Doom ]|[
After my addiction of Quake during my teen years, I had to run out and purchase id Software's next generation game, Doom 3, the day it was released. This is not a traditional id game where you run around and bash heads as quickly as possible. It's not a complex brain teaser to try and solve puzzles by putting the three keys together that are hidden. This has a well rounded story with clear missions, that you need to take your time to accomplish so you don't get ambushed and killed.
Doom 3 is a Sci-Fi Horror master piece. I've actually jumped back in my chair during parts because of how realistic demons come around corners and jumping out of the shadows. I also can not play it with head phones because it's just too creepy with sounds all around you, and whispers of children coming from empty hallways. You can hear pipes rattle randomly, and feet move on the metal grates near you, which cause you to actually look next to you and behind you in the game and in real life.
This is the most amazing looking game ever right now. It all has to do with lighting. Dark shadows are finally completely black that can hide you or your enemy. When you walk by bright lights on walls your shadow stretches across the floor up the other wall. Not just some default shadow, but you can see the weapon you are holding and details of how you are walking and moving. When you walk near faint lights, blinking lights, or LCD's the glow reflects off of you and the weapon in front of you. The flash light you have will be bright close up, but dim as the objects get further away. Lighting in video games will forever be changed and be more realistic then ever.
If your computer can support it, or if you have an XBox, you MUST get this game. I've just loaded the maps and walked around by myself staring at the lights bouncing off different surfaces and trying to catch my own shadow. Now I know why dogs and cats can be so amused by these little things.
Doom 3 is a Sci-Fi Horror master piece. I've actually jumped back in my chair during parts because of how realistic demons come around corners and jumping out of the shadows. I also can not play it with head phones because it's just too creepy with sounds all around you, and whispers of children coming from empty hallways. You can hear pipes rattle randomly, and feet move on the metal grates near you, which cause you to actually look next to you and behind you in the game and in real life.
This is the most amazing looking game ever right now. It all has to do with lighting. Dark shadows are finally completely black that can hide you or your enemy. When you walk by bright lights on walls your shadow stretches across the floor up the other wall. Not just some default shadow, but you can see the weapon you are holding and details of how you are walking and moving. When you walk near faint lights, blinking lights, or LCD's the glow reflects off of you and the weapon in front of you. The flash light you have will be bright close up, but dim as the objects get further away. Lighting in video games will forever be changed and be more realistic then ever.
If your computer can support it, or if you have an XBox, you MUST get this game. I've just loaded the maps and walked around by myself staring at the lights bouncing off different surfaces and trying to catch my own shadow. Now I know why dogs and cats can be so amused by these little things.
It got poor reviews on /. yesterday saying that the game is nothing but 50 hours filled with the scariest 5 minutes in a horror movie. Another criticism is that it adds nothing new to the genre (other than great lighting effects and Unreak II type graphics).
I (and the rest of the geekhood) will play it tho, because it's the only new really good game out there - until half life 2 comes out in 2010.
As Carmack said, he doesn't bother reading reviews, cause people will view the game as art, which is subjective.
In addition, I will probably purchase it based purely on the fact that Trent Reznor was working on the sound environment for much of the process untill he handed off those duties to Chris Vrenna (of Tweaker, under contract with Trent's label) who is someone he's worked with in creating his past work, so that Trent could spend more time on NIN's next release. I also heard, but I'm not sure, that Tool provides the opening theme.
There is no music in the game, and tweaker just did the intro I think.
below is from http://www.theninhotline.net/news/index.php
"As previously reported, Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh recorded the theme song for Doom 3 - which hits the US on August 3rd, and Europe (among other places) on the 13th. Vrenna only worked on the theme, but the jury's still out on the sound design, which Trent Reznor put work into for a while before working full-time on Bleed Through.
On the subject of the theme:
”We asked Chris to create a modern DOOM 3 theme song that reflected the character and intensity of DOOM3, and we couldn’t be happier with the final product,” said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. “Chris and id have shared a mutual appreciation for each others work, and it was exciting to be able to team up on something that fans of both id and Vrenna will appreciate.”
Side A of the 7" will be the theme song, produced by noted producer- composers Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh. Side B will be a previously unavailable Teargas & Plateglass remix of Tweaker "Crude Sunlight" featuring Jennifer Charles (of Elysian Fields fame). The first 500 copies will be signed by Chris Vrenna and Clint Walsh and will be available as a pre-order at Noon PST on Monday, July 26th (that's really soon, folks) at the Waxploitation store. "
Who knows though, I think it's like THX now. It's there, but very few people have the systems at home.