Give ‘em hell: Doom (2016) review | Technobubble (2024)

Technobubble covers games, gadgets, technology and all things geek. Follow Technobubble poobah Jason Hidalgo’s shenanigans on Twitter @jasonhidalgo

Back when shooters like Call of Duty and Gears of War started to come into their own and run around Doom’s front lawn, I could just imagine the IP sitting on a rocking chair by the porch watching. Thinking. Perhaps even reminiscing.

“I used to be those cool kids,” Doom likely lamented. “I used to be the OG shooter.”

In an attempt to gain relevance in a new world order, Doom attempted to become a bit more modern by gaining a new hobby and reinventing itself as a survival shooter in 2004. For Doom purists, however, Doom 3 didn’t feel like, well, Doom. What’s an old shooter IP to do?

Like Sean Connery in the second half of his career, however, Doom finally figured it all out. It only had to be itself while adding just a touch of modern flair.

Thus you have the 2016 version of Doom, a testosterone-filled romp that unapologetically channels the series’ early heyday via anexcellent campaign that brings its past screaming into the present. This game definitely subscribes to the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but maybe throw in a fresh coat of paint — and maybe a nod to some classic mods.” This means fast and furious shooting married to modern visuals that bring the old Doom style to the present. Forget reloading and regenerating health. This Doom requires you to commit to engagements with purpose and dedication instead of hiding around to wait for that health bar to fill up again. Just found yourself taking a pretty good beating from the minions of hell? Better find health items and armor to tide you over to the next engagement, buddy. It’s just like old-school gamers used to do before Master Chief came along. The need to forage for resources also adds an extra bit of tension after a terrible performance as you find yourself desperately scrounging around while the low ammo and health indicators flash on your screen.

To further diversify your options, Doom also throws in Glory Kills. When you weaken a foe, they will give off a telltale shiny outline that basically says, take me down, por favor. This allows you to finish them off in gory — and at times comedic — fashion with your bare hands, conserving your precious ammo in the process while also giving you precious health. It’s a feature that will require some strategery as you don’t want to just mash that Glory Kill prompt when it shows up. On one hand, it’s great to save ammunition, gain healthand also get that temporary window of invincibility while doing takedownsto get a briefreprieve from enemy attacks. On the other hand, mindless Glory Killing can also land you right smack in the middle of a demon horde, which can quickly turn Doomguy into dead guy. Regardless, it’s a fun mechanic that adds more to strategies to your arsenal on top of circle strafing and funnelingwhile also making the Doom experience more visceral. Add a nice collection of weapons that also throw in a chainsaw and a certain Doom staple with three letters (hint: Bravo Foxtrot Golf) and the combat is fun and tight.

The story, meanwhile, adopts a less is more approach. Once again, you start out in Mars before literally going to hell and back then back again,but it’s up to you to search out story tidbits and fill in the blanks. It’s basically a compromise that let’s story lovers flesh out its tale while also allowing folks to ignore it if all they want to do is point the thingy in their hands toward demons and blast away. The approach also leaves it to the player to figure out specific details, such as determining whether this game’s Doom Slayer protagonist is the same old, Doomguy or not. I do find it hilarious that at some point in time, the dude became a sacred object of worship, which you’re clued into after the protagonist wakes up. Demons are practically terrified of the guy, implying that he definitely has a history with them. It’s something I also consider highly amusing given the role reversal. In the demons’ eyes, you’re actually the demon who’s out to get them.

Another strength of the campaign is the addition of exploration. In addition to finding health, armor, ammo and access keys, the game also throws in secret areas with goodies such as collectibles, weapon upgrade points and Praetor Suit tokens to improve your gear. This makes paying attention to your surroundings even more important as every crate can potentially be a boosting point to reach a secret spot and every glint an indicator for anitem that's tucked away. You’ll want those upgrades, too, as enemy mobs, while not the smartest, can be relentless in groups. Bosses, while not as numerous as, say, Lost Planet 2, are also fun to fight against, requiring patterns such as strafing, jumping and crouching. Given how many shooters don’t typically throw in pure boss fights, fighting against big baddies is most welcome. In fact, I enjoyed some of the platforming aspects of the game in general. It’s pretty cool to jump off a cliff ledge onto a raised platform with an item guarded by a demon and immediately proceed to shotgun said foe in the face. All these features in total make the Doom campaign one of the best I’ve seen in a shooter, even if it admittedly gets a bit long in the tooth toward the end.

Multiplayer, while competent, isn’t as memorable as the campaign. It obviously tries to strike a balance between classic Doom and modern shooter expectations but just doesn’t have the same impact that the campaign does. That being said, Demonic Possession can be pretty cool.

One mode that’s a great addition is SnapMap, which allows players to create and share custom, well, maps with others. Although not as robust as a full modding tool, it’s great for average Joes who may not be technically proficient. And if you’ve got good modding experience, you can still come up with some pretty nifty scripting with it.

Given how well the new Wolfenstein game shaped up and now Doom, it looks like Bethesda’s on a roll with its classic IP. Both times, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Here’s hoping now that the positive trend continues.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Doom (2016) is a great addition to an oversaturated genre thanks to an excellent campaign, a polished old-school shooting experience and a creative SnapMap mode. Admittedly, the multiplayer, while competent, pales in comparison to the single-player experience. For Doom fans and newcomers looking for a different experience from today’s typical shooters, however, this game’s back-to-the-basics approach is devilishly fun.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Cost: $59.99; PC, PS4, XB1 (reviewed)

http://bethsoft.com/en-us/games/doom