A First Look at Doom 3 (Doom 3 on sale at midnight tonight)

Time ^ | Jul. 15, 2004 | LEV GROSSMAN

[Skooz]

Sometime in 1993 I noticed a dramatic decline in my personal productivity. Also affected were my sleeping habits and personal hygiene. Same thing happened in 1996. It may or may not be a coincidence that 1993 was the year id Software released a video game called Doom, and 1996 was the year they put out Quake. Maybe there's a connection, maybe not. But I have a feeling it's going to happen all over again in about three weeks when id releases Doom 3.

If you've read this far, you probably already know what Doom 3 is — the next big game from id — and who id Software are — the spiritual and technological fathers of the modern video game as we know and love it. From the title you'd think Doom 3 was a sequel to the earlier Doom games, but you'd be wrong: It's actually a wholesale reimagining and retelling of the original Doom scenario. You're a Marine posted to a fancy-pants research facility on Mars. You show up, something goes really, phenomenally wrong, and suddenly you're squaring off against a crapload of demons.

The similarities to the original Doom end there. Doom 3 runs on all-new technology, and let's not mince words: there has never been a game that looks this good. I'm not sure what does it — the highly detailed textures, the fancy colored light and shadow-play, the all-new physics models, the "normal mapping" (whatever that is) — but id has created a virtual environment that's more compelling and immersive and realistic than really seems possible. Get up close to one of the demons and look at his skin: it gleams with a dull, matte, scaly sheen that's disturbingly lifelike. Warning: staring at demon skin up close may result in you being gutted like a fish.

Doom 3 is scary: A couple of times — embarrassing but true — I physically jerked my head back from the screen. But there's other good stuff in there, too: The id team has paid a lot more attention to storytelling and voice-acting in Doom 3 than they have in past games. This isn't just a run-and-gun scenario; there's actual plot points and stuff. There's a more cinematic sensibility at work too — watch for some nice virtual camerawork in the cut scenes. And of course, the creature design has that signature sick flair that one expects from id's artists, who almost certainly were badly mistreated as children.

More than this I can't say. id is keeping Doom 3 tightly under wraps until its release the week of August 2. But sit tight and you won't be disappointed. As for me, I've been to Hell and I survived, and I'll be going back just as soon as I possibly can. Hold my calls.

[Skooz]

Sooooo???????

[Bacon Man]

Wow just doesn't seem to cover it! Graphics are awesome. Sound and atmosphere are the spookiest I've seen in a game. The lights keep cutting in and out, you hear screams and carnage through the walls. I keep spinning around thinking I hear something coming up behind me. Several times I was right. It's made me jump more than once. I don't think I'm getting tired of this game anytime soon.

[Bacon Man]

Doom 3 runs very well on my system! I've been playing at 1024x768 at the next to highest quality setting and haven't noticed any video anomalies yet.

[Skooz]

Oh, just rub it in!!!!

[Bacon Man]

Oh, just rub it in!!!!

Ok . . . Best game ever!!!

I forgot to mention the awesome fragging effects. You blast a possessed human with the shotgun at point blank range and it rips the flesh off his bones around the point of impact. You see his skeleton as the body falls to the floor, after which it dissolves. It's a beautiful effect.

[RandallFlagg]

I have always thought the real genius of id software was allowing the "cheat codes".

Your wish is my command -mostly....

Console Commands

Press Ctrl+Alt+~(Tilde) to bring up the command console in a single player game:

God Mode= god
All weapons with full ammo, health and armor= give all
Walk through solid objects= noclip
Saves a demo of your playing to an AVI movie file= aviDemo
Game Benchmark= benchmark
Skip all levels to last= doomhell
Freeze all on screen= freeze
Graphicscard infomation= gfxinfo
Invisibility to most enemies= notarget
Acquire all the keys you'll ever need= give keys
Machinegun= give weapon_machinegun
Shotgun= give weapon_shotgun
Plasmagun= give weapon_plasmagun
BFG= give weapon_bfg
Chainsaw= give weapon_chainsaw
give weapon_rocketlauncher= give weapon_rocketlauncher
Your game status= status
Quit game= quit
Draws your Framerate.= com_showfps 1
Commit suicide= kill
Kills all Monsters= killmonsters
Max Ammo= give ammo
Max Health= give health
Chaingun= give weapon_chaingun

Spawn monsters/items

In the console (Ctrl+Alt+~) Type these in to spawn different monsters/weapons. You might want to use the "Notarget" code so they don't kill you right away.

