Latest news with #DoomEternal
Metro
5 days ago
- Metro
First Nintendo Switch 2 unboxing has already happened but there's a catch
Switch 2 consoles are now out in the wild, but Nintendo has a safeguard in place to stop people from playing the console before launch. We're just over a week away from the Switch 2's launch on Thursday, June 5 and some retailers have already received stock in advance of the big day. Like all console launches, the problem with sending stock to retailers is that it virtually ensures that leaks will happen – especially as some shops appear to be leaving Switch 2 consoles in public view. It turns out, Nintendo has concocted a plan to counter this concern, by making the console useless until a day one patch is released. This detail was confirmed after someone on YouTube posted a video showing them unboxing the Switch 2 console. The video has since been taken down (although it's been shared elsewhere), but in the comments, they claimed the console is 'locked' and 'needs update to function'. Someone else supported this claim to gaming deals guru Wario64, stating that when they try to boot up an original Switch game on the Switch 2, a message reads: 'Please connect to the internet and update your system.' While it's unclear if this update is required in order to play Switch 2 games, it's safe to assume that's the case considering no leaked footage of Mario Kart World has (at the time of writing, at least) made its way online. If there are restrictions on how Switch 2 works without online connectivity then that is going to be very poorly received by fans, but that would be quite out of keeping with Nintendo's usual approach. More Trending So far there's no indication that physical copies of games need any kind of online connection to work but no one's going to know for sure until next week. It's possible the update mentioned is tied to backwards compatibility. Nintendo has already said some original Switch games, including Doom Eternal and Pizza Tower, require an update to function on the Switch 2, which will be rolled out 'by launch or shortly after'. Either way, whether intentional or not, this seems to mean that anyone who does get a Switch 2 before launch won't be able to play the system early. Aside from Mario Kart World, the Switch 2's launch line-up includes Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Split Fiction, and many others. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Blades Of Fire review – hammer of the gods MORE: Games Inbox: When will the new Tomb Raider be revealed? MORE: Official PS5 price cut slashes up to £140 in upcoming PlayStation sale
BreakingNews.ie
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Doom: The Dark Ages Review - A medieval brawl with a modern twist
There's just nothing quite like dissecting demons or blasting them in the face with a shotgun. Doom has been a staple of the first-person shooter genre since the 1990s and has set the benchmark for how a shooter should feel to play. id Software are masters at making you feel like a badass demon slayer. With each new iteration, they reinvent the formula without losing the DNA that makes Doom so special. Advertisement Doom: The Dark Ages continues this tradition, offering an action-packed first-person shooter with enough weapons to satisfy anyone's power fantasy. Before delving deeper into the combat, it's worth noting how impressive the game looks. It runs consistently at a smooth 60fps on the Xbox Series X. While the environments are your standard Doom fare—Gothic cathedrals and barren hellscapes—they harness the power of modern consoles with more enemies on screen and larger set pieces. There are plenty of secret areas to discover, including plush toys and Codices, which make each area feel less linear. You can also find new skins for your weapons hidden in nooks and crannies, often behind puzzles that act as a carrot on a stick for players. While Doom Eternal focused on giving players a large variety of weapons, The Dark Ages strips things back and provides a more melee-focused experience. The Shotgun, Chaingun, and Rocket Launcher are still available, but they serve more as companion weapons. Advertisement This change may irk some fans, but those willing to adapt will find it just as satisfying as previous entries. Parrying projectiles The biggest addition is the new shield, which fits the medieval aesthetic while doubling as both an offensive and defensive weapon. The developers said their goal was to make you feel like a tank—to stand and fight rather than dodge and weave. The shield allows you to parry green projectiles from demons—a mechanic that plays a central role in combat, with some mini-bosses requiring well-timed rebounds to break their defences. Offensively, you can lock on and smash into enemies from afar. Later, the shield gets upgraded with a rotating saw that continually stuns tougher enemies while slicing through weaker ones with ease. The shield's versatility makes it one of the most satisfying weapons in the game, evoking the feel of the axe in God of War . Launching it and watching it return is always rewarding. Advertisement It takes time to get used to the melee focus, but once you enter the flow state—slicing through smaller enemies to regain health before tackling behemoths like the Cyberdemon—it clicks. Each enemy has an exploitable weakness. The Pink Rider, for example, is weaker than his mount, while the Shield Soldier becomes vulnerable once his defences are lowered. Robust package The Dark Ages continues Doom's tradition of combat experimentation. You start with the parry ability and later unlock upgrades like Runes, which add even more nuance. 