- Doom Eternal is the epitome of a power fantasy in the first-person shooter genre.
- Between the gunplay, soundtrack, and lore, the game perfectly encapsulates the feeling of stepping into the shoes of the ultimate being.
- The core combat also remains incredibly satisfying, with a high skill ceiling keeping players coming back.
The Doom franchise is often given credit for much of the first-person shooter genre’s success. Being remembered as one of the forefathers of the genre, the series’ legacy is etched deeply into modern first-person shooters.
Having just finished Doom: The Dark Ages on Game Pass recently, I consider all three of the last games incredibly strong entries in their own right. However, I also believe that Doom Eternal stands head and shoulders above the other games as the ultimate power fantasy.
Why it matters: Doom: The Dark Ages is bigger than past games, but its predecessor remains my personal favorite.
Rip And Tear
Doom Eternal, more than any other game in the series, is about embodying the Doom Slayer, a larger-than-life figure in the Doom mythos.
The game practically overwhelms the players with tools to ‘Rip and Tear.’ In many ways, it lets you become the final boss, only demanding mastery over the core shooting mechanics in return.
This tagline alone sold millions of players on the game, and for those still on the fence, Doom Eternal can be easily accessed by buying Xbox Game Pass Core on Eneba, a trusted digital marketplace.
Between glory kills, two different types of grenades, the BFG, a recharging chainsaw, and the Crucible, Doom Eternal throws so many tools at players that it can often become overwhelming.
These tools are complemented by meticulously laid out platforming structures, a rechargeable quick dash, and seven main weapons that all feature unique mods designed to counter specific enemies. However, this is somehow far from everything in the core combat loop.
The game is relentless in its pacing and expects players to live up to the Doom Slayer’s reputation of being the grim reaper to the forces of hell. There is a reason, after all, that he is the only thing they fear, and I love that Doom Eternal adopts the ‘show, don’t tell’ approach in this matter.
When used together, these tools make quick work of the forces of hell. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as eliminating demon after demon while rapidly switching between weapons like the Super Shotgun and Ballista (my personal favorite combo on Nightmare difficulty).
During my most memorable moments with Doom Eternal, I felt an unparalleled sense of adrenaline rushing through me as I blasted demons after latching on to them with the Super Shotgun’s Meat Hook. Simply put, the core combat loop is a work of art that very few games can rival.
Music That Pumps Your Soul With Adrenaline
You don’t need to take my word for how good the series’ soundtrack is, but Doom and Mick Gordon really were a match made in heaven. Doom 2016’s soundtrack was already full of heavy metal goodness, but the Australian composer truly outdid himself with his work on the follow-up.
Each track in Doom Eternal emanates a sense of raw, brute force fitting of the Doom Slayer. When paired with pivotal moments like the Doom Slayer’s first use of the Crucible, tracks like ‘The Only Thing They Fear Is You’ make for an unforgettable experience.
Mick Gordon’s expertly crafted soundtrack serves as the perfect companion to the player’s rage-fueled mayhem through Doom Eternal, and the lack of his personal touch is felt greatly when playing Doom: The Dark Ages.
Expanding The Doom Lore
Having completed the base game, I thought Doom Eternal had played all its cards. After all, there’s only so much a game can do before it runs out of steam. However, Doom Eternal’s DLC impressed me in ways I never saw coming.
Not only did id Software dial the gameplay up a notch yet again for the DLC, but the team also managed to hook me with the narrative side of the series through The Ancient Gods DLC.
Learning about Samur Maykr and the origins of the Doom Slayer was fascinating for me. The DLC also ended on an incredibly high note, culminating in an epic showdown with Davoth, the Dark Lord.
This character serves as the perfect mirror to the Doom Slayer’s character, both literally and thematically, and I immediately wanted to learn more about him after wrapping up the DLC.
There’s a lot more to praise about Doom Eternal, but the brutally satisfying gameplay and captivating lore speak for themselves. If you have somehow yet to delve into the carnage of Doom Eternal, Eneba digital marketplace makes it incredibly easy to jump in and experience the game firsthand.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.