DOOM 3 BFG EDITION (X360)
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Publisher: Bethesda Softworks.
Developer: id Software. Released: October 2012. Genre: FPS. Other versions: PC; PS3. Posted 28th October 2013. By Shane Battams © 2013 |
Considered one of the pioneers of the first-person shooter, Doom embraces its 20th anniversary with a collection of all three games and two expansions. Strangely, the prime focus of this package is Doom 3, despite containing all three games, with revamped visuals and other tweaks. Doom 3 was polarised upon release, as though it’s technical accomplishments and scary moments were lauded by some, others dubbed it a dated shooter with closet scares. It all comes at a discounted retail price, but does it do enough to be called the ultimate Doom experience?
Though slightly different with each instalment, the basic concept remains through the series: you play as a Marine under the UAC who must prevent the invasion of Earth from Hell and its creatures. As a collection that includes all the previous games, you get Doom 3, its expansion Resurrection of Evil along with a new campaign called The Lost Mission, and Xbox Arcade versions of Doom and Doom II. It certainly represents good value for money, especially when you factor in the bargain price point. Doom 3 and its expansions will probably give you a little over 10 hours of gameplay, while Doom and Doom II should increase that to 15 or more and this doesn’t factor in the unlockable Nightmare difficulty for the Doom 3 campaigns, meaning BFG Edition offers more content than some full-priced shooters.
Action lies around every corner. Luckily, you're armed to the teeth
Time can be a cruel mistress though and the eight-year-old Doom 3 does feel dusty compared to more recent shooters. Even upon its 2004 release, competing against the likes of Half-Life 2, it was considered a little simplistic. Doom 3 really boils down to moving through the ruined military facility while shooting anything in your way. Progression is entirely linear, and the shooting becomes somewhat stale as you close towards the campaign’s conclusion. Doom 3 can also feel breezy on most difficulties, as small enemy encounters and dumb AI make gunplay relatively easy. That being said, Doom 3’s shooting action is still pretty potent, as powerful weapons and satisfying combat save Doom 3 from descending into mediocrity. There’s also an uncomfortable atmosphere which lingers, as you explore the dank and dark crevices of the ship, even if you don’t pee your pants throughout.
Expansion Resurrection of Evil actually feels riper with age. New weapons and enemy types shake up the action considerably. Though not wholly original, additions such as a gravity gun and Artefact powers which can slow down time, for example, just make the action more varied, and there’s great fun to be had experimenting. Tougher foes, including some devilish new enemy types, also make the action more intense. The Lost Mission, a whole new chapter created for BFG Edition, sits uncomfortably between D3 and RoE. The combat is easier and there are fewer enemy types, but elements such as the gravity gun still come into play. Sadly, it can be finished in little over an hour, making it feel like an afterthought. Doom and Doom II have been ported with modest success, as while the dated structure and forced 4:3 format can be off-putting, additions like leaderboards and online multiplayer make both games worthwhile.
Expansion Resurrection of Evil actually feels riper with age. New weapons and enemy types shake up the action considerably. Though not wholly original, additions such as a gravity gun and Artefact powers which can slow down time, for example, just make the action more varied, and there’s great fun to be had experimenting. Tougher foes, including some devilish new enemy types, also make the action more intense. The Lost Mission, a whole new chapter created for BFG Edition, sits uncomfortably between D3 and RoE. The combat is easier and there are fewer enemy types, but elements such as the gravity gun still come into play. Sadly, it can be finished in little over an hour, making it feel like an afterthought. Doom and Doom II have been ported with modest success, as while the dated structure and forced 4:3 format can be off-putting, additions like leaderboards and online multiplayer make both games worthwhile.
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Doom 3 uses creepy lighting and claustrophobic, confined environments to make for an unnerving playing experience
All three campaigns exhibit solid mechanics that are weighed down with flaws. The strong, responsive gunplay you come to expect from id Software remains intact, and the tight-quarters environment and grotesque enemy design make combat frantic and exciting. But at the same time, there are a few changes which actually hinder rather than improve. The lack of control options seems bizarre, while the addition of a mounted torch reduces a significant amount of tension from the original release, as you no longer need to choose between vision in the dark or the ability to shoot. The addition of a checkpoint system is also jarring, as the game pauses to save your progress. That being said, Doom 3 provides a dose of old-school fun which, while not mind-blowing, is refreshingly straightforward.
Doom 3’s greatest asset was its looks, with visuals which dropped jaws all over, and BFG comes with some adjustments to ensure it doesn’t look too dated. Texturing is a little sharper, lighting is improved and a silky smooth frame rate ensures the action is fast paced. That being said, you can only spray so much paint on a 2004 release before the rust shows through. Animation is pretty solid still, but plenty of the game doesn’t look so hot. The audio holds up better. Strong gun effects, combined with fleshy demons, add a satisfying punch to combat. The voice acting is okay, if a little bland at times, while the sparse music adds a small amount of tension, though odd effects like random moments of heart-beats are pretty spooky.
