DOOM Eternal Review

When DOOM Eternal was announced in 2018, we expected an excellent first-person shooter like DOOM 2016. However, id Software exceeded expectations, delivering what can be considered the best FPS game to date.

The story of DOOM Eternal is simple on the surface: Hell has invaded Earth, wiping out 60% of humanity. As the DOOM Slayer, your mission is to stop the invasion and eliminate the forces of Hell. You are the only thing demons fear.

Your initial objective is to kill three Hell Priests, but the story evolves with stronger enemies and surprising twists. The Codex Entries provide detailed lore about the world, the invasion, and the DOOM Slayer’s history. Completing the campaign takes around 13 hours, but exploring everything can extend playtime to 16-17 hours.

Gameplay

DOOM Eternal builds on the foundation of DOOM 2016 with improved mechanics and new features. Movement is faster with the addition of dashing and monkey bars for quick traversal. You can also climb walls, making platforming more dynamic.

Three key elements are essential for survival:

• Glory Kills to restore health
• Flame Belch to gain armor
• Chainsaw kills to refill ammo

The game forces you to use these elements strategically, making combat intense and rewarding.

The weapons from DOOM 2016 return with visual and functional improvements. Each weapon is suited for specific enemies. For example, using the Combat Shotgun grenade on Cacodemons puts them in a stunned state for a Glory Kill.

New and redesigned enemies add variety, doubling the roster compared to DOOM 2016. Tough foes like the Marauder provide challenging encounters.

You can upgrade weapons with mods for added functionality, and further improve those mods for powerful abilities. Upgrading your suit enhances health, armor, and ammo capacity, which becomes crucial as the game gets harder, even on Normal difficulty.

Exploration is more rewarding than in DOOM 2016, with secrets hidden across levels. Slayer Gates provide challenging battles, rewarding you with the powerful Unmaykr weapon if you complete all six gates.

Graphics and Performance

Built on the id Tech 7 engine, DOOM Eternal surpasses its predecessor in graphical fidelity. The environments are incredibly diverse, ranging from Earth to Hell, Mars, and beyond, each filled with stunning detail.

The engine offers 10 times more detail than id Tech 6, creating breathtaking environments. On a standard PS4, the game runs smoothly at 1080p and 60 FPS, with no noticeable frame drops—a significant improvement over DOOM 2016.

Sound

Returning characters and new ones feature excellent voice acting. Demon voices like DOOM Hunter and Marauder add depth to the experience.

Weapon sounds are impactful, and Mick Gordon’s soundtrack elevates every moment. From ambient tracks to high-energy battle themes, the music perfectly complements the gameplay, featuring heavy metal choirs and intense rhythms.

Conclusion

DOOM Eternal is undoubtedly the best first-person shooter to date. It offers everything you want in an FPS: an engaging story, diverse environments, stunning graphics, brutal combat, and an incredible soundtrack.

id Software has delivered a masterpiece, setting a new standard for FPS games. Any future FPS will inevitably be compared to DOOM Eternal, a benchmark of perfection in every aspect.

Final Score: 10/10