This game is highly remember for popularizing the first person genre in video games long before GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Halo, Battlefield, and Call of Duty ever existed. Doom is also remembered for it's high level of controversy due to extreme graphic violence and Satanic imagery. The game became even more controversial in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, since the perpetrators Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold who committed suicide in the end were big fans of the game. I still remember this game up until this day, and I will review it since Halloween is right down the road.
Plot. An unnamed space marine has been punitively posted to Mars after striking his commanding officer, who ordered his unit to kill civilians. While in the space marine base, he is posted for guard duty, but then something goes horribly wrong. Computer systems on Phobos malfunction, Deimos disappears entirely, and "something fragging evil" starts pouring out of the gateway, killing or possessing all UAC personnel. Responding to a frantic distress call from the overrun scientists, the Martian marine unit is quickly sent to Phobos to investigate, where the player character is left to guard the hangar with only a pistol while the rest of the group proceeds inside. Over the course of the next few hours, the marine hears assorted garbled radio messages, gunfire, and screams, followed by silence: "Seems your buddies are dead." Now it's up to the main guy to rid the base of those aliens.
Players face against a horde of monsters in large numbers, with the number generally increased when choosing one of five difficulty levels after starting a new game. Aside from single player mode, there is also a multiplayer mode, in which players can play for two up to four against each other.
Concept. The purpose of the game is to guide the main guy throughout the base eliminating as many monsters as possible. The monsters have very simple behavior, consisting of either walking toward their opponent, or attacking by throwing fireballs, biting, and scratching. If a monster hits another accidentally, they will fight each other.
Design. This is one of the first games of it's kind to feature 3D graphics and first person perspective. The game's development started in 1992 when John D. Carmack developed a new 3D game engine, the Doom engine, while the rest of the id Software team finished with the Wolfenstein 3D prequel, Spear of Destiny. The game's design and plot elements are heavily inspired by science fiction horrors such as Aliens and Evil Dead II.
Memories. I played this game with a few friends from school back in 1997, I enjoyed the game and never realized about it's controversy since I was 10 at that time. When I learned about it, I was like "Wow!", because I never thought that parents would be so outraged about a game such as this. I mean, I remember my mother not liking Mortal Kombat because of it's blood violence. My mother and father only played Mario and Tetris games, but never had much love for games that are "M" rated due to the violent nature of the game. Also, I remember in 2007 when I wrote a college midterm paper about game controversy, and this game was included in it.
Controversy. Once it was released, Doom was a major target of controversy due to it's extreme blood violence and loads of Satanism. Most churches and religious groups protested against the game, and the more they did in the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre on April 30th, 1999. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were fans of the game, however, Eric Harris created levels in the game known as the "Harris Levels". Most of these levels were based off of Columbine. I really don't think that the game influenced them, they were troubled kids who were mercilessly picked on in school.
Rantings. Actually, I never enjoyed playing in the highest difficulty settings. The hardest ones such as "I'm too young to die" and "Ultra Violence". I don't remember much bad aspects of this game since it's been so long but. I guess that's as far as I can remember.
Good Aspects. The graphics were very well detailed and the music also kicked ass. The game is very well detailed and designed, and developers did an awesome job. But still most people who are either Christian or Catholic would not approve, I still like it. I am a Christian, but I still see this as only a game. The game has very high replay value, and you can download this on Xbox Live.
Legacy. Doom is globally remembered as one of the greatest FPS games of all time, and also as a cult classic. Doom spawned many sequels and spinoffs after it's release. Even the new generation consoles wanted to jump in the action as well. Doom has spawned a live action movie in 2006 starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Karl Urban, and Rosamund Pike.
Overall. Doom for the PC gets a 10 out of 10.
Play Hard Gamers!