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So whats the deal with Doom 3?

I think part of it comes down to timing. What I mean by that is that in 2004, the original Doom games were considered horribly dated, but hadn't really crossed into retro cool.

So they created a game that was very much of its moment, a slower, story based thing, with a survival horror elements and it was totally decent, but it doesn't really feel like Doom. Not just because it doesn't have the fast paced action, but just a more serious, adult tone and not the balls to the wall adolescent thrash metal tone of the original.

But I don't think making a game like Doom 2016 would have worked back then, nor would making a game like the originals. It probably just wasn't the right time to bring back Doom.
 
I enjoyed Doom 3 a lot, especially on the 2nd or 3rd playthrough (didn't make it through the 1st or 2nd run). It starts off slow, but gradually picks up steam and gets pretty intense later on. The pace works for the kind of game it's trying to be -- as others have said, a survival / atmospheric take. Give it a good chance and play it all the way through.
 
It's actually the best Doom game of them all.

Worth it for the second to none sound design and atmosphere.

One of the most realized worlds in all of games. One of the best soundscapes ever.
 
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It was a technical masterpiece at the time. However the game was unplayable without turning the display brightness all the way up, otherwise the game was just one huge black box most of the time, and even then you could barely see shit. I've never finished the game just by that sole reason.
 
Remember importing the US version of this game. Good times. The real PC masterrace times where it wasn't just about higher framerate and a few effects. There was just nothing like it available on consoles at that time. Graphics were really something else. Wrecked my brand new 5950.

I didn't mind the game being a linar corridor shooter. Loved it back in the days and I still liked it when I replayed it a year or two ago.
 
It wasn't as good as the other big hitters of the time (HL2, FEAR, Far Cry, etc) but a decent shooter in its own right. My main memory of Doom 3 was playing it at night, in the dark with headphones on and breathing a sigh of relief when I exited each stage. It was such a tense experience. On several ocassions I took my fingers from the keyboard and said to myself "like fuck am I heading down that coridoor" which was splattered with blood, creepy demonic insignia and utterly horrendous sounds coming from off-screen :messenger_hushed:
 
DOOM 3 was the poster child for real time stencil shadows at the time.

It also took ages to come out. Initially, it was supposed to be a showcase for the Geforce 3 but by the time the game released that card was a dinosaur. Even a Geforce 4 ti would struggle with the game at higher settings.

The game also had a pre-alpha version that was leaked. That version is better than the final game. Or at least it feels better, with better looking scenes (that you can only load using command values) and far better sound. Though it's unoptimized so it runs like shit.

And yeah, the final game looks great but it has the worst sound effects for weapons and explosions in FPS history. It's almost like the weapons and explosions are on mute. Something about Tred Reznor quitting blah blah.
 
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I just played this game earlier this year for the first time. It wasnt great. Wasnt awful, but wasnt great.
 
Not a bad game, but the shotgun almost ruins it for me. What a shitty weapon.

Vindicator said:
Great game, had some serious Aliens vibes despite being Doom.
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Well the first Doom was already heavily inspired by Alien, so maybe they went with that for 3.
 
Excellent game gets too bad a rap, looks amazing when you consider how old it is.

New versions give you the ability to use your flashlight all the time which is a mixed blessing. The original game you had to make a decision to have the light out or your gun out and Doom 3 is all about the jump scares So it was pretty tense. That said it became pretty exhausting inching forward waiting for the monster closets to spring open In the oppressive dark atmosphere.

As has been said it's a very different game from the originals and the new Doom games which I also love.
 
If you play the original Doom 3 on pc with the lights off and a good sound system and without using the flashlight mod, it is hands down the scariest Doom game. Dead Space and numerous other franchises basically ripped off the scary space vibe from Doom 3. Around when it came out, it was graphically highly advanced. It and Half-Life 2 we're trying pinnacle of gaming back then (for different reasons), but Half-Life's gameplay aged better. But when it came out, if you played it as it was meant to be played, it was bad-ass. Note: The Xbox version wasn't as good because they did multiple downgrades, just little touches to lighten the cpu/gpu load, that made big, big differences in the game's atmosphere. Playing on pc in a dark room with a subwoofer and speakers going is the way to play that game. Ditch the flashlight mod. Half the game's fun was hearing enemies approaching you in the dark but not being able to see them if you had your gun out (unless they radiated fire, which many did, especially when the attacked).

