If there is a more hotly anticipated game than Doom Eternal this year, we don’t know what it is. Yes, the new entry in the franchise is here, and the world is going moggy about it. If you can take a break from your play at Grand Rush, it’s well worth trying out the new Doom. But can it possibly live up to years of hype, and promises of being the greatest thing since sliced bread?
Plot
First and foremost; there is a great deal more plot than you might be expecting. Given that Doom 2016 all but laughed in the face of plot, why id decided that Doom Eternal should have a much stronger focus on story telling is anyone’s guess. But regardless; there is a great deal more plot, and it is mostly nothing more than shrug worthy.
So, why does a guy named the Doom Slayer spend his days ripping and tearing demons? How did hell invade earth since the last game entry? You’ll find out, sort of, but it won’t exactly blow your socks off.
Handfuls of first person cut scenes play out at various points in the game, and exposition is dumped. It isn’t super interesting, and that also probably isn’t why 99% of players are here.
Frankly, the plot can largely be ignored, and we won’t tell if you just skipped all the cut scenes if you don’t.
Gameplay
We’re just going to come out and say it; this is one of the maddest shooters you’ll ever play. To put it another way; this isn’t what you’d call a relaxing game of Aristocrat Pokies. It is a fast paced, mad slaughter spree that basically never lets up. Gore and guts fly, and if you dare stop moving for even a second, you’re going to be pushing up daisies faster than an escaped goldfish lost in a desert.
However, I’d have also decided to turn up the complexity of the gameplay to a rather alarming degree. As in the previous entry, the chainsaw regains ammo, and the Glory Kills regain health. But add to this the new flamethrower that regains armour, plus the Blood Punch, plus the standard grenade, plus the ice grenade, plus the dash, plus the two firing modes of each weapon, and you start to get the picture.
How do you keep track of all this, while still focusing on the numerous enemy types, each of which require a distinct approach in order to defeat? All while moving around at the land speed record? Well; you do so with a great deal of practice, knowing the game psychology, and a certain degree of frustration.
Conclusion
Doom Eternal is not Doom 2016. It is way more intense, more like a Hollywood movie, a great deal harder to grasp, and exceedingly more difficult. We can see why Doom veterans have bounced off the game, and understand why many are even expressing disappointment.
Though, others still have argued that this is simply an evolution of Doom gameplay, to a new, more interesting level. This is also a valid argument.
If you go into Doom Eternal expecting Doom 2016, you’re going to be disappointed. Instead, let it be its own thing, and you’ll like it far more.
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