doom 3 review

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Average Ratings

Addiction Level	5.5/10
Graphics	9.3/10
Value for Money	6.2/10
Reviewer Rating	7/10
Overall Rating	7.3/10

50% Recommended8 out of 16 Reviews

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By TOMLEECEE on 9th Dec 2004

TOMLEECEE's Ratings

Addiction Level	9/10
Graphics	10/10
Multi-player	Yes
Value for money	9/10
Overall value	9/10
TOMLEECEE's recommendation

Good Points

Awesome Graphics,
Great story,
Excellent acting,
Inventive method of story progression

Bad Points

Middle section is slightly drawn out,
Gets a bit repetetive,
Needs a beast of a machine to run

General Comments

I am a self confessed Doom nut, so I had been looking forward to this for ages. Ever since I first played the original all those years ago, I've owned nearly every version of Doom 3 (PC, Jaguar, Saturn, Snes, Mac, 3DO, PSX, 32X etc) and am still hooked on it. When I heard the specs Doom 3 would require, I purposely upgraded my PC so I'd be able to play it and boy, was I not disappointed.

The story goes a little like this: UAC have set up a research base on Mars and have a large team of Marines, Technicians, Scientists etc living there. On the base, numerous experiments are conducted regarding teleportation. As a side story, the base is also conducting an archaeological dig and finds some strange artefacts. After testing these artefacts, the scientists manage to open a gateway to another dimension (that we would regard as Hell) and all manner of evil beasts and demons spill into the base killing all and sundry. The power goes down and you are stranded.

Guided by the Marine commander, you must find your way through the stricken base and carry out certain objectives and ultimately destroy the demons and the gateway before the fleet arrives and takes the demonic creatures back to Earth. Sounds a little clich d, but there it is.

Rather than have you run through maze like levels of the first couple of Doom titles, Doom 3 almost unashamedly rips off Half-Life and has you going from one area of the base to another in a non-linear way. The various sections of the base are separated by elevators and these act as hubs to different sectors. In a way, Doom 3 has evolved from its roots, but only in a psuedo mission based way, as ultimately all you are doing is collecting keys to open up new areas previously locked.

However, Doom 3 must be played as it was meant - as an out and out shooter, with very little thinking involved. And if you do play it as it was designed - boy, are you in for a fun time.

Cosmetically, Doom 3 is astounding. You'll need a PC that has the power of a black hole to get the whole effect, but its worth it. The different areas of the base are so well designed, it often looks real. The architecture is incredible - even my non-games playing mates were transfixed while I was playing. The way in which you stumble across barely alive characters is also a nice touch and there were more that a few times when I literally jumped out of my seat.
That you have to depend on your flashlight to see anything (in some sections) can be seen either as an irritant or as a clever trick on the part of the developers as a way to create a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere, because you cant hold a gun at the same time. It's actually very nerve-wracking looking into an air duct with you torch, only for something to come tearing towards you as you panic for your shotgun!

Once you finally get to the Hell based sections, prepare to be blown away by the graphics - nothing you've yet seen can prepare you for the jaw dropping nature of the architecture and set pieces.

Enemy wise, Doom 3 doesn't disappoint. The old favourites are all back, with a nightmarish new look, and there are a few new ones for good measure (check out the baby/moth things!). The weapons have all been given an overhaul too and the reload animations are very good (the machine gun in particular is quite good).

Its not all praise though - even though it looks great, sounds great and - for the most part - plays great, it can get a bit monotonous and repetitive towards the middle section and the story seems to stagnate somewhat. Also, the scares (which DID literally make me jump) become cheap after a while and the whole game is probably a tad too easy. Also, there isn't much replay value after you've completed it because you know where all the scares and items actually are.

These are minor gripes with a game that is a milestone in PC gaming. No other game has consumed my life while it lasted - I once even reached for a torch (that I didn't actually have) while walking up the stairs in the pitch black!

Doom 3 is a fantastic game and should be played with the sound up and the lights off. Preferably with someone holding your hand!

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