Doom Review (XB360)

Do you realize how old the first-person genre has gotten? It was well around fifteen years ago that a few of us were hauling ass on our custom-made PC's, trying to get a networked game of Wolfenstein 3-D and Doom up and running five minutes just to stay frosty on our skills. Well, nowadays we have more leisurely options when it comes to online gaming, but it's nice to see Activision give us a surprise offering from gaming's past. Doom fits just fine on the service, even if some things about the game keep it from reaching the legendary status of the original.

The plot's simple- a gateway to Hell has accidentally been opened around a Mars colony, and it's up to you, a lowly space marine, to shoot down the enemies and restore order. Sounds easy, right? Well, this isn't just a tiny rift that's been opened into hell, but a big-ass gateway with all sorts of nasties pouring through. The game takes place over a staggering 27 levels, spreading out over the four original episodes offered back in the day.

There's good news and bad news regarding the presentation. The bad is that it's exactly like you remember, with no improved sprites, no widescreen support, and the occasional bits of up-close enemies being pixelated to no end. However, that's also the good news, as Activision hasn't messed with formula. The game still looks as fun as it did back in the old days, complete with a fast-moving frame rate and levels with all kinds of twists and turns to explore. The music isn't worth writing home about, but it's suitable, and can be drowned out by your own custom soundtrack. The sound effects are still a riot, especially the larger demons. They let out barks that would send chills down your spine.

The gameplay is pretty solid, spread out with dual-analog support and a friendly interface that makes items easy to access. Weapon switching was no problem whatsoever, and the ability to strafe comes real easy, especially if you're outrunning the larger monsters. The game's pretty challenging in single-player mode, with different difficulty levels offered and a few unlockable Achievements waiting to be added to your Gamerscore.

But probably Doom's biggest appeal is in its multiplayer department. Off-line, the game can be played via split-screen with two people, which results in some reasonable deathmatching. But the real treat is online via Xbox Live, and having a four-player frag-fest that can last for hours on end. When it was working, the online play was buttery smooth and moving pretty rapidly. However, there are times the connection cuts out- just so you know. There's various options for setting up your matches, and they're all worth taking advantage of.

Activision and Nerve Software have done a tremendous job in bringing the classic id shooter to the Xbox 360 service. Doom is a commendable first-person shooting opus that's still as fun to play as it was fifteen years ago, even if it might seem a bit prehistoric in comparison to Call of Duty 2 and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter. Hey, just because something's older than the new-fangled stuff doesn't mean it doesn't deserve your admiration. Spend $10 and endure in this classic already.

Our Final ScoreGood

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