Most of you guys probably know a thing or two about "DOOM," whether it's from playing the original 1993 classic or the excellent 2016 remake and 2020 sequel that I'd argue are both in the masterclass of modern first-person shooters. This game, the original 1993 title, was revolutionary in the realm of FPS titles, right alongside "Wolfenstein 3D," and pioneered a number of things we see not only in FPS games today, but in video games in general (it also happened to be one of gaming’s first big controversies, might I add), leading to so many “DOOM clones” soon after its release. Now, it might be easy to look at a game like this and immediately think “hmm…that probably hasn’t aged well.” And, sure, I’ll admit there are elements to it that haven’t, but beyond simply being able to appreciate what “DOOM” did for gaming, I have to say that I still think it’s very good.
“DOOM” is a game that is built on pure adrenaline: it’s fast-paced and exciting, never hesitating to spill even an ounce of blood along the way. The gunplay is simple at first, but the game still packs a good challenge as you get further into it. The pixelated graphics still look great today, the controls are still extremely smooth, and even playing it in 2020 on the Nintendo Switch, in a generation where first-person shooters have been all the rage and have been pushed even further than this, “DOOM” is still just plain addicting. John Romero, in all his glory, went balls to the wall with this one, yet his unrelenting approach makes the game all the more compelling even after almost 30 years.
Now, I will admit, there are a few elements of the game that haven’t really aged fantastically: for starters, a number of the maps often feel like they’re a bit too big, and that can lead to some rather repetitive moments, especially when the level design starts to blur together just a bit. Also, I think some of the puzzles in the game do feel a bit obtuse and frustrating to deal with, and it takes away from the game just a little bit.
Even so, “DOOM” is a classic for a reason: beyond how revolutionary it was, it’s a game that comes pretty damn close to being “timeless” and it still looks and feels just as good even as it pushes towards its 30th birthday. Now, I can see why some people might want to stray away from this: with what we have today from “DOOM,” there is an argument that this is only worth revisiting for the historical context (which, as someone who enjoys game history and game preservation, is a good enough reason for me), and given that it doesn’t seem like the new Switch version has too many differences, it might not be enticing enough to double-dip on, but no matter what system you have it on, make it a point to play “DOOM.” Even if the only reason to play it is because of how “history defining” it is, the game’s aged so well that your trip through the history museum will still be a rip-roaring good time.
Final rating: 8 out of 10 “Great”