work on Jax though would be a disservice to the writing, because in just thirty minutes the episode manages to give every member of the cast a glimpse at their deeper selves and I genuinely feel connected to each of them tenfold after viewing this episode. It's also got some of the best jokes in the series and is packed with interesting and thrilling set pieces. There's a lot this episode does exceptionally well and precious little it doesn't if anything. I won't spoil it here but it's the most significant instalment thus far and gets me excited for what's to come.

Strong 9/10.