Game 69-70 - Doom Classic - Week 125 - May 22

 

OOM Classic is a game that I always appreciated from afar growing up. Like Duke Nukem 3D and unlike Quake, it’s a game I was only able to  experience over a friends shoulder on a few occasions. So after playing the mastercrafted shooter that is DOOM Eternal I wanted to go back to the OG.

In terms of gameplay what more is there to say other than it still holds up to this day? Its still fun; juking, straffing, slaying imps with the shotgun and killing Cyber-Demons with a flurry of rockets. Not to mention the secrets, traps and level design. It’s a testament to how good the vision and execution was for this game - the first shooter and grandfather that set the standard for all shooters to come (sorry Wolfenstein 3D, you’re the weird uncle in this analogy). Did I mention that it holds up so god damn well!?

I had a blast running through the halls of Mars again, but the major difference I noticed was just how similar it is to the remake. For example, the weapons are the same, from starting with the pistol and then getting the machine gun and shotgun, finally ending with the BFG. Literally every weapon is there from the original to DOOM 2016. Spiritually, they feel the same for the purpose they serve; the weight, the design, punch and rate of fire. It all adds to the continuity of the DOOM universe. The same core gameplay consists of right enemy right weapon and an experienced doom slayer will switch on the fly. Positioning and enemy prioritisation is essential. Always trying to flank and juke enemy ranged weapons while keeping on your toes to ensure you don’t get surrounded. The meta formula has you as a Demon Shepard, hording demons in a circle to rain death upon them. The major change here of course is the back pedalling. It’s natural to backpedal and maintain cover. Behind you is safe, you cleared that area so when they get close juke, duck and cover. The glory kill mechanic changed that. Instead what’s safe is the enemies in front of you, tear their guts from their neck and drink their blood to heal. Not only was it a fun welcome change that overhauls the moment-to-moment gameplay. But in it is a pure understanding of Doom. You’re the killer of demons, they run from you, not the opposite. The mechanic singlehandedly transforming Doomguy into Doomslayer in a experiential way.

Doom Eternal is more Doom than 2016 in this regard, where most would stick to their weapons, Doom Eternal forces you to experiment and mix up your weapons to deal with different enemies and the low ammo supplies. Doom classic does the same, more so out of low ammo then weapons being suited to enemies. But even so, I loved Doom 2016 more then Eternal as it came out of nowhere and hit harder as a result, but I recognised Doom Eternal was the better game. Doom has given me an even higher appreciation for Eternal in how faithful it is to the original formula, while at the same time pushing to new heights than any Doom that came before.  

Now back to Doom Classic. Collect keycards, avoid traps, kill demons, enjoy the soundtrack. What more is there to it? I enjoyed most the levels but I'm afraid E4M1 is not one of them. Hell Beneath indeed because its made by utter sadists. Limited health and armour. A pistol and a shotgun with barely any ammo and a small map full of teleporting demons. Fuck off. Thankfully this lets up and E4M3-8 is among my most enjoyable levels. I would rank them E3>2>1>4 if it wasn’t for M1-2, that would be E3>E4>E2>E1. And then there's the bonus levels. 

In Sloughs of Despair you start with nothing (I think, unless I died) but must kill end game enemies so you’ll spend most the level optimising your run through trial and error. It’s one big room, unlock different doors, cut down demons and find the keys. It makes it feel like a large puzzle, with the enemies being a part of figuring that out. Oh and the map is a giant hand. Did Doomguy got lost on the way back to Earth? It’s okay I guess.

Thy Flesh and Blood links up nicely as a bonus mission. Caught between Hell and Earth, Doomguy runs into the invasion force as its invading Earth and things the herd. But it’s too late, some have gotten through and you must stop them from destroying Earth’s cities, which is where Doom II begins…

Doom II: Hell on Earth

It’s just more DOOM and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The exact same engine with that sexy sprite work. But my god that soundtrack. I just sat there, paused and let it go. That entryway music is a banger. The map itself (nor the song) is no classic E1M1. Which considering it was offered free to encourage people to buy the full game, is no surprise that its the most well known in the series. Then M2 gets weird and M3 gets weirder… but I like it. It still doesn’t hold a candle to the metal soundtrack of DOOM classic, but on its own it’s good. Melodic medieval music to welcome you home that reminds me of RuneScape in a lot of ways.

More than happy to let them duke it out.

The biggest change by far is the Super Shotgun! Such a simple change and yet it feels like it was missing from the start, as if Doomguy was fighting demons one-handed. It’s by far the fan (and my) favourite weapon of Doom Eternal, Doom Slayer’s signature weapon; and that goes double (heh) here even without the chain grappling hook. The basic shotgun was still good for some weaker enemies at long range, but the shotgun was the default boss killer when you didn’t have rockets or BFG to go. A few new welcome enemies were introduced here such as the Revanent, Arachnotron, Pain Elemental and Arch-vile. All welcome additions that help mix up the orignal formula.

 As for story what is there to say? Kill demons, save Earth. The games overall feel very cohesive to the point that Doom II makes it feel like Doom: Part 2. Plot wise 2016 and Eternal very much run parallel to the originals. Mars, then Hell, then Earth (in Doom II), then Hell again (throw in a bit of Quake with Argent D’Nur) and you have a faithful modern DOOM cocktail. Originally hinted, but now canon 2016 picks up right where DOOM 64 ends and DOOM classic starts, Doom Guy caged in a sarcophagus transported to Mars. The new doom series is both a continuation and a remake, I will always love that. It gives you more appreciation for the lore, this is the universe of the original doom, in the remakes it’s the same DOOM guy fighting to make sure this Earth doesn’t suffer at the hands of hell. How many more fights are there though (i.e. Doom is Eternal) I wonder? 

Final DOOM & Master Levels for DOOM II

Oh boy. This is the default way to play for that full nostalgia experience. When you boot up its low res and classic keyboard controls. It was jarring at first to use the arrow keys to aim and CTRL to shoot, but it quickly immersed me in the nostalgic experience. Still, I had to pump up that sensitivity if I stood any chance on Ultraviolence. Its just more levels with a slightly modded feel – no new weapons – just more DOOM. It was fun, but at this point I think I was DOOM’d out and only played them for an hour. At least this left me something to go back to if I ever want to take another crack.