izigame.me

DOOM Eternal evolves and iterates on 2016's DOOM in nearly every way

Time to beat ~11h
Read my review of 2016's DOOM here!
Once again, id Software delivers; this game's combat sequences can get so intense, that I'd actually notice my heart beating afterwards. Something about that incredible music, paired with the fact that it's you against all of hell, makes for some addictive gruesome gameplay. With that being said, I'm going to be comparing this title to 2016's DOOM, as I think it's worth discussing both when trying to decide on your purchase.
I actually beat this game a few weeks ago, but I decided not to immediately write a review because I couldn't even organise my thoughts after the rush that was the final boss. DOOM Eternal is absolutely worth the hype, but it is not for everyone.

Gameplay

DOOM Eternal looks similar to DOOM, but it is almost an entirely different game. You're still running around, collecting keys to open doors, destroying demons and navigating varied environments. So, why do I say it's different?
A big key difference here, is the mobility. This time around, the Doom Slayer has a dash ability- one that lets you traverse big areas easily, or cross gaps that would otherwise be impossible. I think it compliments the gameplay really well- you're still fast on foot, but having that dash lets you get around the battlefield with ease, and opens up the game for much more vertical level design; there's a stronger emphasis on arcade-esque platforming here, and tbh, I'm all for it. The new mobility helps a lot considering how easily you can be overwhelmed.
Another significant change, is that the Super Shotgun now has a grappling hook that you can specifically use to latch on to enemies. It'll pull you towards them, but it can be controlled to allow you to swing off enemies like Spider-Man if you so please; mobility is NOT an issue in this game, it's actually encouraged.
Then, there's the game-changing fact that DOOM Eternal's gunplay is a lot more "involved" than what's seen in DOOM. In DOOM, you can shoot the enemies with whatever weapon you like, and they'll die. There's little strategy, it's more-so about your own playstyle.
Here however, enemies are now given unique weaknesses. For example, the Revenant and Arachnotron both have a turret(s) on top of them; shooting these will damage them (best done with the Heavy Cannon imo), stifling those enemies' ability to harm you.
Another example, is that the Shielded Soldiers' energy shields can be destroyed with Plasma Gun, exposing the enemy directly to any other type of fire.
So, enemies have specific weaknesses now. That's just a layer of the combat that you don't really have to pay attention to, since the enemies will usually eventually die regardless of your choice-of-weapon. But there's one more catch; ammo is much more limited in this game. In 2016's DOOM, the player can have 40 shotgun shells at any given time. In DOOM Eternal, you are limited to just 24.
I personally love to just obliterate hell-spawns with the Super Shotgun, but I found myself CONSTANTLY struggling for ammo, always running out and being forced to switch to other weapons. At first, I thought this was a skill-issue (and to some extent, it was), but not understanding this new system, it took me a few hours to finally master it. For that reason, I'm gonna share it here and save you the headache:
There's a sort of "triangle" to this game's combat;
Glory Kill - usable whenever an enemy staggers. Use this to gain HP.
Flame Belch - on a cooldown. Use this to gain armour.
Chainsaw - on a cooldown, though can also be re-fueled. Use this to gain ammo.
You really can't afford to overlook this; it's not a strategy, it's mandatory, and requires more thought as you have to balance various cooldowns, and utilise nearly everything available at your disposal. If there's one thing I can't stress enough, it's that your chainsaw automatically refuels at least 1 use, and that you should NOT be afraid to use it! Don't save it for the big demons, go ahead and chainsaw Imps and Soldiers every time you're low on ammo- treat them as gas cans and nothing more.
I think this system can be a serious turn off for casual gamers who just want to mindlessly shoot, but...I also think it's a major selling-point that's incredibly rewarding to master, and will keep hardcore players seriously invested in its combat loop. But again, it's not for everyone.
The last thing I want to say here, is that this time around, there are even more enemies from the original DOOM II. The weapons are familiar, but have all been given a new coat of paint, and the enemies from 2016's DOOM have all been redesigned to closely mimic their original, 90s' appearances. I personally prefer these faithful redesigns!

Story

Obviously, this game is a sequel to 2016's DOOM. This time, there seems to be a bit more emphasis on the story, with raw gameplay still taking the front stage. We now see the Doom Slayer from a third-person perspective, alongside some new faces to help establish DOOM Eternal's plot. I personally think they did a great job here; the game definitely has its big "wow" moments. But, even if you're uninterested, you'll still be scaling a wide variety of environments; it never gets stale.

Music

Once again, it's perfect. I really can't say more, other than just how wonderfully the combat is elevated thanks to this game's sound.

Multiplayer

I can't say much about the Multiplayer as I've never played it! All I can say, is that it's a "battle mode"; one person controls the Doom Slayer, while the other two control demons. I'm unsure if there are bots. I'm unsure if it works offline, and I'm unsure if it has any players nowadays. I just wanted to state that it is part of the package.

Pricing

Seeing as how this game's over 5 years old, the default pricing may be seen as a bit steep, but it's still worth it imo. I'd recommend waiting for a sale if you're tight on cash as I'm sure the discounts will be steep. Still though, it's worth every penny; especially considering it's around ~11 hours in length.

Conclusion

At first, I wasn't a big fan of DOOM Eternal's combat, because I went in to it thinking I could shoot demons the way I always had. It was a bit of a struggle, and even early enemy encounters were leaving me beaten-up. Once I finally learned how to actually play this game and adapt to its newly introduced mechanics, I fell in love. DOOM Eternal absolutely pulled me in, and tested my abilities in first-person combat like no other shooter has. I definitely don't think this is a game I could play at 2AM since it's very "hyper", but I had a wonderful time nonetheless. If you want to shoot demons, and like the sound of mastering a unique triangle of cooldowns, then absolutely purchase DOOM Eternal. If you're looking for something simpler / more "relaxed", but still very exciting, start off with 2016's DOOM, and consider checking this out afterwards.