DOOM

From the moment you pick up Doom, you're in the action. Actually, you don't even get any sort of exposition or context until you complete the entire first episode. Normally this kind of disregard for storytelling and world-building would disappoint me, but it feels perfect here. I'm definitely a sucker for a good story and an engrossing world, but Doom taught me that sometimes getting in the zone and wrecking house can be pretty good too.

On paper, Doom really isn't my kind of shooter. When playing an FPS, I prefer to play smart and deliberate, making all of my choices cautiously, or based on well-planned strategies. Doom instead requires quick thinking and on-the-fly reactions, punishing you for moving too slow or playing it too safe with your resources, especially later in the game. That's why I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the whole thing. I would occasionally fall back into my habit of planning and risk management, fail, and remember how to play again. Not the most ideal cycle, but an interesting shift from how shooters have always worked for me.

In terms of what the game actually offers, Doom is all about decimating the hordes of demons that have overrun your base on Mars. As you progress, you'll find increasingly powerful weapons, letting you become quite the powerhouse in the later missions, and offering multiple approaches for taking down the invaders. In addition to demon genocide, you have to try to find your way to safety by exploring each location you find yourself in so you can find its exit. With a few exceptions, each of these Zelda-dungeon-like maps expertly balances exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving to make for some surprisingly engaging missions.

Doom remains a staple reference point in video game history for popularizing the now industry-leading FPS genre. While it's not the technical marvel it once was, the expertly crafted design and structure absolutely still hold up today. I started playing Doom for its historical importance, but I finished it because I understood firsthand why it became such a phenomenon in the first place. While it runs on just about anything nowadays, I definitely recommend getting it on something modern, because flying through those maps in crisp high definition and on a wide screen is an absolute blast.

The game is available for PC here (as of 12/12/21): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2280/Ultimate_Doom/
The game is available for Switch here (as of 12/12/21): https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/doom-1993-switch/
The game is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S here (as of 12/12/21): https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/doom-1993/9PLZPHBNHTMF
The game is available for PS4 and PS5 here (as of 12/12/21): https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1003-CUSA15594_00-DOOM199300000000
The game is available for Android here (as of 12/12/21): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bethsoft.DOOM&hl=en_US&gl=US
The game is available for iOS here (as of 12/12/21): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doom/id336347946

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