Recent reviews by Lazy

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Time to beat ~6.9h
Read my review of DOOM's sequel: DOOM Eternal here!

I was so thoroughly impressed with this game that, I'm mostly at a loss for words and can't think of much to say that hasn't already-been said over the past 9 years. But I'll give it a shot.

Firstly, the gameplay is great. It strikes a familiar chord as the original DOOM games, but obviously modernised to 2016 standards. You (the Doom Slayer), start off awakened on a UAC base, located on Mars. From the very moment you start the game, it's apparent that something has gone horribly wrong; hell is spilling in to your world. Your purpose is to put an end to this invasion, through whatever means necessary - no matter how many heads you have to explode, or bodies you have to shred. The gameplay loop sees you exploring various environments, moving from objective to objective- opening doors, finding weapons / upgrades, and most importantly, absolutely annihilating anything that stands in your way. The enemies from the original DOOM are mostly all here (though some have been heavily-redesigned) and the same is true for your weapons!

Something to note about DOOM, is that if you want to kill something effectively, you'll shoot it. There's no catch. Use whatever weapon you want, but shoot it. This sounds obvious, but anybody familiar with DOOM Eternal's gameplay-loop will understand why I'm mentioning this (I'll touch on that in my review of DOOM Eternal!).

The story is interesting! There are a few cutscenes in the game, but everything is shown through a first-person perspective, and nothing really gets in the way of your fun. But for those interested in soaking up the real lore, you're gonna have to do a good bit of reading if you want all the deep-cut details. It's a big ask considering most DOOM fans don't really care for the story and are just here to passively wreak havoc without a second thought, but it's still a very-much appreciated inclusion that pushes the series' lore to new levels!

It's godly, 'nuff said. It's a shame id Software ended their business relationship with Mick Gordon on bad terms. They lost someone truly irreplaceable.

I can't say much about the Multiplayer as I haven't tried it since 2017. All I can say, is that it's a deathmatch mode. 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 (and is exclusive to this game; the deathmatch mode is not seen in DOOM Eternal).

It does! But although the sequel iterates and evolves over DOOM, I still think it's worth considering your playstyle before deciding which game to buy.

• If you care about the series' progression, obviously, play (the older titles first) DOOM, then DOOM Eternal.
  
• If you want a faster-paced, more technical shooter that runs longer, play DOOM Eternal.
  
• If you want something still exhilarating, but don't enjoy being bottle-necked by a lack of ammo and being forced to switch weapons, play DOOM.

This title's current price is relatively cheap compared to games nowadays, and on sale, the price goes so low that it feels like highway robbery. Treat yourself and buy this game the moment you see a price that's worthy of your ~7 hours.

DOOM is awesome; aside from its shorter runtime and cheaper price, you'd swear this game released yesterday. DOOM did everything it set out to do, and not only revived, but ignited a new era for the franchise that's about to become a (new-era) trilogy. Most importantly, DOOM still maintains the essence of what made the original 1995 DOOM so special. It doesn't replace those original games, nor does it need to. This game is simpler than it's sequel, but has a unique gameplay identity, and still stands on its own. I'd happily recommend DOOM to anybody who's in to gory, singleplayer first-person shooters.

Playtime: ~7.2h for 100% Completion

Doom 64 is cool! It's basically just, more DOOM. Find the keycards, kill the demons, get out of the level. Rinse and repeat!

The OBVIOUS difference between this game and the originals, is the atmosphere. Gone are those MIDI soundtracks, instead replaced with unsettling ambience of empty metal halls and the unfound corners of hell. It's a bit of a tonal shift compared to the initial entries in the series, but I think it's welcome.

The graphics this time around appear to be sprites, made from renders of 3D models, as opposed to photographs of clay sculptures that have been digitally painted-over. I prefer the original enemy graphics personally, but that's not to say these ones are bad; there's an unsettling charm to the graphics in DOOM 64.

DOOM 64 is canon to the original DOOM 1 + DOOM 2, and (WITHOUT SPOILERS), has a sort of "cliff-hanger" ending. However, this modern port / re-release features a handful of new levels, that include a bit of new story, and ultimately leave us with another ending - one that aims to fill a gap within the series.

From my understanding, DOOM 3's gameplay feels more horror-esque than "boomer-shooter", and the story follows a marine who is separate from the original Doomguy. For that reason, I consider DOOM 64 to be the "true" DOOM 3.