I say all this as someone who played the whole thing on pc the month it was originally released.

it's gotten complaints, some are fair criticisms, but overall, it was a great game that is not appreciated for what it was and how good it was in it's era.
 
People who complained so much that they removed the flashlight requirement ruined the game for me.

The game was designed around this feature.

I wish they'd make it a menu option.
 
It's a great game that has aged really well, it just plays very differently from everything else in the series both before and after.
 
At launch it wasn't a bad game, although very different from the others. The main problem to me is that it doesn't hold up. The weapons feel extremely unsatisfying due to enemies feeling like mannequin with no physics. Shooting a wall It's basically the same thing.
 
Once you get past the creepy atmosphere and the wow factor of the graphics (at the time) you'll find that its' mediocre.
 
It's not bad. More Doom-like than most nooblets claim too. Especially considering Doom 64 was a (great) thing prior. I'm in agreement with/think these recent tweets about it show some cool stuff. The tech was crazy awesome for its time too.


I guess the biggest downfall was with that kind of tech leap compared to the last one they had to make the environments sort of more realistic and they weren't as cool, imaginative and transformative as the better maps in previous games were.
 
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Swapping the flashlight on and off was annoying as fuck but its still one of the best horror shooters.
 
Doom 3 was defined by its technology. Full dynamic lightning with stencil shadows and full-scene normal mapping was a huge novelty at the time, but it meant the game would be limited in the number of lights and monsters present in a given scene, alongside showing extremely strong contrast between light and shadows. Given those constraints, I think they did a decent, but flawed job. I imagine they were surely divided between doing a Doom-like FPS everybody would expect from them, and a pure survival horror experience which would fit the new technology better. In fact, if I recall correctly, they spent the next few years working on such a game, Darkness, which was ultimately cancelled.

It can be argued that Doom 3's technology choices were a bad idea. After all, the industry didn't follow that path, with most games going instead with a mix of static and dynamic lightning. ID (well, actually Carmack) has a long history of innovative technologies which give their games a very unique flavor but don't really become the huge big next step he predicts (BSPs, megatextures, stencil shadows, etc). I still think those kind of innovations are really important, even if they ultimately fail, or produce games which are really not that good.
 
This focus on horror is only obvious in hindsight. The people who were around at the time remember the talk of the town was the lighting. That was the zeitgeist at the time. Remember this was the same E3 where Splinter Cell was first revealed which also had a huge emphasis on lighting. Every damn article I read was waxing poetic about the new lighting system, I couldn't not read anything other than lighting for months lol

To me, Doom 3 will always be remembered as "that game with the next generation lighting". Funny now how nearly 20 years later the focus is yet again on lighting (albeit a completely different type).
 
SF Atlas Shrugged said:
I think part of it comes down to timing. What I mean by that is that in 2004, the original Doom games were considered horribly dated, but hadn't really crossed into retro cool.

So they created a game that was very much of its moment, a slower, story based thing, with a survival horror elements and it was totally decent, but it doesn't really feel like Doom. Not just because it doesn't have the fast paced action, but just a more serious, adult tone and not the balls to the wall adolescent thrash metal tone of the original.

But I don't think making a game like Doom 2016 would have worked back then, nor would making a game like the originals. It probably just wasn't the right time to bring back Doom.
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Pretty accurate observations.

