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| | Title:
DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil
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System:
Xbox
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Genre:
First Person Shooter
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Publisher:
Activision
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Developer:
id Software
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Release:
10/5/2005
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
Mature (M)
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Anyone that is familiar with Doom 3 knows that it is famous for its sense of fear. What is scarier than working on a large dig project on the planet Mars, when suddenly the gates to Hell are opened--deep underground--and hordes of demons begin to spew out and infest the area? In Doom 3 you were able to escape, but in Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil you decide that it’s a good idea to travel back to the same location to investigate a mysterious beacon…great idea, huh?
Once you arrive, you stumble upon a mysterious artifact, and of course have to pick it up and see what it’s all about. The artifact is from Hell, and has a number of special powers that you will be able to use and unlock throughout the rest of the game. However, do you think the demons of Hell are glad you found a new toy to play with?
Gameplay
Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil should not be viewed as a completely new Doom game, but rather as an expansion. Everything is still built exactly the same way as the original Doom 3, only with a number of upgrades, and a new story. Some of these upgrades include new weapons such as the double barrel shotgun, new demons including the hunters, and of course, the handful of uses the artifact has. Doom fans will also be glad to hear that the classic Doom titles have been included as extras in this game. Online, Xbox Live play continues with this title, and although a little dull it will provide some fun online play. Because Doom 3: RoE is just an expansion, you are not going to be amazed by revolutionary gameplay and graphics. Overall, it is the same stuff that you saw in Doom 3. Simply put, if you enjoyed the first Doom 3 and couldn't get enough of it, Doom 3: RoE will work out great.
On the first level you will notice that your flashlight is now mounted on your pistol and you have to pull it out in order to use the flashlight. In the original Doom 3 it was used as a separate weapon and you would have to switch back to your firearm if something lunged at you. This got annoying fast and it was a hassle to pull the flashlight out and then switch back. Now if you want to expose what is in the dark corners of any room, you get to do so with a pistol ready. However, this still is not much better as the pistol is extremely weak, and is only slightly better than just having a separate flashlight. Even with the flashlight/pistol out, you will find yourself switching to a more powerful weapon if an enemy appears, which can be just as annoying as in the Doom 3.
The next new weapon that you will come across is named the Ionized Plasma Levitator, which is also known as "The Grabber". It uses a controlled stream of plasma to grab and levitate objects, and can also be used to hurl objects. This weapon, although made for commercial use, can be used against enemies to reverse the direction of a ball of plasma back at the enemy it came from. If you happen to have this gun out when being attacked by an enemy that uses plasma, you can take it down in seconds by catching the ball of plasma and hurling it back at the demon. The Double Barrel Shotgun is another new weapon to the game, and packs a serious punch. Although the reloading time is long, trust me when I say it is well worth the wait.
The PDA continues to be a big part of the game in Doom 3: RoE. Although some will find this little device a little annoying, it is a great addition to the game and helps the story feel more realistic. Your PDA will hold emails, videos, and even security clearance to certain areas. By picking up other people's PDAs you can find emails they have sent and received, use their security codes, and view any videos they might have. If you don't like the idea of the PDA, it is fairly easy to only use it occasionally. However, supply security codes are always found in PDA emails or voice logs, so if you want to get into a weapons or items supply, you will have to do some digging through various PDAs to find the code you are looking for.
The Artifact
The Artifact is by far the biggest difference between Doom 3 and Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil. From the beginning, you will have a hold of this thing and you can pull it out at any time. The thing is quite creepy looking (it looks like some sort of heart that is oddly still working). After defeating the first boss, your Artifact will suck up the soul of the dead boss and you will now be able to enter "Hell Time", or a matrix/slow motion mode. Like all great things, there is a limit to this and you have to continue to put normal people’s soul into it to keep it working. It can only hold three, and each time you enter Hell Time, it will take up one of those.
Hell Time lasts for about 30 seconds, so you have to move quickly on whatever you are trying to do. After the next few bosses, your artifact will be upgraded two more times. The second upgrade will allow you to use berserk while in Hell Time, which is quite fun to use. Berserk makes you incredibly strong, and you can take down almost any enemy with just one punch. The last upgrade of the Artifact makes it so that you won't take damage. This allows you to get as close as possible to scary enemies without the fear of dying in Hell Time, but if your Hell Time runs out and you are still in danger, you better say your prayers.
Multi-Player
If you are a big Xbox Live player, you will probably be let down a little by online play with Doom 3: RoE. You can still only play with three other people, and the overall gameplay in online games is not nearly as exciting or suspenseful as the single player campaign is. Co-operative gameplay is not available in the campaign mode, which is a big let down. Although it wasn't offered in the first Doom 3, it would have been an excellent upgrade for RoE. On the other hand, co-op is available in the classic Doom titles included with the game.
Classic Doom
The classic Doom titles--that are all available from the first time you load the disc--are Ultimate Doom, Doom II, and the Master Levels for Doom II. These three games alone are enough to keep you occupied for hours and hours. The classic Doom titles have excellent gameplay and it is always good to bring back some of those memories of Doom back in the day. The emulation was done very well, and plays exactly as it would on a PC. The Xbox controller also works well with the games, and doesn't feel strange in any way. If for some odd reason you aren't too fond of these classics, online play over Xbox Live is always a great alternative to playing the game beyond the story mode.
Graphics
The lighting in this game is phenomenal, and like nothing you have seen before. Every room has dark corners and illuminated spots. The lighted areas are usually lit with flickering lights that are white or red. The lighting alone gives a very scary sense to the game; you can literally just look into a room and be scared. Blood spatter, sparks, and steam all add to the great environment of the game. The dark corners are usually where the demons will be hanging out, and the illuminated spots are where you will feel safe most of the time.
Each room in Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil has its own unique layout. This is one of the best parts of RoE, because you will never know what the room looks like, so you won't be able to predict anything and know all the spots to search. The number of rooms per stage is also astonishing. If you are playing on an easy difficulty, a room usually won't take more than a minute to clear. The rooms are usually filled with objects that you would see in a normal underground facility, such as pipes, metal crates, computers, and metal basically everywhere. Overall, the graphics are among the best the Xbox has seen.
Audio
Just like the graphics, the audio in Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil helps tremendously to create the scary atmosphere for the game. If you have ever watched scary movies, you know that the sound alone lets you know something is coming, and you are already scared. This is what happens all the time in RoE, and the background music is relevant to what is happening in the game. Sound effects also play a huge role in the audio. Often you will hear something walking or moving around, but you can't see a thing, which most of the time is extremely frightening. Sounds such as doors opening, footsteps, and most weapon sounds are very realistic as well. The sound of the game is right up there with its excellent graphics, and will have you on the edge of your seat for most of the game.
Overall
When you really get down to it, this game doesn't offer anything new or exciting, but simply continues what was done previously by Doom 3. The upgrades including new weapons, enemies, and storyline are great, but don't offer anything insanely new. The use of the Artifact is the most drastic change, but slowing down the game isn't that fun when you are used to the fast paced gameplay. Even if you haven't played the first Doom 3, Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil will still be a great game to play through for most people. And for hardcore Doom fans, nothing could be better than a continuation of Doom 3 and a little extra classical Doom to bring back the memories.
| The Core Score |
Overall
8.6 |
| Fun |
|
8.5 |
| Gameplay |
|
8.5 |
| Graphics |
|
9.6 |
| Audio |
|
9.5 |
| Replay |
|
8 |
|
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