Yakoob on 20/6/2016 at 18:43
Well I beat the Doom Demo with mixed feelings. On the pros, it definitely calls back to the old glory days and blasting imps into gory explosion of blood and flesh feels really rewarding and fun! But the linear+arena setup plus upgrades and secrets gives it a fresh spin compared the predecessors. I also liked the insta-jump into action at the start (who didn't) and the minimal but sufficient narrative thus far. I also did not mind the "Game 2.0"-y upgrade system, feels like it could add a bit more tactical element (one of my favorite things about Wallenstein New Order is that you could've played it guns blazing AND tactical-cover-shooter style, and they both felt equally great - is that possible in Doom? Some of the pistol upgrades suggested maybe).
On the flip side, I did find the layout confusing and the downtime between fight sessions often turned into a "wtf do I go next?" meandering. But it could just be a matter of getting used to it. I also see Twist's point about the overall linear/arena/linear/etc. design - i can really see that getting repetitive and boring after a while.
I kind of want to play it more (it just feels FUN), but the demo left me unsatiated. I don't feel like I got a full feel for the game, as I only found two weapons, one upgrade and met 3 basic enemies. So I don't have a sense of the full scale/potential of the game. Then again, it is DOOM so perhaps you really don't need more than that to imagine.
catbarf on 20/6/2016 at 18:56
I'd say the first level is really not indicative of the rest of the game- it doesn't have any of the big setpieces or non-linearity, and the weapon and enemy selection is limited. The game really hits its stride soon after the intro, once you start getting the better weapons and the game starts introducing more varied enemies.
However, having just finished the game last night, I have to agree 100% with Twist. For the last two hours or so of gameplay, there are no new weapons or enemies, and the environments are just running from one arena to the next, killing until the enemies stop respawning, and moving on. After the first thirty minutes or so in Hell I felt like it was getting repetitive, so spending ~1/3 of the game in Hell really wore out its welcome.
Still a 4/5, just not the sublime experience the early levels promised.
scumble on 20/6/2016 at 19:26
The danger of something like this is too much hype, probably. I haven't kept up with gaming news so I had no idea a Doom reboot was afoot. I actually had low expectations because it's not typically my kind of game so I was pleasantly surprised.
I'll see how I feel after the demo. I'm getting the impression that most people like the start of the game and then get slightly disappointed, and this is more to do with the design that "Doom hype" though.
[edit]Finished the demo and the shortness certainly leaves me with interest in carrying on. I used the GMG offer above which is still valid. Unfortunately it's late and I've realised the install is 52GB - Steam hasn't finished allocating disk space yet :(
It's nearly beaten GTA5
Slasher on 21/6/2016 at 01:30
Quote Posted by DarkForge
Just to be clear though, it's only the download that has the week-only availability, right? If you got the demo installed during that week, I'm assuming you can actually go back and play it for as long as you want?
Not sure, but in any event they've (
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-doom-demo-extended-heres-how-to-play-it-right/1100-6441058/) extended its availability for an unspecified time.
I guess I wasn't the only one who was a little underwhelmed by the demo. Bethesda certainly didn't drop the ball on production values though. Kudos to them for bothering with a demo at all.
Malf on 21/6/2016 at 08:31
I'd say any demo that doesn't include the double-jump ability isn't really a good demo of new Doom.
Sulphur on 21/6/2016 at 08:40
It's a very short slice that's over in 20 minutes or less. Played it on Ultraviolence and didn't die once, which I expect to change up a bit in the full game. It's that id combination of slick movement and meaty combat that makes it feel like a good taster, if nothing else. It's almost exactly like if we'd only gotten E1M1 from the original Doom as a demo.
faetal on 21/6/2016 at 08:50
It does get harder later on. I've hit a wall with it at the moment. It is really good, but it hits a plateau. I have all of the weapons, the remaining upgrades aren't of great interest and the repetition of the arena setups is slowing down my enthusiasm to get back in. Probably not helped by a re-kindled obsession with Dark Souls.
scumble on 21/6/2016 at 10:30
I'm too much of a n00b to go for ultraviolence but I admit it was pretty easy getting through the demo even for me. It's a balance for each player. If it's too much effort it ceases to be entertainment.
scumble on 21/6/2016 at 22:15
I've now been DOOMing for an hour and a half and came out for a breather. I'm actually recalling various "where's the fucking key" moments I had with the original DOOM. I missed the blue key in the foundry because I didn't notice a particular door. I ran back across the place a couple of times before backtracking.
The metalcore-ish music seems to be working well and seems to flow smoothly without obvious "activate battle music" cuts as far as I can hear.
My favourite moment was in fact this:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/72776465@N03/27824655155/in/dateposted-public/" title="squeaky arm"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7225/27824655155_b68ab8d96e_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="squeaky arm"></a>
The arm you pull off the poor sod round the corner squeaks down the panel.
Also after the short title screen the shotgun pump is in time with the preceding music.
I'm finding the map useful to find secrets but not too obvious - the little action figures are well enough concealed you still have to hunt around for them, and the same goes for the elite guards holding the suit tokens.
The fight against demon hordes will continue tomorrow...
DarkForge on 22/6/2016 at 07:28
Quote Posted by scumble
Also after the short title screen the shotgun pump is in time with the preceding music.
I just played the demo last night and noticed that myself. I'm not 100% sure if they intended it to or not but in any case it made me smile.