At the time, it was only a few years since we moved on from the 90's classic fps timeline. This was barely 2004. A mere 6 years since Half Life came and changed the world. In t he meantime we had games like Thief, System Shock 2, Rainbow Six, Deus Ex, No One Lives Forever, Operation Flashpoint, Medal of Honor Allied Assault and so on. People weren't playing Doom 2 wads or saying how they miss those times. No, because those times were very recent, we barely moved from them. Games were trying to be more sophisticate, more complex, more open. Gamers were looking for fresh experiences, new experiences.

If Doom 2016 or Eternal came out instead of Doom 3 they would have been absolutely panned. The press and gamers would have said the game is a mere repeat of a 10 years old game and ignoring every advancedment the fps genre made since. Thats why Doom 3 takes massive inspiration for its gamedesign from Half Life, System Shock 2 and Undying. And its better for it. Its still the same pure fps, where you gun down demons, but its enriched by this inspirations. Doom 3 was and is a great game. One of the trio of greats from 2004 - Far Cry, Doom 3 and Half Life 2
 
Doom 3 received great scores at its release but had a very mixed reception among fans of Doom and the average person in general. However, over time, I think people have grown more accustomed to it myself included. Doom 3 is great and will remain one of my favourite horror FPS game of all time.
 
As stated elsewhere on this thread, lights off, headphones on, no flashlight mod and you've got possibly the most tense game ever made.

It's Doom in name only but a more than decent game in its own right. The Mars levels dragged on too long, id could have easily cut about a third of them and the overall package would have been that extra bit better for it. The hell levels were far more enjoyable though ironically, not as scary as the space station ones.
 
It was a weird game, in that it went for technical prowess, which made sense considering it was I'd games. It's probably what limited it's encounter design. That, or the designers just wanted to make a more horror-ish game.

It's a good game in its own right, but it doesn't feel like a sequel to doom 2.
 
For whatever reason, doom 3 was and is the only doom i really ever liked. Don't get bfg, it ruins the gameplay, get the original. It's great.
 
Soulblighter31 said:
If Doom 2016 or Eternal came out instead of Doom 3 they would have been absolutely panned. The press and gamers would have said the game is a mere repeat of a 10 years old game and ignoring every advancedment the fps genre made since. Thats why Doom 3 takes massive inspiration for its gamedesign from Half Life, System Shock 2 and Undying. And its better for it. Its still the same pure fps, where you gun down demons, but its enriched by this inspirations. Doom 3 was and is a great game. One of the trio of greats from 2004 - Far Cry, Doom 3 and Half Life 2
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Ding ding ding.

Doom 3 is the gift that keeps on giving. You have to be seriously missing the forest for the trees to not get Doom 3.

I have only minor complaints really. Replayed the game so many times on different platforms, I'll use any excuse to play this game.

It's like every single time there is something new I hear in the incredibly rich soundscape. Every virtual inch of space is crammed with lighting and audio detail, it's fucking insane they did this in 2004. Arguably the very best atmosphere in all gaming.
 
SkylineRKR said:
Doom 3 is good, I played the whole she bang when it launched on PS4.

RoE has the double barrel shotgun and that makes it legit good.
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I'm replaying that now on PS5, looks insanely good. It has its issues, always had, but I love Doom 3 as well. I wish the next Doom game went back to that style.
 
Doom 3 and Doom 2016/Eternal are like each a different element of original Doom made into their own games. Doom 3 is about the dark corridors and monster closets and Doom 2016/Eternal are all about the massacre. Now, imagine a modern Doom title that mixes both equally (without the fucking mario galaxy segments) :messenger_fire::messenger_face_screaming::messenger_fire:
 
Juke Joint Jezebel said:
DooM 3's an odd beast. It turned the series into a game all about extensive map exploration, with corridors connecting to wide open arenas with huge enemy swarms and turned it into a corridor shooter with intrusive mechanics such as the torch and went away from balls to the walls frenetic action to fighting only a few enemies at a time. And with only 2 major games under it's belt the transition to something completely new was jarring.

It's not a bad game, but most don't class it as a "Doom" game. I know I don't, but it's a solid horror shooter nontheless. DooM (2016) is what DooM 3 should've been in my opinion.
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Painkiller is more Doom 3 than either of those two.
 