'Ground Fissure' creates a shockwave upon parrying, 'Holy Swarm' unleashes daggers, and 'Auto Turret' does exactly what it says. You can also upgrade melee weapons such as the Power Gauntlets or the medieval-themed Flail by increasing damage or reducing cooldowns. It's a robust package, full of variety and replayability. Advertisement Some fans may miss the emphasis on Doom's signature Glory Kills, but the developers said these would interrupt the pacing with so many enemies on screen. Accessibility options are excellent—sliders adjust incoming and outgoing damage and fine-tune the parry window. Normal difficulty ('Hurt Me Plenty') offers a decent challenge, though seasoned players may prefer the more punishing 'Ultra-Violence' mode. While the gameplay is undoubtedly a blast, some of the missions can be repetitive. You are often dropped into a location, asked to destroy four demon portals or have to take down the bosses' grunts before you can kill them. Advertisement Some missions become repetitive—clear four demon portals, defeat grunts before facing bosses—but detours break things up. You ride dragons and pilot mechs in explosive set pieces. The mech levels are a highlight: giant, punchy, and gloriously straightforward. The dragon segments are less compelling—fiddly lock-on mechanics and underwhelming gameplay drag them down. Dragons and mechs The more traditional missions are balanced out with detours where you get to fly on a dragon and operate a giant mech. The latter is much more fun and straight forward as you are essentially a giant Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot able to smash demon Titans. They do not overcomplicate things and I always looked forward to those levels. While the dragon level help break things up, what you actual do in the levels can be quite dull. To destroy hell ships you have to lock on to their missile launchers and dodge them to break their shields. It is far from thrilling gameplay but there is nice mix between flying around destroying ships and slaying demons on the ground. Where The Dark Ages falters is in its story. As a prequel, it had the chance to delve deeper into the Doom Slayer's origins. While it is more cinematic story than previous games, as a prequel it could have gone much deeper into Doomslayer's origins. Instead, you are dropped into the ongoing war between the forces of Hell and the Night Sentinels and their allies the Maykrs. The Doomslayer is their secret weapon, and you are seeing how he is summoned when their forces are getting overwhelmed. You learn through the game how he is being controlled by them and eventually how he breaks free of their control. It is not a terrible story, but it feels like a missed opportunity not to expand on the lore in a substantial way. At the same time, I did not expect to be an HBO drama, and if it was too earnest it would detract from it. Ultimately, The Dark Ages could turn off hardcore Doom fans who see it as too much of a departure from Eternal. However, if you come in with an open mind, you will find another great entry in a series that is constantly evolving while still honouring its considerable lineage. Our score: 8/10
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Doom: The Dark Ages' game review
Doom has always managed to stay at the cutting edge of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre — something it practically invented with the original 1993 release. Synonymous with pulse-pounding gunplay, the franchise saw a major revival with 2016's Doom and its follow-up, Doom Eternal. Rather than a direct sequel, Doom: The Dark Ages is iD Software's bold attempt to expand the mythos further. Acting as a narrative bridge between the end of Doom 64 and the opening of Doom (2016), while carefully sidestepping the non-canonical Doom 3,The Dark Ages takes the series in a bold new direction. With a heavier focus on melee combat and medieval fantasy aesthetics, the gamble pays off. The story centres around a key MacGuffin known as the 'Heart of Argent', a precursor to the Argent energy mined by humans in Doom (2016). This mysterious artifact sets the stage for a fierce conflict between the forces of Hell and the Sentinels of Argent D'Nur. You play as the Doom Slayer, a former space marine turned superhuman demon-slayer, now under the control of a third faction: the Maykrs. Enslaved and deployed like a weapon, you are sent to battle Hell with a very short leash. While the plot may initially seem like standard action-game fare, it is clear that iD Software is attempting to weave a more cohesive lore around its dark fantasy setting, albeit with mixed results. At times, the exposition feels overwrought, borrowing the brooding tone and deliberate pacing of Dune. Still, I found its predictability oddly comforting. The art direction is phenomenal, and the slower moments gave my hands a chance to recover before the next burst of ultra-violence. The Dark Ages delivers a near-hypnotic gameplay experience. It is fluid, immersive, and meditative in a way that few shooters manage. Compared to the frenetic chaos of Doom Eternal, this entry feels more controlled, more