The long awaited, much-hyped sequel of the classic Doom games has been the subject of much debate. It illustrates perfectly that some people no longer play and judge games for their intrinsic value and entertainment they offer, but for the impact they have on the market. I can't explain why there are so many people downplaying id's latest achievement on the grounds that it "offers nothing new" to the genre. It seems that every game out there has to single-handedly change and influence every other game of its kind that follows. Well, it's much harder to do that now than it was 10 years ago, when Doom reigned supreme.
First of all, the graphics are superb. Enough said. The lighting effects alone make every other 3D game out there look ugly. The models are excellent, their animation is great, and the engine isn't as heavy as it could have been. Sound is, well, to put it mildly breathtaking and does wonders for the game's claustrophobic atmosphere.
Which brings us to the scary part. Doom 3 is scary. Of course, if someone plays Doom with the sound turned down, at noon with all the lights on and his kid brother watching, and expects to be scared, well... Hell in particular is an achievement in aesthetic design, in my opinion.
Many people grumble and whine about the minimal plot element and the monsters' "weak" AI. The game has as much story as possible while still remaining a Doom game. And the AI might be simple and straightforward, but at least it was effective most of the time. I never saw marines in a game move so well (apart from Half-Life and Halo, of course). It is almost impossible to hit them without being hit yourself, however they don't seem supernaturally accurate. They execute rolls, they make small sidesteps and duck behind obstacles. I can recall several occasions in Far Cry when the "revolutionary" AI just sat and stared at nothing while you shot them to pieces. This never happened in Doom 3. Demons move in a more aggressive, single-minded manner, yet even the lumbering "pinky" Demon sidesteps when you shoot is with a chaingun, marring your aim. Imps and Hell Knights hold on to their projectiles or fire them sooner sometimes, and the Imp's lunge is deadly. Demons occasionally retreat and go to hide behind doors! There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it's certainly not weak or inadequate.
And the same goes for the gameplay. The atmosphere and horror element keeps you on your toes and it doesn't let the game become boring. Enemies spawn and beset the player from every direction, yet ambushes are not always predictable. The game has its flaws, but it is a worthy sequel to a classic series.
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