Some people may know about the Doom franchise because of the dreadful 2005 movie that was based roughly on the game series. Others might be more familiar with Doom 3 for the original Xbox, which garnered critical acclaim for its impressive graphics and scary atmosphere. But if you’re like me, you love the original Doom from 1993. Doom has been on the Xbox Live Marketplace for quite a while now, since 2006, but with Halloween coming up I think it’s only appropriate to pay homage to one of the most downright brutal games of the 90’s.

Review:

Doom begins with a pretty simple story idea. You are a marine who has been sent to a research facility on Mars, where scientists are experimenting with portal technology. Their project goes terribly wrong, and soon legions of hellish creatures begin attacking the facility. You are the last survivor and must single handedly defeat the armies of Hell and save Earth from certain destruction.

You begin the game with a simple pistol, but soon you will find a good spread of weapons. From the incredibly handy shotgun, to the chainsaw, to the outright badass B.F.G., you have more then enough tools for taking out baddies in bouts of over-exaggerated gore. The weapons are easy to use, since the game requires no reloading, and only has X-axis aiming (no aiming up or down required).

The graphics remain untouched from the original, and everything is displayed just as it was in 1993 albeit with higher resolutions. Doom’s engine was truly groundbreaking in its time, and it isn’t hard to see why. For a game that’s 16 years old the visuals are still pleasant and look great in a very retro way. There’s also some pretty advanced stuff here, i.e. different lighting for areas, full texture mapping, and a weapon bob.

Doom’s sound is easily one of my favorite parts, although it may annoy others. The game is set to a collection of speed-metal tracks that sound like bad ringtones. This is going to either be hilarious to you, or bug you to no end. I embrace the game’s dated sound files, and it no longer bugs me that every enemy makes pretty much the same noise. The sound does have some positives though, as some enemies have unique noises they make, so as to alert you of their presence and help you prepare.

Doom’s story mode is a blast, and provides a very tough challenge on the highest difficulty level. The game also features split-screen and Xbox Live multiplayer (good luck finding other people). The game is a solid package, and shows that a good game can transcend the ages.

Final Words:

Doom is a good investment for anyone who just wants a fun, simple shooter with a high entertainment value for a cheap price. Available for only 400 Microsoft Points,  it’s a worthy investment for gamers who want to see what old-school zombie killing is all about. I recommend checking out Doom, turning the volume way up, and fragging some demons in the spirit of Halloween.

Pros

• Awesome weapon selection
• Fast paced action
• Lengthy single player mode
• Only 400 Microsoft Points (roughly 5 dollars)
• Speed metal soundtrack

Cons

• Somewhat annoying sound
• Hard to find matches online
• Confusing level design

Score: 8.25/10 (Great)

Gameplay: 9.0/10 (Fast, brutal, and gory)
Graphics: 7.5/10 (Impressive for it’s time, but dated)
Audio: 8.0/10 (Love it or hate it sound)
Entertainment Value: 8.0/10 (Classic game for 5 bucks)