rhythmic. Once you are locked into the flow of melee-gunplay combat, it is almost like dancing through a storm. Early on, the game arms you with a shield-chainsaw hybrid and introduces parrying as a core mechanic. Time your moves right, and you will deflect green hellfire back at enemies, opening them up for brutal finishers. One standout moment saw me parrying fireballs while surrounded by towering demons, triggering a chain reaction of gory carnage. It was exhilarating and gory. Then come the Kaiju levels. Yes, you get to pilot a mech and take on skyscraper-sized demons with your bare metal fists, Pacific Rim style. Do not worry — this is not a spoiler; it is in the trailers. These levels are a visual and gameplay spectacle. And because no dark fantasy would be complete without dragons, The Dark Ages lets you ride your very own cybernetic flying beast. It is not quite as jaw-dropping as the mech segments, but it is undeniably fun — especially when you are blasting down hellships and boarding them mid-flight. Doom: The Dark Ages Publisher: Bethesda Developer: iD Software Price: ₹4,999 on Steam, Xbox One, Playstation 5 Of course, a Doom game lives and dies by its arsenal. You begin with your trusty shotgun before unlocking the Quake-inspired nailgun. The standout weapon, however, is the Skullcrusher — a monstrous gun that grinds skulls and fires bone shards in wide, devastating arcs. While the guns are slick and satisfying, they serve more as support tools for your melee and shield play. Combat becomes a dance of crowd control, perfectly timed parries, and brutal finishing moves. As you explore massive levels, defeat demon hordes, and collect gold, you will be constantly upgrading your weapons — giving you ample reason to revisit previous stages. Visually, The Dark Ages is a technical marvel. Running on iD Tech 8, the game renders massive levels and colossal enemies with breathtaking clarity. From detailed ground-level skirmishes to epic aerial battles atop dragons, the scale is immense and fluid. One flying level, which has you soaring through a demon-infested city, is a standout set piece. The Dark Ages may be the best-looking game of the year, with a unique visual identity that makes many Unreal Engine titles look generic by comparison. Doom: The Dark Ages is an absolute must-play for fans of fantasy, action, or first-person shooters. It is a triumphant reminder that one of the genre's founding fathers still knows how to innovate, stay relevant, and deliver unforgettable experiences. Without question, one of the games of the year.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
ViewSonic XG275D-4K Monitor Review
The gaming monitor market is getting very interesting, with brands pushing the limits of display technology and introducing new options for high frame rates and 4K resolution. But the ViewSonic XG275D-4K monitor is doing something a bit different, and it's rather astounding. This 27-inch monitor allows users to switch between 4K resolution at 160Hz and Full HD at 320Hz with a single button press, addressing the common dilemma gamers face when choosing between visual fidelity and competitive performance. At $499.99, it positions itself as a cost-effective alternative to purchasing two separate displays for different gaming scenarios, and honestly, it is one of my favourite monitors of the year so far. Out of the box, the monitor is relatively unassuming but carries forward the ViewSonic style we've come to appreciate at CGM. The ViewSonic XG275D-4K monitor features a standard matte black chassis with minimal bezels, giving it a clean, modern appearance. ViewSonic has implemented a pragmatic stand design with a reduced footprint, creating more desk space for keyboard and mouse placement—a practical consideration for competitive gamers who need room to manoeuvre. The stand offers comprehensive adjustment options, including height adjustment up to 130 mm, bidirectional pivot, ±45 degrees of swivel, and -3 to 20 degrees of tilt. These movement ranges accommodate various sitting positions and desk setups. For those preferring alternative mounting options, the monitor includes 75×75 mm VESA compatibility, so you can wall mount the monitor or use a monitor arm to get it off your desk should you wish. The screen comes with an anti-glare hard coating (3H) that effectively minimizes reflections in bright environments. RGB lighting on the rear panel adds visual flair, similar to what we've seen on other ViewSonic gaming monitors. Thankfully, the lighting is subtle enough that it doesn't overwhelm the setup, allowing users to customize the appearance to match their gaming environment. The monitor features a 27-inch Fast IPS panel with a native 4K UHD resolution (3840 x 2160). But as I teased earlier, there's something special about the XG275D-4K—this display has the ability to operate in two distinct modes, which ViewSonic refers to as 'Dual Mode.' Users can select between native 4K resolution at 160Hz or Full HD (1080p) at an impressive 320Hz refresh rate. This means you can push visuals to their limit on your new GPU at 4K, then swap to 1080p to maximize frame rate in an esports title like League of Legends—something very useful for any kind of competitive play. The panel delivers a peak brightness of 300 to 350 nits (specifications vary slightly between sources), a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and