Managing Editor Alex Ortuno
You’re in a mech suit with a bunch of guns and you’re on a mission to save Earth from the might of Hell itself. That’s pretty much the premise of “Doom Eternal,” the sequel to “Doom” (2016).
“Doom Eternal” does its wonders as it has so many parts that in a way, are excellent. Let’s begin with the first thing that everyone will see, the gameplay. The game does not let players have a cakewalk and, in a way, forces players out of their s comfort zone.
Players can’t stay in a single spot and kill off all the enemies like in many other FPS games. They must be almost constantly moving and aware of surroundings to be dominating the battlefield. While this may sound very intimidating, it isn’t because players aren’t left with only one weapon but rather several to allow them to be creative to destroy the hell spawns. Since not all enemies are alike and some of them have their own strengths and weaknesses, it pressures the player to find new ways to combat the demons.
From flinging themselves across the zone with a hook and shooting rockets at the same time or freezing enemies with an ice bomb and blasting them with a chaingun, creativity is the way to go for combat. Players are literally a one-man army against a dimension of hatred too angry to die.
While the combat of the game puts the player in the moment, the music enhances the scenes of combat. Composed from Mick Gordon, known for composing the songs for the latest “Wolfenstein” video games and “Doom,” his work does wonders as players fight the hordes of demons. With the rifts of metal, the rage and the anger are practically set. It encourages players to be in a fit of rage and adrenaline to rip and tear all of the demons out in front.
Even the music for the times not in combat but exploring the map are amazing, especially as they have different themes such as listening to a fallen, yet previously glorious civilization in Exultia or hearing what feels like a corrupted version of heaven in Urdak.
The story itself plays a part in why things happen in the game. To me, however, the gameplay and the music feel like they are the main attraction rather than the story. The story is OK, but it has some parts where it gets really interesting, such as how the Khan Makyr has an almost deceptive personality that tries to win players over by returning what the demons destroyed from them, only for the end to reveal its true plans.
I would heavily recommend it if you’re up for a challenging shooting game or if you’re into fast-paced action. “Doom Eternal” pushes you straight to the fight without any obstruction.
Grade: A
