izigame.me

Developed by id Software and released in 2004, Doom 3 marked the long-awaited return of the legendary franchise after years of absence and a tumultuous development process. This third installment boldly pivots the series toward the realm of horror-driven first-person shooters, delivering an experience that is as gripping as it is terrifying.
Set in 2145 on the red planet of Mars, Doom 3 unfolds within the confines of the Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC), a futuristic conglomerate conducting experiments in teleportation, weaponry, and biology. A catastrophic teleportation mishap tears open a portal to Hell, unleashing a horde of grotesque and belligerent demonic creatures, akin to an infernal Pandora’s box. As the anonymous Doom Marine, it’s your mission to eradicate these nightmarish abominations and halt their invasion before they can set their sights on Earth. While the plot may seem simplistic at first glance, laced with B-movie-style dialogue, it serves as a gritty backdrop for relentless monster-slaying action.
Doom 3 represents a seismic shift for the franchise, embracing a horror-centric approach with strikingly realistic visuals for its time. The game’s atmosphere is oppressively grim, brought to life by bleak, futuristic industrial environments drenched in rust, blood, and scattered corpses. Unidentifiable organic matter and grotesque viscera litter the halls, while the game’s masterful use of dynamic lighting and shadows creates an unrelenting sense of dread. Mars has never felt so suffocating—claustrophobes, beware. While I wished for more time exploring the planet’s desolate surface, the game’s interiors are breathtakingly detailed, despite a few lackluster textures that slightly mar the otherwise stellar presentation.
The chilling atmosphere is amplified by an exceptional soundscape. From eerie, droning noises to blood-curdling screams and unsettling whispers, every sound keeps you on high alert, fostering a constant state of tension and unease. The only minor drawback is the near absence of in-game music, a disappointment for fans of Bobby Prince’s iconic soundtracks from the original Doom games. That said, the main theme is a pulse-pounding rock anthem, and the pause menu’s music adds a haunting layer of mystery.
The bestiary of Doom 3 is a parade of grotesque, nightmare-inducing creatures, each more horrifying than the last. You’ll take twisted pleasure in dismembering and eviscerating these monstrosities. Demons lurk in every shadow, often ambushing you from corners or emerging right behind you—stay vigilant, as danger is ever-present. Many iconic enemies from earlier Doom titles return in more realistic, terrifying forms, including:
Zombies, some wielding shotguns or machine guns, adding a tactical edge to encounters.
Imps, ubiquitous humanoid demons hurling fireballs.
Cacodemons, the infamous floating red spheres that spit electric projectiles.
Pinky Demons, now ferocious quadrupeds with a startling redesign.
Archviles, capable of summoning other demons to overwhelm you.
Revenants, skeletal warriors armed with rocket launchers.
New horrors also infest the UAC’s labs, such as:
Trites, swarming spider-like creatures that attack in packs.
Cherubs, grotesque insectoid beings with disturbingly human-like child faces.
Wraiths, teleporting fiends that keep you guessing in combat.
Massive bosses punctuate the campaign, offering challenging encounters that stand out in an otherwise relatively easy game.
Doom 3 boasts a varied and satisfying arsenal, paying homage to the franchise’s roots. Standouts include:
The Shotgun, devastating at close range but hampered by a wide spread and sluggish fire rate.
The Pulse Rifle and Minigun, perfect for mowing down hordes of enemies.
The Chainsaw, a gory tool for reducing demons to bloody pulp.
The Rocket Launcher and the legendary BFG-9000, which obliterate anything in their path.
The Soul Cube, a mystical weapon that restores health by slaying enemies.
Your trusty Flashlight is an essential ally in the pitch-black UAC facility, but the inability to wield it alongside a weapon is a frustrating design choice. Constantly switching between the flashlight and your arsenal disrupts the flow of combat, a flaw that could have been solved with a simple in-game duct tape fix or a suit-integrated light.
Veterans of classic Doom games may find the combat slower and less frenetic, particularly in one-on-one encounters. However, battles against multiple enemies inject a thrilling dose of chaos. The level design is delightfully intricate, often labyrinthine, and meticulously crafted, though occasional searches for well-hidden items evoke the exploration-heavy days of old-school FPS games.
Doom 3 is an exceptional title that fans of FPS and horror games will find immensely rewarding. Its suffocating atmosphere, set within a hellish technological nightmare, is nothing short of phenomenal. With a substantial campaign lasting around ten hours, it keeps players gripped from start to finish. However, it remains underappreciated by some fans of the franchise, which is a shame. While it diverges from the fast-paced action of its predecessors, this distinctiveness is its greatest strength, carving out a unique identity in the series. Don’t hesitate—dive into the Martian abyss and fulfill your mission!
A remastered version, DOOM 3 BFG Edition, was released in 2012.
Check out my review of it here.