Doom 3’s greatest asset was its looks, with visuals which dropped jaws all over, and BFG comes with some adjustments to ensure it doesn’t look too dated. Texturing is a little sharper, lighting is improved and a silky smooth frame rate ensures the action is fast paced. That being said, you can only spray so much paint on a 2004 release before the rust shows through. Animation is pretty solid still, but plenty of the game doesn’t look so hot. The audio holds up better. Strong gun effects, combined with fleshy demons, add a satisfying punch to combat. The voice acting is okay, if a little bland at times, while the sparse music adds a small amount of tension, though odd effects like random moments of heart-beats are pretty spooky.
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Doom 3 BFG Edition presents a solid package for those who have yet to invest in the series. It’s not the top dog it once was, as repetitive shooting and easy action can make the game feel lacklustre. But at the same time, the visceral shooting and straightforward blasting can feel refreshingly old-school, as scores of other shooters bog themselves down with mediocre stories and other elements. Doom 3 is a shooter, from top to bottom, and that is both its biggest strength and its Achilles heel. That being said, Resurrection of Evil provides a good couple of hours of fun, and the addition of the first two games is also welcome. With a cheaper price point and plenty of hours of fun, those who don’t mind a little more brawn than brain will find BFG worthwhile.
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VERDICT
Visual: 6/10
Audio: 7/10 Gameplay: 6/10 Longevity: 8/10 OVERALL: 6/10 |
PIXEL SECONDS: DOOM 3 BFG EDITION (PS3)
Doom 3 would prove a very different beast to its hallowed predecessors, but not in a bad way. It perhaps lacks some of the purity, the sheer relentless, brain-on-hold energy of the nineties corridor shoot ‘em ups. But Doom 3 is every bit as action-packed and it’s more nuanced, too. The Mars stations are fraught with tension thanks to clever, claustrophobia-inducing environments and fantastic sound design that are guaranteed to set the gamer’s nerves alight. The “torch or gun, but not both” debacle has been duly righted for BFG Edition and as the PC original needed something akin to a computing spaceship to run it on its original release, it doesn’t look out of place on seventh generation hardware. The lighting effects are excellent and the settings are sure to have left a significant impression on a generation of space shooters, not least Dead Space. That being said, its visuals and its gameplay design do belie signs of age. Enemy animations look clumsy and out of place amongst the slicker surrounds of this remaster and the propensity for foes to spawn directly behind you becomes vexing over time. Silky smooth controls and a plethora of beefy weapons make for enjoyable blasting, though a few of them lack stopping power. The icing on the cake is a generous swathe of content. The main campaign is good for ten hours, rising to more than twenty when you factor in two strong (if somewhat familiar) additional chapters, with The Lost Mission the only part of the package to suffer any slow-down. Rounding out the package are serviceable (though far from definitive) versions of Doom and Doom II, meaning that if corridor FPS throwbacks are your thing, you’re good for weeks of play here. [7] – Tom Clare © 2021
Doom 3 would prove a very different beast to its hallowed predecessors, but not in a bad way. It perhaps lacks some of the purity, the sheer relentless, brain-on-hold energy of the nineties corridor shoot ‘em ups. But Doom 3 is every bit as action-packed and it’s more nuanced, too. The Mars stations are fraught with tension thanks to clever, claustrophobia-inducing environments and fantastic sound design that are guaranteed to set the gamer’s nerves alight. The “torch or gun, but not both” debacle has been duly righted for BFG Edition and as the PC original needed something akin to a computing spaceship to run it on its original release, it doesn’t look out of place on seventh generation hardware. The lighting effects are excellent and the settings are sure to have left a significant impression on a generation of space shooters, not least Dead Space. That being said, its visuals and its gameplay design do belie signs of age. Enemy animations look clumsy and out of place amongst the slicker surrounds of this remaster and the propensity for foes to spawn directly behind you becomes vexing over time. Silky smooth controls and a plethora of beefy weapons make for enjoyable blasting, though a few of them lack stopping power. The icing on the cake is a generous swathe of content. The main campaign is good for ten hours, rising to more than twenty when you factor in two strong (if somewhat familiar) additional chapters, with The Lost Mission the only part of the package to suffer any slow-down. Rounding out the package are serviceable (though far from definitive) versions of Doom and Doom II, meaning that if corridor FPS throwbacks are your thing, you’re good for weeks of play here. [7] – Tom Clare © 2021