Released: 19970402 Publisher: Midway Developer: Midway Genre: First Person Shooter

Review by: Viper

If you haven't heard of Doom then I feel very sorry for you, you must of been a deprived child. Doom is a classic first person perspective shooter that originated on the PC. Since then many "clones" have been released to match Doom, all have failed except for Doom2. Now all the action of Doom is brought to your N64 thanks to Midway. PC Doom fans don't worry this is in no way the same game you've grown to love. All the levels are exclusive to the N64, plus monster sounds and graphics are redone, and there is even a new weapon in addition to the original 9 (Doom 2 weapons, original Doom didn't have the super shotgun). This version of doom, like the PC, really has no story, there is some scrolling text in between some levels but the attempt at a story doesn't really affect game play at all. It's your typical kill everything while looking for keys and an exit, and of course... Stay Alive.

Compared to the PC this version of Doom is much more enhanced using the N64 hardware. Rooms are lighted with color instead of the bland white light that was only available in the PC version. The puzzle like levels are smoothed out using the N64 anti-aliasing which makes it look much better, kind of like the 3dfx enhanced GL versions of other 1st person shooters of today. The gun animations are changed and look much cooler, especially the plasma gun. All enemy graphics and animations have been redone as well, the graphic change gives a new look to the game, but the animations are a bit choppy. Nonetheless it's a major improvement over the original Doom on the PC.

Offering many different customizable control schemes, you can set it up just the way you want. There is also a way to adjust the sensitivity of the joystick, I didn't notice that option at first and gated how slow my Doom soldier turned, thank God it's adjustable. Of course if you played the PC Doom for hours on end it will take a bit of time before you're used to playing without a mouse and keyboard, even though the controller lacks the amount of buttons on a keyboard, you really don't feel like you are missing anything, very good use of what there was to work with. Doom 64 plays really fast with hardly any slowdown, and it offers several degrees of difficulty which allows you to master your skills slowly until the final battle on the hardest skill. I was disappointed that there was no multi player capabilities, but the one player offers a lot of challenge and puzzles within itself. Also you can save your game to a controller pak, or write down a password. No Rumble Pak support in this one though (heh, it wasn't available yet).

All I can say is VERY creepy, not really any music to the game except moans and weird ambient sounds that make your skin crawl. This adds a lot of atmosphere to the already dark game. Some sound effects from the original can sort of be heard among all the new ones that have been added. The moans and growls of monsters within the game are gut wrenching, and if played on a good stereo system definitely echo through the room like it was you in the dungeons battling.

An excellent remake of an excellent game, being original with exclusive levels added a lot to Doom 64. If it was the same played out levels of Doom or Doom 2 for that matter on the PC the replay value of this game would be very low and the game itself may have even come across as boring, good choice by Midway to redo it. The anti-aliased levels are beautiful and creepy with their dark atmospheres and colored lights. The sprite monsters could have moved much more fluidly but it's still fun to pop a shell or two into their forehead. The music stands out the most from the original though, going from a midi based up beat theme to a more ambient creepy sound track, the game sounds good in every way.

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