Fat zombie= spawn monster_zombie_fat
"Yellow Jacket" Zombie= spawn monster_zombie_maint
Chaingun Zombie= spawn monster_zombie_commando_cgun
Tentacle Zombie= spawn monster_zombie_commando
Imp= spawn monster_demon_imp
Pinky Demon (Cyber dog)= spawn monster_demon_pinky
Trite demon= spawn monster_demon_trite
Maggot demon= spawn monster_demon_maggot
Hellknight demon= spawn monster_demon_hellknight
Tick demon= spawn monster_demon_tick
Arch-Vile demon= spawn monster_demon_archvile
Mancubus demon= spawn monster_demon_mancubus
Cacodemon... Demon= spawn monster_demon_cacodemon
Pistol= spawn weapon_pistol
BFG 9000= spawn weapon_bfg
Shotgun= spawn weapon_shotgun
Chaingun= spawn weapon_chaingun
Machinegun= spawn weapon_machinegun
Rocket Launcher= spawn weapon_rocketlauncher
Plasma Rifle= spawn weapon_plasmagun
Soul Cube= spawn weapon_soulcube

Easter Eggs

id Software PDA
In the final level, Excavation Site, after going down the elevator into Hell, stick to the left wall. Make sure to stay to the left, or the final cutscene will trigger. You should come to a dead end with candles barely lighting a brick with the id logo in the center. Click this brick and a wall will open to your left. Walk inside the room to find the id Software PDA containing "Thank You" emails from the staff.

I'm a member of Gamespot Complete and can post other information if anyone wants it from that site -and there's a LOT of stuff there. Just ping me and let me know.

Thusfar, the majority of complaints about this game is lack of suitable PC goodies or videocards to make the game run smooth, and multiplayer bogdown. Other than that, it's looking like they're nothing a few bug fixed can't take care of.

I'm waiting until all the patches and fixes are taken care of before I buy it.

[humblegunner]

Wow.. we've come a long way since "IDKFA"... ;-)

[humblegunner]

It's a beautiful effect

I hate you.

[Xenalyte]

So it's self-cleaning possessed human? Does it leave only the fresh scent of pine?

[RandallFlagg]

If you liked that, you're gonna love this:

[Badeye]

Thanks. I bought it yesterday. I'll post what I think of it when I get a moment to load it and play with it.

[Bacon Man]

So it's self-cleaning possessed human? Does it leave only the fresh scent of pine?

I wish! It'd help cover up the emanations of Bamboose the farting kitten!

[Hegewisch Dupa]

the emanations of Bamboose the farting kitten

Yes, it's too long to be a band name. But SOMEBODY'S got to be able to call their album that...

[Xenalyte]

This is a Bamboose, crushing his sister Pepper with his gigantic head. Of late, the little guy has taken to standing on Bacon and farting in the middle of the night.

[Bacon Man]

Ooooooo brainy goodness! Haven't seen that one yet.

Oh thanks for the cheat codes! This evening I wanna record game play so I can go back and look at stuff like this in slow motion.

[Bacon Man]

This is a Bamboose, crushing his sister Pepper with his gigantic head. Of late, the little guy has taken to standing on Bacon and farting in the middle of the night.

Tis true. This morning Pepper decided to join in the fart chorus, while I was holding her no less.

[antiRepublicrat]

You RULE!!!

BTW, cool name. King fan, huh?

[RandallFlagg]

Yeah. My Sister sez I look like Flagg, too.

[Bacon Man]

I hate you.

How is that possible? Doom3 is all about the love.

See this guy just wants a hug. :)

[StoneColdGOP]

IDKFA was always my favorite.