A demonic invasion at Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars Research Facility has left only you and a handful of survivors with the chance to fight your way to safety.A demonic invasion at Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars Research Facility has left only you and a handful of survivors with the chance to fight your way to safety.A demonic invasion at Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars Research Facility has left only you and a handful of survivors with the chance to fight your way to safety.
- Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations total
- Video Logs
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- K. Miller
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- Jack Campbell
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- IPN Newscaster
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- Dr. Malcolm Betruger
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- Counselor Elliot Swann
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- Dr. Richard Davies
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- E. Grafton
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- Computer
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhile most of the levels exist highly ruined, the developers first built every level as if nobody had ever walked in them. Going through each level with special developer-only 'weapons', level designers would then dismantle the levels in order to create a highly damaged effect.
- GoofsMars's gravity is only 45% as strong as Earth's gravity, yet the Marine when outside of com-pressurized buildings walking on Mars's surface, is still walking on the ground as if there is no difference in strength of gravity
- Quotes
Swann: I'm here because there seems to be some very serious problems.
Betruger: [condescending] Oh really? Do I need to remind you of the groundbreaking work we're doing here?
Swann: No. But I've been authorized by the board to look at everything.
Betruger: [scathing] The board authorized you? Hmmm. The board doesn't know the first thing about science. All they want is something to make them more money, some product... Don't worry, they'll get their product.
Swann: After how many accidents? Tell me, Dr. Betruger, why are so many workers spooked, complaining, requesting transfers off Mars?
Betruger: They simply can't handle life here. They're exhausted and overworked. If I had a larger, more competent staff, and bigger budget, even these few accidents could have been avoided.
Swann: I'm afraid you'll get nothing more until my report is filed with the board. I will need full access, Dr. Betruger, Delta included. I won't have any difficulties doing that, will I?
Betruger: Only if you get lost, Swann. Just stay out of my way. Amazing things will happen here soon. You just wait.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards (2003)
And difficulty does depart significantly from the originals. Doom I and II had a Nightmare difficulty which was somewhat impossible in places, but the 'normal' levels underneath it were quite doable to the point of being still fun, but not especially challenging to a veteran gamer. Being pretty good at games I naturally chose the 'Veteran' difficulty, and got beat silly, especially in later areas. The game designers obviously thought of ways not only to scare the bejeezus out of you, but also to make it hard. Enemies are fewer but don't go down easy, especially if they get a hold of you first. Sometimes you end up having to adopt unconventional tactics, like running and hiding and scaring the demons with your own blast when they find you, or even eluding them completely when possible to save ammo.
At least for a while, this can make the game quite satisfying. But as the game wears on it becomes obvious that the game's design centerpiece, to scare you, no matter how well done, can get old. Sure the moments don't stop where you get scared because a demon climbed up a railing behind you, or something jumps right into your face when you turn a corner. But you learn to expect what start to feel like predictable cheap shots, and eventually find yourself automatically turning around when you hear something in front because you know chances are they dropped more baddies behind you too. That there isn't more variation to break the scary-darkness theme up is a pity because it would have allowed players to relish it all the more, especially given the length of the game.
Providing the variation that does exist are some nods to Half-Life with puzzles, but all the work that went into the physics engine is pretty much wasted here, because they're boring and almost asinine in simplicity. Place a plank over a gap with a crane to get over it. Clue the user to use the crane after a minute or so, even if he's using the crane, just to make sure he gets it. Duh. Carmack himself said that in a game, if you can't do something well, you shouldn't do it at all. When I did encounter them, I found myself really wishing they hadn't bothered with puzzles.
So is this a great game? Well, yes and no. Amazing, have-to-be-seen graphics. Veteran difficulty is a real challenge. Seriously the scariest game you will ever play, by a wide margin (especially if you play at the appropriate difficulty). You may get tired it before finishing. I'd say there are some problems, but on its strengths, Doom 3 is still quite an achievement.
Details
- Color