Final Doom
- July 25, 2005 00:00 AM PST
ProReview of Final Doom for the PlayStation...
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as Final Doom proves with levels constructed by the game's adoring and fanatical fans!After one sequel and countless imitations, Doom may be finally closing its gateways to Hell. id Software, the game's developer, claims that Final Doom is the last in this classic corridor-shooter series--at least on the PC. For consoles, Doom 64 (for Nintendo 64) proves otherwise, and for the PlayStation--who knows? If indeed this is the end of Doom, at least it's going out, appropriately, with a bang.
It Ain't Fair, Man!
Final Doom compiles 30 of the choicest levels from the 64 that appeared in the PC version. There are three episodes: Master Levels, TNT, and Plutonia. Each one is filled with huge, perplexing, and sometimes sadistic levels, although they're populated by monsters you've blown away a thousand times before. The emphasis here is on puzzle-solving, and some levels are so complex you'll spend more time searching for the exit than fighting bloodthirsty creatures.
Gamers who've played Doom: Custom PlayStation Edition inside and out may think they've seen it all. However, Final Doom demonstrates that there's some fight left in the classic point-and-shoot formula. In fact, Doom rookies will find this version too difficult. Seasoned vets will find Final Doom a worthy challenge, even if it's not completely satisfying.
Final Critiques
The biggest problem with Final is the game's brevity. Thirty levels are not enough to satisfy the appetite of any Doom-hungry player!
Another shortcoming is that Final looks pretty much identical to its predecessor, with no real modifications made to the adversaries or weapons. Though unfortunately, some of the toughest monsters from the earlier version, like the Mancubus and the Cyberdemon, hardly make an appearance.
This is not to say all the elements mimic the previous Doom's. There are a few new, awesome, eye-candy visual effects such as star-filled skies, cracks in walls, and severed limbs hanging from the ceiling (especially in the aptly titled Human Barbecue level) that add to the creepy atmosphere and enhance the game's mood of, well, doom.
Farewell to Hell?
When Doom hit the PlayStation last year, it was the king of the corridor shooters. Now Doom and Final Doom form the best one-two PlayStation punch to date. However, with other promising Doom-style titles (like Disruptor and Powerslave) lurking in the shadows, Final Doom could very well be the final Doom.
