For many, Doom 3 was a disappointment. While the tech looked amazing at the time, the game itself just wasn't there: instead of the incredibly fast-paced action of its predecessors, Doom 3 meandered between shooting and horror, without really succeeding at either. Fans were hoping that a follow-up would fix those issues, but unfortunately, a follow-up simply never came. For the next decade, gamers were left wondering if Doom was, well ... doomed.
Then, at QuakeCon 2014, Id Software revealed that Doom would return ... eventually. Even the reveal itself was relatively self-contained, as the only gameplay footage was shown behind closed doors - to this day, only a select few have ever seen the game in action, and even fewer have ever gotten a chance to actually play it.
Thankfully, that's no longer the case: at Bethesda's E3 press conference earlier today, Id Software finally pulled back the curtain. Doom was finally shown to the public, and if you were worried about the future of one of gaming's oldest franchises, don't be.
Doom is back.
Id Software showed off not one, but two sections of the game's single-player campaign - one in a UAC-run Martian facility, and another based in a section of Hell. There was a surprising amount of content on display - even better, it all looked fantastic.
Right off the bat, it's clear that the faster movement speed and mobility options of classic Doom games are back. This isn't the plodding corridor shooter that was Doom 3 - the latest game in the series is all about circle-strafing and double-jumping.
Then again, this is Doom, and Doom is all about the combat. In addition to the new mobility, players can get up-close and personal with enemies: a new execution mechanic not only rewards players with some of the goriest kills in the game, but provides extra ammo and health. From the looks of things, a well-timed execution could be the different between a victory or a Game Over.
Of course, it wouldn't be Doom without guns. Some of the series' most recognizable weapons are back, and the Plasma Gun, Chain Gun, Super Shotgun and Rocket Launcher all made it into the on-stage demo. As always, there were two weapons that managed to stand out: the Chainsaw and the BFG are back. As expected, both are brutally violent in the best way - it'll be tough to go back to a regular gun when you can saw demons in half with reckless abandon.
Singe-player wasn't the only mode shown, however: Id Software also revealed a few multiplayer modes and user-created content. For the core multiplayer modes, Id Software is including a number of different options: classic modes like Arena-style Clan matches, Domination and Freeze Tag will all make a return. It's not just a retread of the series' classic multiplayer, either: players now have the ability to turn into the game's demons, switching up abilities and turning up the damage.
Snapmap, on the other hand, is Doom's new custom-content creation tool ... but this is far more advanced than a simple map editor. Snapmap was designed from the ground up to create entire modes and gameplay experiences, complete with advanced AI behavior and scripting. It's not just about rearranging weapons and spawn points, but changing enemy behavior, in-game objectives and how you play the game.
Want to watch the demo for yourself? Well, you can check out the entire Doom presentation below:
While all of that is great, it doesn't mean much if players can't get their hands on the game. Thankfully, it won't be another decade before the game hits store shelves: Doom is due out early next year!
Stay tuned for more E3 2015 coverage all week from TechTimes and T-Lounge!
