An improved version of an established classic, sounds good in theory. Does Doom64 deliver the goods though? Not at all.

Gameplay When Doom was released the controls were simple, strafe, shoot, open and run, these were your basic controls. Even with a keyboard one could progress quite easily because the controls were so simple. Unfortunately when applied to a n64 joystick something goes horribly wrong. First of all, the control scheme is set up unbelievably poor, how am i supposed to strafe left using L when i have my hand on the stick? Every time you start up you have to fix this problem before you play, don't worry though you won't be playing it much anyway. The second gripe would be that in the 3+ years between Doom and Doom64 many innovations in the first person shooter have occured, Doom64 seems like a blast from the past. No jump button, no method of aiming, no real strategy elements and what the hell am i doing, theres no point to it all! I could go on but i fear i may have started to become incoherent.

Graphics Looks like it uses about 3% of my N64's hardware. They tried to make it pretty by changing all the old 2d enemies with 3d rendered, ugly, blurry, messy characters, good choice. The enemies never animated all that well before but now it just seems worse. The new levels rarely look any better than those from the computer version, im always stuck in the same nondescript inclosed areas. Which is another thing, where the hell am I? In games like Goldeneye or Duke Nukem3d, it was easy to tell where you were, but in Doom64 one wonders what kind of place anywhere would just be a series of closed off areas with no recognizable landscapes or clear real life goals. Why should i do anything at all if Midway/Id won't at least try to suspend my sense of disbelief?

Sounds Doom at least had a few catchy tunes, the same can't be said of Doom64. All the sounds have been changed slightly, you wont even notice the sound while you play, it's that mundane.

Replay Value HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..... geez, why did i bother doing this section at all? There is no replay value at all because there is no excuse to be playing it in the first place. One of the worst experiences i've ever had with a game. Send complaints to: [email protected]

N0control