Really enjoyed this game. The atmosphere was very unique and well done.

What I hated the most was enemies appearing behind you. It gets old really quick, but otherwise, great game.
 
makaveli60 said:
I wish the next Doom game went back to that style.
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I love 16 and Eternal as well but Doom 3 is just a different type of special to me.

I agree. I think there needs to somehow be an in-between of both styles and it could be the perfect Doom game. But that would take one talented team with the right vision to make it happen.

Another Doom in the exact same modern style might be too much. I think something with more horror/atmosphere would be great.

One of the dumbest complains I've heard about Doom 3 since 2004 is "lolz monster closets", as if the old Doom games didn't have this?? Old Doom games are fucking filled with suddenly opening walls and enemies out of nowhere but it was only a problem in Doom 3?? Fuck that noise.

Ps. Doom 64 is another masterpiece.

For me Doom 64, 3, 16, and Eternal are actually all better than the first two.
 
carlosrox said:
I love 16 and Eternal as well but Doom 3 is just a different type of special to me.

I agree. I think there needs to somehow be an in-between of both styles and it could be the perfect Doom game. But that would take one talented team with the right vision to make it happen.

Another Doom in the exact same modern style might be too much. I think something with more horror/atmosphere would be great.

One of the dumbest complains I've heard about Doom 3 since 2004 is "lolz monster closets", as if the old Doom games didn't have this?? Old Doom games are fucking filled with suddenly opening walls and enemies out of nowhere but it was only a problem in Doom 3?? Fuck that noise.

Ps. Doom 64 is another masterpiece.

For me Doom 64, 3, 16, and Eternal are actually all better than the first two.
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I love the modern games as well, but yes, the next game has to be a mix between that style and Doom 3. 2016 was closer to that than Eternal, by the way. I have no doubt about id being able to pull this off, though. They are still, even after 30 years, among the top of developers. It's crazy if you think about it.
 
carlosrox said:
I love 16 and Eternal as well but Doom 3 is just a different type of special to me.

I agree. I think there needs to somehow be an in-between of both styles and it could be the perfect Doom game. But that would take one talented team with the right vision to make it happen.

Another Doom in the exact same modern style might be too much. I think something with more horror/atmosphere would be great.

One of the dumbest complains I've heard about Doom 3 since 2004 is "lolz monster closets", as if the old Doom games didn't have this?? Old Doom games are fucking filled with suddenly opening walls and enemies out of nowhere but it was only a problem in Doom 3?? Fuck that noise.

Ps. Doom 64 is another masterpiece.

For me Doom 64, 3, 16, and Eternal are actually all better than the first two.
Click to expand...

Doom 64 is fucking ace. It feels like the true Doom 3 in the sense that its very much like 1 and 2 but more advanced. Its a brilliant remaster.

I bought Eternal earlier this year, started with Doom 64, beat that game and got all trophies and then it happened, I didn't like Eternal. I have it on GP again, planning to give it another shot one day.
 
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SkylineRKR said:
Doom 64 is fucking ace. It feels like the true Doom 3 in the sense that its very much like 1 and 2 but more advanced. Its a brilliant remaster.

I bought Eternal earlier this year, started with Doom 64, beat that game and got all trophies and then it happened, I didn't like Eternal. I have it on GP again, planning to give it another shot one day.
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So glad that, after all these years, Doom 64 is finally getting the recognition it deserves. It's one of the few N64 games that have aged really well, which is kindof ironic as it was seen as dated on release.

As for Doom 3, it is a good game that still holds up, but does have its issues. The atmosphere is fantastic, the gunplay is great (with one exception) and it has the best iteration of hell. I think people were disappointed as they expected more of the same, whereas the combat is much more of the "short sharp shock" variety. That said, the monster closets do get a bit tiresome after the 845th time, you can take a lot of cheap damage, and the shotgun is awful. If you have a game where you are required to fight in very close quarters, you don't want a weapon with a high amount of RNG.
 
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