DOOM 3 - my opinion

[QUOTE="HIMSteveO"]

I really enjoyed Doom 3 (even though I'm still yet to finish it - I'm slowly getting through it). It's good fun, looks great, and runs well. The only thing that annoys me is the lack of checkpoints/save spots, because I'm always going along nicely until I die and have to replay 10 minutes worth of game. That's pretty much my only complaint about it. It is pretty simple (it's a 'modern' re-imagination of the first game remember), but the PDA element gives it a bit of depth to it, and the 'magically materializing' monsters is kind of explained by thinking of it as the monsters entering through the gateways on Mars into the base. I also like the flashlight mechanic, it gives those dark sections a bit of drama and makes the more intense.

I will, one of these days, finish this game (I've just walked through the portal into hell), but I also have so many games (especially on Steam) to finish for the first time, and more that I'm trying to play through for a second time.

36O

Lol I absolutely loved Doom 3 however, I have never beat it. And for a good reason lol.

I was a good length into the game, and I had just gotten out of a certain area sector. So I took a elevator to exit it, but I was low on health, and right when I exited the elevator I see a health pack in a closet like incave. Well, I didn't take a second to think about it when I was already in the closet. The next moment, I pick up that health pack, and I feel very safe and secure now, and RIGHT then and there, the closet closes, locking me in and the whole screen goes pitch black. Soon after, I hear that evil devil laugh, and a demon spawns IN the closet and attacks me. I was so scared and shocked I simply paused the game, stood up, turned the computer off manually and walked out of the room lol.

lol :D

Two quick thoughts about what the OP said:

1. I agree that the "walk up" interfaces on the computers help keep you in the "game".

2. I disagree with the flashlight comment. That extra step of swapping the light helps build up stress and make you plan accordingly. That's a savvy gameplay design if you ask me.

[QUOTE="df853"]

• separate flashlight (not attached to gun)

fatshodan

Am I the only person who thought this was a good idea? From a rational perspective, sure, it's stupid and doesn't make sense - but can anyone name me just one game that doesn't make irrational consessions in the name of gameplay?

Doom 3 is (meant to be) a horror game, and central to that horror is a sense of vulnerability. The whole self-preservation thing, when we feel vulnerable, we feel afraid. Doom 3 is built around this concept - either you can see or you can shoot, meaning you always have a great vulnerability, keeping this constantly tense.

It may not work quite as well as it was supposed to, but I blame the implementation rather than the gameplay mechanic itself. I think the see-or-shoot device is a smart one, and I think using torch mods trivialises the game and undermines the core concepts.

I'm not defending Doom 3 or anything - I think there are games out there that do everything Doom 3 does much better, but I think it's a little unfair to criticise the light thing.

Someone might have addressed this already, haven't read all the posts, just wanted to say this:

Well, if a dev does this light-thing, why not do other silly things that add to the atmosphere and make the game harder? Not having a light-source on a marine-weapon from the future is just silly. The lack of light adds something to the scariness of the game, but so would a jam of the weapon every time you pull the trigger. Let's say it takes two seconds for the weapon to fire, you see those beasts approaching, you'll swear and **** your pants, it would certainly add something to the game.

My point is: a lot of unrealistic and silly design choices might add suspense to the game. My example does not make any sense, neither does the torchlight-thing. I understand that gameplay and horror > realism (especially in Doom 3, lol), but you do understand why some of us think it's a bad idea overall? ESPECIALLY when you get used to the "Booh!"-moments and the beasts do not scare you any longer. Then the whole switching between a light source and a weapon becomes a nuisance. That's a bad thing to have in an already linear and repetitive shooter.

i started D3 a little while ago but gave up pretty quickly - to be honest, it just felt so old-fashioned and as people say, all about it being dark and the monsters jumping out and basically like a modern boring horror-movie.

Reading about the flashlight and spawning issues simply reinforces this.

Old-style games can still work - eg i enjoyed Q4 because it was a well-designed linear shooter which was a lot of fun.

But as for D3, i could see which way it was going and it was just tedious to me

i started D3 a little while ago but gave up pretty quickly - to be honest, it just felt so old-fashioned and as people say, all about it being dark and the monsters jumping out and basically like a modern boring horror-movie.

Reading about the flashlight and spawning issues simply reinforces this.

Old-style games can still work - eg i enjoyed Q4 because it was a well-designed linear shooter which was a lot of fun.

But as for D3, i could see which way it was going and it was just tedious to me

jfsebastianII

There is a flashlight mod. I know I'll be using it, if I ever replay it.

I would have loved Doom 3 if it wasn't for thetele-portingenemies. A game spawning enemies behind you constantly like that is just completely cheap. I have notolerancefor lazy level design like that. I hate spawning enemies all together. Every bad guy should have to actually be somewhere as opposed them them just constantly spawning all around you as you move threw the level.

I mean why introduce the awesome mechanic of them busting out from behind things if you are just going to cheap out and have them teleport in because you got lazy. it's a reallyartificialway of making a game harder. Not cool at all.

bradleybradley

good point there: "why introduce the awesome mechanic of them busting out from behind things if you are just going to cheap out and have them teleport in" it happens to much, while u are focusing on doing something else (killing other monster, operating a console, etc..) something jumps you from nowhere, nothing broke, he came out of nowhere, no portal, no sound..

[QUOTE="jfsebastianII"]

i started D3 a little while ago but gave up pretty quickly - to be honest, it just felt so old-fashioned and as people say, all about it being dark and the monsters jumping out and basically like a modern boring horror-movie.

Reading about the flashlight and spawning issues simply reinforces this.

Old-style games can still work - eg i enjoyed Q4 because it was a well-designed linear shooter which was a lot of fun.

But as for D3, i could see which way it was going and it was just tedious to me

artur79

There is a flashlight mod. I know I'll be using it, if I ever replay it.

i know, i just couldn't be bothered, though - maybe if i work through all the unplayed games i have - then replay everything i've already played - TWICE - and developers finally stop making FPS for PC AND i'm really bored - i'll give it another go... maybe