DOOM 3

PN Review continued... Story With Doom 3 playing in such a straightforward and uninvolved way, the question of course is whether the actual plot compensates for this by adding more overall depth to the game. Now, there was a time when "gameplay" and "storyline" in FPS games implied more or less the same thing: the background story that set the theme was usually just a very sparse framework within which the player was given objectives that were actually quite similar from one game to the next - mostly a case of "seen one, seen 'em all". The main explanation for this early trend is probably the fact that gaming technology limited what players could do in-game besides hitting switches and shooting enemies. In something like the original Doom, the low-tech graphics, sound and player controls work together well since nothing more realistic is expected - the game feels a bit like a classic arcade shooter, but presented in 3D rather than scrolling side-view. Of course, even such a basic audio-visual presentation can draw one in and become quite immersive (as the Doom series demonstrated quite convincingly) - a strong story or ultra-realistic environments are not necessarily needed to engross the player within a virtual world: quite simple visual & aural cues can do the trick just as well. Many encounters are realistically frightening. Still, most FPS games of the past decade have moved towards greater realism in all respects, also incorporating a trend for more fleshed-out storylines that unfold through the course of a game. This approach was probably first highlighted by Half-Life and has since gained momentum, whether it actually produced better gaming experiences or not. So, today's FPS creations are ever more becoming like interactive movies, incorporating numerous characters with "real" personalities, involving plot twists and intricate objectives for the player to fulfil, often egged on by numerous scripted events and cut-scenes. The danger, of course, is that at some point the story elements can start to overshadow actual gameplay aspects and player freedom - so this is potentially a tricky aspect for game designers to get just right in terms of balance. The way that id Software chose to approach this whole issue is interesting: they've added a very detailed back-story, but have allowed only a few of the narrative elements to actually integrate with the player experience. Essentially, Doom 3's story adds to the overall mood but does not really impact much on the way the game itself is played. So, whether you bother to read the many E-mails, listen to audio logs and view video clips in your PDA, you'll still basically end up fighting your way through the hordes of demons in much the same linear way - you might get codes for extra lockers of ammo, but you won't find any strategic tips to better deal with your evil adversaries. Taking in the storyline along the way is entirely optional in Doom 3, rather than essential. The PDA provides a lot of background story info. At least, it has to be said that Doom 3's story as conveyed through the player's PDA is not bad at all. There are many interesting details about the UAC base and its technology, background info about many characters and a whole history of what happened on Mars to cause the catastrophic events the player eventually faces. The way you initially go on a kind of guided tour of the base before "all hell breaks loose" is very effective in setting the tone of morbid dread that dominates the remainder of the game. Especially brilliant is the "before & after" way in which you first head deep inside the still intact facility, to later retrace your steps all the way back again through scenes of destruction and hordes of zombies. Things like a pair of real websites the player can access on-line are obviously a gimmick, but still a nice little touch (along with several others sprinkled throughout the game). Occasional encounters with other people trapped inside the base and several co-op battles next to cute but deadly sentry robots are also some of Doom 3's narrative highlights. Compared to all previous id games, this is a huge leap forward for them in terms of story-telling. Next Page >

PN Game Reviews: Doom 3 > 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9

Doom 3 versus Half-Life 2, PC game review, review of Doom 3 vs Half-Life 2, fps games, 3-D graphics, 3D games, 3-D shooter, first person shooters, single player. PC games, best FPS ever, best game of 2004, best FPS of 2005. Doom3 sucks, HalfLife 2 sucks, screen shots, old Doom 1993, Half Life 1998. Id Software, Valve, Steam, Source. Quake 3 engine, FarCry, Pain-killer, Medal of Honour Allied Assault, Call of Duty, Thief 3 - Deadly Shadows, Chronicles of Riddick - Escape from Butcher Bay, System Shock 1994. Mars base, Hell, Alien movie, Ravenholm, Zombie.
Tired of games? Check out Photo Nudes...