Connect with us

News

REVIEW: DOOM Is Visceral, Hardcore and Genius

Published

on

Doom

DOOM is finally upon us. I have to admit, we were a bit worried when Bethesda decided to not send out review copies until the release day. (Usually a bad sign) However, we were pleased to find a very, very, very good game that will make any DOOM fanboy happy.

DOOM was one of the first shooters that I played as a kid. I remember blasting Nine Inch Nails and Ministry over my stereo while playing through the night ; tearing through legions of hell spawn on varying difficulty levels while chugging cases of Mountain Dew was pure perfection.

So how much of that nostalgia was rewarded with the recent release of DOOM? The answer is, every single bit. Well, minus the cases of Mountain Dew.

DOOM puts you back in the Praetor suit of “DoomGuy,” the space marine with no spoken words. When you begin the game you are thrust face first into the action with hell and all of its inhabitants spilling over into our dimension. Fanatical zealot, Olivia Pierce is trying her damnedest to open up a permanent portal from hell to our world.

Much like the classic DOOM, this one takes place at a mining facility on Mars. The Union Aerospace Corporation (UAC) is mining argent energy. You soon discover that argent energy is an insidious source and it is up to you to destroy it as well as Olivia Pierce.

DOOM has some fast, polished and liquid gameplay. You move much faster than you do in most first person shooters and that change is a welcome and rewarding one. The controller responsiveness is a match for the fast-pacing and a much needed tool when dealing with the amount of enemies that the game throws at you in the later missions.

Weapon and Praetor suit power ups are one of the biggest and most welcome changes to DOOM. You are now able to upgrade parts of your weapons that allow for things like explosive shotgun rounds, lock-on missiles, sniper scope and a whole lot more. Your suit is also upgradable with things like added protection from explosions, a better radar, (helps to locate secret areas) better equipment usage and a more. Secret areas also offer collectible DoomGuy figures, each one of these are different variations of the Praetor suit.

Glory Kills are one of my favorite new additions in DOOM. This allows you to rip stunned enemies to pieces in varying violent ways. Once blasted a certain amount of times demons will begin to blink, signaling you to move in for the Glory Kill. These range from ripping demons jaws open, ripping an arm off and beating them to death with it and curb stomping all hell out of them. There are a variety of Glory Kills that you can perform, depending on which body part you are aiming at when you initiate them. Glory Kills don’t just looks awesome, they also cause the enemy to drop health or ammo. That health might come in handy in a pinch. I know it has saved my butt more times than I can count.

Chainsaw

Rune Trials allow you to equip Runes that can do things like increase ammo, and make some abilities last longer. Rune Trials take you briefly into another dimension where you are tasked with a timed challenge. For example, killing 30 enemies within the time limit or killing a certain amount of demons with a special move if you are able to complete the challenge you are rewarded with a new rune to help you in the fight.

For the first time in a long time, secrets and challenges are imperative to getting full enjoyment out of the game. Weapon and Praetor suit points are rewarded when you discover a secret location or when you complete a challenge. These power ups go a long way to enabling you with more ammo, weapon attachments, more health and more armor. They aren’t a necessary part of the game but seeking them out will help out in later missions, especially if you are aiming to finish the game on a harder difficulty setting.

Bethesda and id took everything that you loved about the original DOOM and did the wisest thing they could have done with it. They kept it all intact. All the hell spawn you remember are all accounted for. Yep, that one too. They updated it for the current gen and the results are jaw-dropping, Mars and Hellscapes are works of art. Looking out at a vista are all wallpaper worthy scenes. Taking the original game and not changing the core elements, enemies or DoomGuy already makes this game a blast. Add in the fact that you can upgrade weapons and armor and this give us the best DOOM single player campaign we have seen.

There is a forgotten art at work here too. With recent shooters gamers have become accustom to grabbing some cover popping up, shooting and ducking back behind cover while waiting to regain health. DOOM takes you back to the days of needing to pickup health in order to heal. It also encourages you to run around and use movement as an ally instead of cover. If you stand still you die. It creates a sense of constant urgency and white-knuckle, sweaty palm action.

The games score is a perfect match as well and gives us a hardcore, synth-driven ambience that adds a kick-ass sound for you to rip and tear demons apart to. It gets to the point later in that game that when you hear that music cue up you invite the hoards in a very “bring it on” fashion. The music helps you become invincible, or at least think you are until DOOM decides to throw hells kitchen sink and five Hell Baron’s at you.

I wasn’t sure if going back to this nostalgic place in my heart was possible, but I was wrong. DOOM is enough of a perfect mix of old and new to cater to hardcore DOOM fans and newcomers alike. The developers really stuck to their guns on this one. They could have easily gone for the pop and shoot ways of current first person shooters; by doing things in the classic vein they have managed to reinvent the wheel again. DOOM is brilliant, bloody and visceral, it takes you to the depths of hell and gives the most badass metal experience you are likely to have this year in an FPS.

Look for our review of DOOM’s multiplayer and SnapMap up soon.

[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/KSZ4tSoumNk”]

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title