…OK. Now that my blood pressure has returned to normal, let’s crack this one open.
Doom Eternal was one of my most anticipated games of 2019. When it was delayed to 2020, I had my doubts that it would live up to it’s predecessor. If you had similar doubts, I’m happy=no scratch that, elated to tell you that Doom Eternal delivers in spades.
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY
I’ll just say it outright; Doom Eternal is $#@%$#@ dope. It soars to new heights never before seen in the modern First-Person-Shooter genre effortlessly, whilst retaining high production values. It falters in some areas(more on that later) , but is a worthwhile successor to Doom 2016.
Doom Eternal is a unique product in the sense that it bucks many FPS conventions of yesteryear. There are no Active Reloads, chest-high walls, or regenerating health. Shooter veterans will be quick to tell you how to play Doom; KEEP MOVING. You stay put, you die.
Glory Kills make a return here, and they’re more important than ever. Shoot a demon enough times and he will glow orange and blue. You have a limited amount of time to perform a melee attack with the right stick. Doing so rewards you with health. In the more difficult stages of the game, Glory Kills will be your lifeline and key to victory. Another new addition is the Shoulder Cannon. It’s primary function is a grenade launcher, but it also doubles as a flamethrower. Using the flamethrower in clutch moments rewards the player with armor.
I could go on for hours about all the mechanically cool %$#@ that this game does, but I have my own gripes about certain aspects. Namely, the overabundance of platforming.
Look, I get it. It’s a pacing thing. It’s innovative and fairly simple. I wasn’t a fan. The staunchest defenders will rationalize it with “constant shooting is no fun” , but I vehemently disagree. Every Doom game up until Eternal had no problem with frenetic, ceaseless shooting and explosions. On the flipside, the platforming controls are actually tight, so I won’t rake them over the coals too much.
NEGATIVE NARRATIVE
Doom Eternal takes places shortly after the events of Doom 2016. The hordes of hell have nearly wiped out mankind. It’s up to you, The Doomslayer to stop them. Armed with only a Combat Rifle and some hypnotic Heavy Metal, you jump through a portal and rev up to kick some demon #$$.
I found the story to be half-baked in Doom Eternal. The game builds you up as this messiah or hero, but it never plays out quite so dramatically. The “why” that you’re fighting for is more of a background element. The demons have invaded Earth and have taken over? Cool. Why don’t we see the culling of the human race then? It just feels contrived. Contrast this focus with that of Doom 2016; where story and cutscenes take a back seat. In the intro to that game, Doomslayer literally punches a computer to silence an NPC!
MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS AND MULTIPLAYER
OK, we’ve already established I came into Doom Eternal with a Ludologist mindset. Story ehh, gameplay mostly good. I could talk about the Slayer Gates, new enemy types-OHHHHH MY GODDDDD
I have mixed feelings about the Marauder enemy. I like Id Software gave Doomslayer a rival of sorts, but I feel like this enemy type borders on being a bit broken(both for and against the player). There are many players who have no issue with The Marauder. I have seen many strategies to easily topple him. All the same though, his arsenal is almost like a cheat code; a shotgun for close range, an axe for long range, a demon dog companion to swarm the player and mitigate splash damage, a impenetrable shield, and special weapons don’t work on him(for the most part). Unlike most of the enemies in the game, The Marauder doesn’t have a particular weakspot. The Cyberdemon for example, has a plasma cannon that can be shot or blown off, weakening his combat efficiency. The Arachnatron has a turret mounted on his back that can be blown off. The Marauder doesn’t have any such sweet spot.
Not that that’s a deal-breaker. With careful consideration and practice, The Marauder isn’t insurmountable; just irritating.
The multiplayer is a massive disappointment though. Don’t get it confused, Doom is just as famous for it’s multiplayer as it is for it’s single-player. They really dropped the ball on this one. ONE MODE?! No deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, not even capture the flag? To be fair though, Id Software has promised to add more modes and features down the line. I’ll take it with a grain of salt for now.
Doom Eternal’s one multiplayer mode, called BATTLEMODE, is underwhelming. It features 2v1 action *COUGH* with rather spotty game balance. 2 Demons vs Doomslayer, what could go wrong? Firstly, nobody seems to play it except at night. Secondly, why is this the only mode? Thirdly, why does the Doomslayer get the BFG and it’s not a one hit kill? Whew chile…
FINAL THOUGHTS
Doom Eternal is one hell of a game. It’s inferior to Doom 2016 though. If Doom 2016 was combat chess, then Doom Eternal is controlled chaos. Many people have cited lack of ammo as an issue in Doom Eternal, and I agree. It’s almost as if Id Software wants you to play the game their way. That’s the antithesis of what Doom(and games of it’s ilk) are all about. That being said, I still think very highly of Doom Eternal, and would recommend it to most gamers. Tell me what you think in the comments! Peace!
Purveyors Of Pixels 