The 100% achievement completion is very do-able in this game! But, please lookup the achievements in advance; particularly "Persistence is the Key", as that achievement cannot be easily obtained without knowing about it in advance.

This game is easily one of the best packages a DOOM / boomer-shooter fan can buy. The title may say "DOOM + DOOM II", but really, you're getting everything classic DOOM (except for DOOM 64, which can be purchased here).

So, I'll go ahead and state what's included (secret levels ARE counted, but deathmatch levels are not - Please forgive me if my numbers are wrong!)

• Doom (1993) has 36 levels, plus 4 additional levels (1995)
  
• Doom II (1994) has 32 levels
  
• Master Levels for Doom II (1995) has 21 levels
  
• TNT: Evilution (1996) has 16 levels
  
• The Plutonia Experiment (1996) has 16 levels
  
• No Rest for the Living (2010) has 9 levels
  
• Sigil (2019) has 9 levels
  
• Legacy of Rust (2024) has 16 levels
  
• Sigil II (2023) has 9 levels
  
• In-game Mod Browser, meaning you can download mods! Though I don't think you can mix/match things.
  
  
• The original untouched WAD files, letting you import them in to various fan-made Source Ports for enhancements / more advanced custom DOOM mods.
  
• Online cross-play, co-op, deathmatch, etc!!

...And, achievements!

To quote the Steam Store page: "Altogether, there are a total of 187 mission maps and 43 deathmatch maps".

I found that DOOM games are surprisingly comfortable on Steam Deck / with a controller; so much so that I ended up finishing the final campaign of DOOM during a power outage. I'd recommend turning down the TDP too as it's not necessary to run this dinosaur, and in-turn, saves battery power (though the menus will be a little laggy, the gameplay is untouched!).

-No Steam Pointshop / Trading Cards! I'd love a Cacodemon emoticon, alongside the original Doomguy sprite. I can't understand how such an obvious win was overlooked...Can still be implemented!

-The Healthpack graphic's red cross, is now a green cross. I understand why, but it's still unfortunate! Thankfully, the original WAD file contains the untouched, original spritework.

-This game has caused my Bluetooth headphones to use the hands-free audio mode, which makes everything sound very low-quality. Can be fixed.

-Because Sigil II released in 2024, it doesn't have an associated achievement for completing the campaign, unlike the rest of the campaigns.

-No mouselook; you are limited to horizontal movement. Sourceports have been doing this for ages, it would've been nice to have it included as an option (even off by default!)

Thank you CAPCOM for keeping this DLC as a TIMED-exclusive, and not a forever-exclusive!
Very pro-consumer, thumbs up <3

Thank you CAPCOM for keeping this DLC as a TIMED-exclusive, and not a forever-exclusive!
Very pro-consumer, thumbs up <3

Thank you CAPCOM for keeping this DLC as a TIMED-exclusive, and not a forever-exclusive!
Very pro-consumer, thumbs up <3

I love when remasters / remakes include a retro skin for players to use, but admittedly, I feel like this one is more of a novelty than an actual substitute for the new Frank design. It's clear they just imported the original Frank West model from Dead Rising (2006), without actually doing much remastering to make him match the fidelity of the modern RE Engine character models.

His material properties aren't exactly convincing, and he has this lack-of-detail that makes him look like a skinwalker. On-top of that, his facial animations are really lacking, it's just very uncanny and especially distracting during cutscenes.

Nice inclusion, but severely under-baked. It's fine to just use the original raw character model when making retro skins for games, but it either has to be a complete artstyle break, or faithful; there's no in-between, and seeing as how this skin is very much in-between, it's just jarring to look at. Only pick it up if you plan on skipping through cutscenes, or like collecting digital goodies.

Update the game's Steam graphics to reflect the current season please, it's actually so embarrassing

Nice to see character-profile achievements this time around, especially considering that TwistedScarlett60's stylization of anthro characters has improved! Steam Trading Cards when? <3
https://youtu.be/qUxmonNjZRg

Very very simple little game. There doesn't seem to be much depth to the gameplay, and the graphics do a lot of weight-lifting; I'd say this a title that's for a very specific audience, but might be a bit too surface-level for some players. Takes some patience but I'm happy to part with a few dollars to support an indie dev, especially when the vision is so cute. Will share more thoughts later!