"Against all the evil that hell can conjure, all the wickedness that mankind can produce, we will send unto them... only you. Rip and tear, until it is done."
As if Doom (2016) wasn't incredible enough, Doom Eternal fixes all of the issues I'd had with the first game, enhances the existing mechanics and systems, then adds incredible new features on top. It's everything a sequel should strive to be.
The gameplay manages to perfect the fast-paced action from the first game, now giving us more mobility with the dash ability, which also works in the air - including with the double jump. New systems such as the wall climbing also help make the platforming sections a lot more fun than the ones in the previous game, as well as the level design being a lot better thought out when incorporating these sections and maintaining a good pacing for levels.
New offensive gear is also added, including the shoulder cannon, and the reworked blood punch - making melee combat much more central to the gameplay. The guns feel just as good, if not better, and the enemies are much tougher too, emphasising much more focus on playing tactically yet still promoting an aggressive playstyle. The enemies aren't just mindlessly buffed, they're really well thought out changes, keeping gameplay fun despite the added difficulty (ignoring the Pain Elementals, I hated those guys).
The soundtrack is also incredible, Mick Gordon once again showcases how much of an incredible composer he is, as well as his passion and admiration for the series in each track. Of course, I'm aware of the drama from throughout the production, and I do think the way he was treated was very unfair and hindering, but I don't want to delve any deeper into the matter here.
Narratively, the game actually delves into the lore of the Doom Slayer. Codex entries, dialogue throughout the game, as well as environmental story telling on a handful of lore-rich levels give a much larger sense of narrative progression and understanding, being much more compelling this time around. Of course, it's still not a life-changing narrative in any way, still existing to get you from set piece to set piece, but I appreciate the addition.
Even if you're not a fan of the Doom series but enjoy FPS games, I still highly recommend this title - it's a masterclass of the power fantasy side of the genre, and everything about this game oozes passion for both the franchise and the FPS genre.