support for HDR10. While these specifications won't match those of high-end HDR displays, they provide acceptable dynamic range for most gaming applications. I found it performed well when displaying deep blacks and bright colours in games like Doom Eternal. However, since it's an IPS display, you won't get the rich, inky blacks that OLED panels can deliver. That said, what the XG275D-4K does deliver is solid for most people's needs. Colour performance is respectable, with the panel covering 94 percent of DCI-P3, 91 percent of NTSC, and 99 percent of the sRGB colour spaces. However, I didn't find it as accurate as some of the professional screens we use at CGM. For gaming, it was more than enough, but for colour-dependent work, it wasn't quite as precise as I would personally prefer. The 10-bit colour depth—achieved via 8-bit + FRC technology—helps create smooth gradients with minimal banding, making the monitor suitable for both gaming and light creative work. The ViewSonic XG275D-4K boasts a 0.5 ms MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) and a 2 ms grey-to-grey (GtG) response time, promising minimal motion blur during fast-action sequences. The monitor supports both AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync technologies, ensuring tear-free gaming experiences regardless of graphics card preference. The monitor also includes a 24.5-inch esports setting, which scales down the usable display area to provide a more focused field of view. This allows competitive gamers to keep all on-screen action within their immediate vision, potentially improving reaction times in fast-paced games. I was surprised by how interesting I found this mode. While it's not a feature I think most average gamers will take advantage of, it's a great addition, and I have to commend ViewSonic for the foresight to include it. I have to say, there are plenty of reasons to consider this monitor—and they go well beyond just gaming. The central selling point of the ViewSonic XG275D-4K monitor is its switchable refresh rate technology, but how you use that flexibility is what makes it so exciting. With a dedicated button press, users can toggle between 4K at 160Hz or Full HD at 320Hz. This functionality eliminates the previous need for gamers to purchase separate monitors for different types of games. Even content creators can jump between the modes without requiring additional displays. And because it's so easy to activate, it's a feature that can actually be used whenever you need it. In 320Hz mode, the display becomes particularly suitable for competitive gaming genres like first-person shooters, where fluid motion and reduced input lag can provide a competitive edge. Switching to 4K mode at 160Hz offers the sharp, detailed image quality that enhances visually rich single-player games and content creation. A DisplayPort 1.4 input provides similar capabilities for PC connections. One particularly useful addition is the USB-C port with 65-watt power delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode support. This allows users to connect and charge laptops or other compatible devices while using the monitor, reducing cable clutter for those who switch between work and gaming on different devices. Audio capabilities include dual 2W stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphone connection. While the built-in speakers won't replace dedicated audio equipment, they offer a convenient option for casual use. For those who prefer a clean desk setup with minimal cables, the built-in speakers will work in a pinch. However, they are a bit quiet and lack the depth to deliver a nuanced audio experience. For anyone serious about gaming or PC audio, I would always recommend treating the monitor's speakers as a last resort. As with most ViewSonic monitors, the on-screen display is navigated via a joystick control with directional inputs (up, right, down, left, centre/power), which is typically more intuitive than the multi-button configurations found on some competing models. Physical controls also include a dedicated dual-mode button for quickly switching between refresh rate and resolution presets. It worked as expected—nothing to write home about. That said, when it came to changing settings, I have to say it delivered where it needed to. It felt responsive and didn't cause any frustration when I needed to make quick adjustments. At $499.99, the ViewSonic XG275D-4K occupies the mid-range of gaming monitors. This pricing is particularly competitive, considering users effectively receive two display configurations in one unit—a 4K panel for content consumption and detail-oriented games, and a high-refresh Full HD monitor for competitive gaming. You'd be hard-pressed to find another monitor at this price point that delivers the same range of features. And while I would have liked to see a slightly higher peak brightness, the XG275D-4K delivers where it counts most for its intended purpose. For gamers who enjoy a variety of titles—from fast-paced competitive shooters to visually rich single-player adventures—the ViewSonic XG275D-4K offers a flexible solution without requiring multiple specialized displays. At $499.99, the ViewSonic XG275D-4K provides fantastic value for anyone looking to upgrade their setup while staying budget-conscious. The feature set on offer makes it one of the best monitors you can buy for the price, hands down.
