DOOM has always held a special place in my heart. It was the first PC game I ever played as a nine year old boy and totally changed the way I looked at video games. Fast paced, kinetic gameplay with all the blood and gore you could want. What is not to love? So with the excellent reboot back in 2016 still in the rear view mirror I was super excited to see how id Software were going to follow up.
Given that the franchise is over twenty-five years old it would be easy for the formula to have ran it’s course, but DOOM Eternal is an absolute blast to play. You rarely have a moment to catch your breath and when you do it is spent planning for what lies ahead. The 2016 game did a lot right and was one of my favourite games that year, but it is no leap to say that this latest entry takes the foundation laid and cranks it up in all aspects.
Doom Guy now has a ship called Fortress of Doom which he calls home and this is the hub that you will visit between missions. The plot is pretty basic, which was fine by me as I was itching to get in to the action. A warning message announces hell has arrived on earth and that time is of the essence. It’s up to you to get to the bottom of this and tear everything in your path limb from limb.
The story, while a small part of the appeal for most fans remains more than serviceable. Cutscenes are often kept short so as not to outstay their welcome, but long time DOOM fans will have plenty to sink their teeth into with both new and returning characters. Naturally, our silent protagonist blatantly has no moral compass and makes a point of showing that at numerous times throughout the 15-20 hour campaign.
It should come as no surprise that the gameplay is the star of the show here. Doom Guy comes sporting a new weaponised suit that is built for destruction. The iconic double-barrel shotgun does of course make an appearance and feels better than ever. This combined with it’s new grappling hook attachment that instead of being used for platforming I saw best described as a meat hook canon that feels great to unleash.
The chainsaw is another great way to end the life of your enemies and while it does require fuel for frequent use, the gauge will always slowly fill up allowing you one intermittent slice and dice. Combat is more tactical than the previous entry with ammo pick ups available depending on the kill as well as just found in the world. Glory kills also have great animations and offer health rewards. Weapons have two mods that alter their secondary fire and can be upgraded via challenges to unlock another perk.
Battle arenas are now more accessible and start organically which added to the flow of the game. You can upgrade Doom Guy numerous times throughout the game while exploring the world. This is another area where Eternal improves on it’s predecessor. Exploration is now fun and adds to the overall experience. Demons now have weak points which can be exploited at will, exposing them to glory kills.
You can return to levels in search of items for upgrades and also collectibles. There is also the option of tackling Master Levels as well which are revamped versions of the originals with different enemies for an even tougher challenge. If you decide to max out everything and chase the platinum trophy DOOM Eternal is going to last you much longer than the time spent running through the campaign, which provides a superb value for money.
Overall, this is a game that any FPS fan is going to want to check out. id Software and Bethesda really have something special on their hands here. Games divide opinion, which is natural. So when I tell you that I haven’t heard a single person say they aren’t enjoying DOOM Eternal, that’s probably one of the biggest compliments I can give it. This is the culmination of everything the DOOM series has been working towards. Buy this game!
-Jock
A review code for this product was kindly provided by the publisher. Reviewed on PS4 Pro.
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