Love and the BFG 9000..
Posted on 08/02/2004 6:48:50 AM PDT by 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.
I hate you too!
Play the game, feel the love. ;)
Damn! Sweeeeeet.
Okay, that is just UNcool. You got fumed.
He just wants to be loved . . . is that so wrong?
Cool pics!
Anyone get this game yet? I'm looking at the gamespot.com forums and a majority of players are loving it. Mods are being made and it's taking tons of memory to run in detailed mode.
I just got it last night. I just recently upgraded my machine to an Athlon XP 2500+ w/ GeForce4 video and it is being taxed to run at 800x600. I'll probably have to move down to 640x480.
But, the detail is impressive. Moreso is the mood the game sets. It sets a mood like a true horror movie, but with the elements of being there first person. I've played very little so far, but it is amazing in the atmosphere it creates. I'm still trying to figure out gameplay and might try to drop into multiplayer later today just to see what that's like.
Gotta say it rocks! Haven't seen a whole lot of daylight this weekend because of it.
It's also very dark in plenty of the levels. You have to switch from the flashlight to a weapon pretty damn quick sometimes. I can't really emphasize enough how much the sound of the whispering voices, demon howls and machinery noise add to the tense atmosphere throughtout the course of the game. I could go on, but it's something that needs to be experienced firsthand. If you're a gamer you'll enjoy this game.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.