izigame.me

TL;DR: I love this game. I have health issues that make playing it difficult, but I love it.
Intro:
I was highly skeptical of Eternal when it came out because I was not particularly fond of the 2016 Doom release, to which Eternal is a sequel. I didn't think it was bad, per se, but I didn't really think it was good either. I felt it was lacking something, but I can't quite put my finger on what; all I really know is that 2016 did not live up to my expectations. Eternal, on the other hand...
Before I get into everything, I would like to make a special note of the fact that I am disabled. I have muscular, neurological, and skeletal problems throughout my body, some congenital and some the result of trauma. This makes playing video games more difficult for me than it would be for your average player. Having said that, through great pain, determination, and effort, and with some help and encouragement from people on the Steam forums, I have completed Eternal, TAG 1, and TAG 2 all on Nightmare (NOT Ultra-Nightmare, which is basically "One-life Nightmare"). I've played hundreds of games over the last 30 years and my Nightmare completion here is perhaps my proudest moment in gaming. It's up there with completing Ninja Gaiden Black on Master Ninja Mode. I seldom bother with improving at a game, and less so with turning difficulty up, but Eternal is somehow special. I will probably never do it again, but that this game compelled me into doing this is probably the biggest compliment I can give Eternal's developers!
Story:
If you're playing a Doom game for the story, you're doing it wrong. There is one, though. The denizens of Hell attacked Earth. You kill them. They die. They're afraid. It's complicated. Silliness aside, there is a great deal of lore in this game, and it is a bit convoluted, but overall I stand by my first sentence here.
Graphics:
Simply gorgeous. I'm at a loss for words for how beautiful this game is. It doesn't matter if it's Hell, destroyed portions of Earth, or another world entirely the scenery and backdrops are incredible.
Gameplay:
There are 3 campaigns for this game: Eternal, TAG 1, and TAG 2. TAG is short for "The Ancient Gods." While Eternal, TAG 1, and TAG 2 can be bought and played separately, as of writing this, I will be discussing all 3 here.
There are a variety of tools and weapons at your disposal, both of which increase as the game progresses. It's been a while since I completed any of the campaigns but as I recall, you start TAG 1 and TAG 2 with all of the tools and weapons that you completed the previous campaigns with, with 1 or 2 exceptions that I can't recall. Almost none of the tools and weapons are actually necessary to complete the campaigns. You do need a gun to shoot stuff, but aside from that. However, learning how to make use of all of the tools and weapons at your disposal, and doing so efficiently, can have a major impact on your experience. While it is possible to complete Eternal as a basic point-and-shoot FPS, it's ill-advised; I know from experience.
The first time I completed the 3 campaigns I did them all on Hurt Me Plenty, the game's "Normal" setting. I was absolutely terrible at it. I almost quit, but I was determined, and I managed to complete Eternal. While I was terrible at Eternal I knew it had the whatever it was that I felt 2016 was lacking, so I stuck with it. Prior to completing TAG 1, I watched videos, asked for help on the Steam Eternal forums, and learned techniques to help me improve. TAG 1 is the hardest campaign. I did much better in TAG 1 than I did in Eternal, all because I took the time to learn how to play and made adjustments accordingly and within my capabilities, but I still wasn't all that good. TAG 2, while fun, was disappointing in comparison to TAG 1 and Eternal, but I still like it and think it was a good campaign.
It seems people either love or hate this Doom iteration. As a general rule, in my observation of the Eternal forums on Steam, if you actually take the time to learn how to play the game instead of posting your complaints about it on the forums then you may actually learn how to play the game, and possibly even have a good time. The complainers do have some valid points, but they largely seem unwilling to listen to the people who've learned how to play. If you struggle with the game, then I highly recommend watching videos, learning better techniques, and getting help from the Eternal forums. There are trolls there, but there are people willing to help. How you present yourself will generally dictate the responses you get.
Common Complaints:
Marauders are probably the biggest complaint. I found them difficult to begin with. Unlike most demons which can just be shot to death, Marauders require actual tactics. Many consider this detrimental to their experience. They're actually fairly easy once you develop an understanding of how they work and develop proper techniques. I still find them problematic due to my health problems but overall they're not bad.
Another big complaint regards ammo. This game handles ammo differently than previous Doom iterations. The people who fail to develop an understanding of this game's ammo system tend to fail at the game. People complain that the game has insufficient ammo laying about. I believe this is technically correct. However, the game actually effectively has infinite ammo as a result of the chainsaw mechanics. This is important. Understand this aspect if you want to succeed.
The boss fights, platforming, and "Mario" hazards are also common complaints. IMO, the boss fights do generally suck, but the overall experience outweighs that for me. While I do find the platforming excessive, it doesn't ruin my experience. For how seldom you come across them, the "Mario" hazards are practically non-existent.