CNET
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Here's How You Can Play Every Doom Game After Finishing Dark Ages
Doom is one of the most influential games of all time, and it is one of the few game franchises that can get me to buy a new console in order to play. When Bethesda released Doom (2016), that was when I finally bought an Xbox One -- three years after its initial release. Bethesda released the latest entry in the series, Doom: The Dark Ages, on May 15. Read more: 5 Tips to Get You Started in Doom: The Dark Ages If you've already beaten the medieval-inspired Doom game, or you want to play other entries in the series before jumping into the latest game, you can play other Doom games on every major platform. The story of all the Doom games is fairly straightforward: demons from Hell have traveled through a portal to this universe, and it's up to you to stop them. The gameplay is fast and brutal, with hordes of enemies to dispatch, and you have an arsenal of weapons to use, including a chainsaw. Many of the games in the series focus on this fast-paced gameplay over story. So you don't have to play the games in any specific order to understand what's happening. The newer entries in the series, like Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, weave more lore into the games, but all you need to understand for most of the games is that you're the Doomguy/Doom Slayer and your mission is to kill demons. There are a lot of expansions for Doom games, but for our purposes, we're going to stick with the mainline Doom games. Many of these games are on services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, but it can be difficult to decide which game to play first. If you want to play the games in the order they were released, here's your list. How you can play the Doom series Here are the main Doom titles in chronological order by release date: Doom (1993) Doom 2 Doom 64 Doom 3 Doom (2016) Doom Eternal All of these games are also included in the Doom Anthology bundle on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Steam. You can play the entire Doom series on both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($20 a month) or PlayStation Plus Premium ($18 a month). Watch this: Hands-On: Doom The Dark Ages 04:38 However, you don't have to play the games in this order. Some people consider Doom 3 to be more of a survival horror game and an outlier to the core Doom games. And there's debate about whether this game and other Doom games take place in the same universe. For those reasons, I'll still talk about Doom 3, but I'll include it near the end. Here's what to know about the different Doom games. The classic Doom games These games are the original entries in the Doom franchise, which are light on story but heavy on gameplay. If you just want to mow down pixelated enemies without much story, check these out. Doom (1993) Beloved shooter Doom is playable on pretty much everything. ID Software Doom started it all, and is a foundational game in the FPS genre. It doesn't have much of an in-game story, but it remains one of the most influential games in history. It was revolutionary in its level design, and it helped spark the rise of online multiplayer games -- there's even an entire subgenre of games called "Doom clones." The original Doom is important enough that it was one of 15 games included in the Library of Congress's Game Canon. What we know about the story is from the game's instruction manual, which used to come in a game's packaging. (I wish more modern games still had these.) You're an unnamed marine who was sent to Mars after disobeying and punching your commanding officer after they ordered you to shoot civilians. Once on Mars, the Union Aerospace Corporation opens a dimensional rift and demons start pouring out, so you've got to stop them. That's all the story you get, and that's all the story you really need. Otherwise, this game is basically all combat, all the time as you fight demons on Mars and in Hell. You do have to find the occasional key to access certain areas in the labyrinthine levels, but the main objective is to take out as many enemies as you can and get to the end. Combat is a little slower in Doom (1993) compared with the modern Doom games, and you can't jump, which is a bummer, but it's still a fun, classic game. Even if you don't beat Doom, you should still play it at some point. Do it for Daisy. You can play this game on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. Doom II: Hell on Earth Bethesda The second Doom game is set immediately after the events of Doom (1993), but this time the demons are on, you guessed it, Earth. And they're emerging from your hometown! This game and Doom (1993) are usually packaged together now since both have similar gameplay mechanics and graphics. The levels of Doom 2 are larger than those in the original, but the level designs are alike. Doom II introduces some iconic enemies -- like the hell knight and the revenant -- as well as the classic super shotgun weapon, which makes an appearance in almost every Doom game moving forward. Some newer versions of Doom II also include the episodes TNT: Evilution 2 and the Plutonia Experiment, which were combined and sold as Final Doom in 1996. There has been debate about whether these are considered canon in the Doom universe, with some people arguing that later Doom installments could disqualify Final Doom from being included in the canon. Overall, Doom II is more or less Doom (1993) but with larger levels, as well as more enemies and weapons. So if you like the original, you can't go wrong with the sequel. You can play this game on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. Doom 64 Bethesda Doom 64 is a tricky entry on this list because it could be considered another spin-off, like Final Doom, since it wasn't developed by Doom's original developers, id Software. It was developed under