Doom 3

Well, after shredding my nerves playing id's masterpiece, the FPS sage comes to review this great, scary game. I'll begin by comparing it to it's PC version. Doom 3 on the Xbox is good enough to warrant a detailed comparison to it's PC cousin running on a 2000 dollar gaming computer. The framerate is steady, for the most part. There is no de-sync or wacky issues like that, but when the screen gets crowded, the FPS drops from 60 to about 7. Disapointing, put forgivable. What is MUCH less forgivable is that the menu screen takes about 3 seconds to load. The only reason for that was that the Xbox porters were alittle too ambitious with the menu screens. The resolution is not superb like Kirk's Alienware, but it could have been my TV. It doesn't matter. Ingeneously, the way the game is rigged, you'll never notice the fair res inless you really look for it. Also, the levels are changed, some to be a bit smaller, others to be slightly easier. You'll never notice this uless you've also palyed the PC version.

On to the real bread and butter of this review.

The controls are good, the analog sensitivity is just a little loose (but you can adjust it). The ability to map weapons to D-pad directional presses is wonderful, and in that regard, swtching from the machine gun to the shotgun in a flash is easier to do than in the PC version. I have no issues with the controls.

The campaign is fun, and very moody. It's a huge adjustment for someone expecting a Painkiller-esqe killfest, but once you make the attitude adjustment, it's great. Don't worry, there's still tons of evil crap to destroy. The bosses are cool, and unique. They feel sort of... strange though. The boss battles are all easy if you have enough chain-gun and plasma gun ammo. Once you complete the campaign once, you get Nightmare difficulty. While it's not quite as difficult as Nightmare was in Classic Doom, it's still a challenge. Pretty much 90 percent of the time you are at 25 health. Your health drains at a steady rate until it reaches 25. You do start out with the soulcube, but it doesnt't really help you. You enemies also do much more damage. One large complaint I have is enemy repitition. Once you see the imp, you'll see it again and again. I would have like if id switched it up a little more. Y'know, like more demons and more revenants.

The Co-op is cool, and you can even play it solo (great for lonely chaps like me). Actually, I don't have broadband internet, and none of my friends around me have both Doom 3 and a suitable LAN cable. id actually modified the single-player, so there are less outdoor segments, no cutscenes, and less descision making. If you want a more Halo-esqe Doom 3, play this. I'll warn you now, IT'S TOUGH. It's made for 2 people, so there are larger swarms of stuff to kill, and there's no soul cube. What's that? I'll let you find out on your own. The bosses are also changed. No longer are you required to perform a specific task (you'll find out what I mean when you play the single player game), instead they are very much like the classic Doom bosses. You simply must pump as much lead into it as possible, and sooner or later, it'll keel over.

The sound is what really makes Doom 3 great. It truely makes the mood, and creates that sense of paranoia that drives Doom 3. You'll be able to hear you enemies talk on the radio, you allies screaming and dying, the sound of a demon stomp after you, and many more subtle noises that brings Doom to life.

I'm not sure of how good the multiplayer is, but it supports 4 players, and there is only 5 multiplayer maps. Game types include: Deathmatch, Team DM, and Tourney.

I guess I'll rant about the guns in this game. I've heard Doom 3's arsenal described as "vanilla", but I found that it was always fun to use. You have basic weapons like the pistol, machine gun, the shotgun (might as well be a sawed-off. Expect around 2 shells per enemy, even at close range). Then you have funner (not sure if that's a word) weapons, like Kirk's baby the chain gun, my baby the plasma gun, the rocket launcher (Quaked-out mind you. Not nearly as devestating as it used to be.), the chain saw, the almighty BFG-9000, and the ancient, mysterious soulcube. Personally I love the plasma gun, it was cool and alluring (to me at least) even in classic Doom. My only issues is that the projectiles move too slowly and the plasma doesn't vent out the sides as visibly as it does in the PC version. Oh, and for those of you who have read my PC Doom 3 review, I repent about the grenades. They are perfect for tossing down an elevator shaft and killing all the hellspawn that wait below. They aren't usefull all the time, but if used properly, they will save you a lot of pain.

Oh yeah, try to buy the "Collecter's Edition" of Doom 3 because you have Classic Doom (Ultimate and Doom 2), and a bunch of interviews and artwork.

All in all, a great time, for those of use without 2 grand gaming computers, a terrific choice. A few technical issues keep me from giving this 5 stars, but Doom 3 is of the highest quality. Be warned, is game is really scary. Just make sure you turn the lights out when playing it, and if possible, get surround sound. You might not hear from me for a while; that's because a friend threatened to kill me if I gave Doom 3 anything less then 5 stars. Sorry bud.

4 star(s) out of 5

Discuss More XBOX Games More Action Games