their supervision, though. But without it, we might not have gotten Doom: The Dark Ages since your character stays in Hell near the end of Doom 64. After the events of Doom II, humanity is trying to rebuild Earth when a satellite sends a message saying demons are being resurrected. So it's time to kill more demons. However, near the end of this game, you decide to stay in Hell to keep on fighting demons. And this decision likely leads right into the events of the upcoming Doom game. That means Doom 64 could be integral to the story of the newer Doom games. This entry uses 3D models, dynamic lighting and new sprites for monsters and weapons, although the gameplay is mostly the same as the earlier Doom games. In 1997, Electronic Gaming Monthly considered this the best-looking Doom game yet, but others feel like it's just a console port of Doom (1993). Like its predecessors, Doom and Doom II, the stories in each Doom game are mostly secondary to the gameplay, but Doom 64 bridges the gap between the classic Doom games and the newer entries. You can play this game on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. The modern, lore-heavy entries It's important to note that while Doom: The Dark Ages could be a sequel to Doom 64, it's definitely a prequel to the later series entries Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal. But you can still enjoy these games on their own, like every game on this list. Here's what to know about them. Doom (2016) Bethesda If you want a modern Doom experience with more of a story and still maintains that fast-paced action, this is the game for you. 2016's Doom rebooted the series for modern consoles. It has more lore and story than earlier Doom games, so this is a good place to start if you appreciate more narrative with your ripping and tearing. Doom (2016) drops you into the heat of the action on Mars as the demons have already overrun a UAC facility. You are pulled out of an ancient sarcophagus to stop the demons again. The game features the trademark Doom gameplay, with frantic skirmishes and lots of enemies. With the new ability to jump -- you couldn't in earlier games -- it also has platforming elements that offer deeper level exploration. The dialogue and story exposition set this game apart from most earlier entries. There are a lot of codex entries throughout the game that flesh out the world and give characters more depth than seen in earlier Doom games, but you don't need to read or understand these to have fun. You can play this game on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. Doom Eternal Bethesda This Doom game picks up where Doom (2016) left off and offers more story, more devastating enemies and more aerial acrobatics than a Cirque du Soleil show. After the events of the previous game, the demons have made their way to Earth and are wreaking havoc. Countries have fallen, and most of the planet has been overrun by demonic presences. But you have a space fortress (kinda cool), a shotgun with a grappling hook (really cool), and you find out that Hell energy is basically human souls (creepy). The combat is more frantic and fast-paced than the previous games, and thanks to the aforementioned shotgun-grappling hook, you can launch yourself into the air and essentially turn into an attack helicopter. The shotgun-grappling hook also opens up new avenues for level exploration and platforming mechanics, and is an integral part of a lot of gameplay and puzzle-solving outside of combat. This is probably the most lore-heavy Doom game. There are info dumps throughout the game about how the Doom universe works, other forces fighting the demons of Hell and how you became this god-like killing machine. Much of the plot points back to events that might happen in Doom: The Dark Ages. So if you play the upcoming game and are confused by something, there might be a piece of lore in Doom Eternal that explains it. You can play this game on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. The horror entry In every Doom game, you fight demons, but there aren't really jump scares like you might encounter in horror games or movies. But there is one Doom game that has more jump scares than the others combined. Doom 3 Bethesda This was my first experience with the Doom franchise, so I was confused when I went back and played other games in the series. This game is more storyline-focused than other Doom games and has more horror elements than other titles on this list. Doom 3 follows a space marine -- not the original Doomguy -- as they try to stop a demonic invasion at the UAC facility on Mars. The premise is the same as the first Doom game, but this title has more dialogue and story than the original -- which isn't saying much. The shadows and lighting also give this game more of a horror feel. One of the key game elements is your flashlight, and you can only hold that or a weapon; you couldn't hold both at the same time until later editions of the game, like Doom 3: BFG Edition. Holding the flashlight illuminated enemies, but you couldn't attack them so you'd have to switch to your weapon and fire into the dark where you last saw the enemy. Having to switch to your gun in order to take enemies out made the whole experience tense, and makes this game feel more like a survival horror game than a classic Doom game. Also, the gameplay isn't as frantic, and you'll generally find yourself creeping through most levels instead of running through them. Despite those differences, some people really like this Doom game, and maybe you will, too. You can play Doom 3 on the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus services. You can also buy the game for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or on Steam. For more on gaming services, here's what to know about Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. You can also check out what to know about Doom: The Dark Ages.
