Fantastic game
Several months after DOOM 2016 ending the world has collapsed, overrun by demonic forces. After the Doom Slayer sent far away to an unknown location by Dr. Samuel Hayden, he returns with a fortress-like space station that serves as his headquarters. Now with 60% of the world consumed by demonic forces, the Slayer has to cease the invasion on earth by killing all three Hell Priests that seek to sacrifice all the human race.
As we all know DOOM is mainly known for its frenetic and brutal gameplay and in Eternal they've taken this to a whole new level. After getting a glimpse of what Eternal had to offer I began to comprehend why some people say that you can't really go back to DOOM 2016. When I said they've taken the gameplay to another level, I mean it. I'm convinced that Eternal is the most frenetic game that I've ever played. When about to start the third mission I sat back in my chair and realized my heart was pounding really fast and my hands were sweaty, this game will make you feel exhausted.
The gameplay core remains the same with major tweaks to make its gameplay even more frenetic. The combat system has been enhanced with a new 'minor' mechanic, now the Slayer utilizes a flamethrower/grenade launcher on his shoulder, that can be used to burn enemies that'll drop armor shards, or even froze them with ice bombs. However, it is the mobility that shines in Doom Eternal with its reworked system. Now the Slayer can dash a couple of times before had to be recharged and there is a grappling hook attached to the super shotgun making it possible to approach new combat methods. There are extra lives scattered throughout all levels that can be used as instant checkpoints if I can put it that way.
Unlike Doom 2016, Eternal makes it almost necessary to use all kinds of weapons and tools at your disposal to slay the different kinds of demons. Each enemy has a weak spot and to exploit that you need to use weapons combinations in order to defeat 'em. This just makes the game more interesting because it breaks that boring monotony of using just one weapon.
Unfortunately, ID Software got rid of the good n' old multiplayer modes such as team deathmatch, freeze tag, domination, etc. They've got replaced by the Battlemode. Battlemode consists of two players playing as demons and one taking the role of the Slayer.
The map design is relatively similar to its predecessor but now with slightly larger maps and more vertical combat arenas. One thing that bothered me a lot was the pace-breaking puzzles. After wiping the floor with some demons and left wanting more, many times the game just makes you abruptly stop your carnage to solve some unwanted puzzle. And for God's sake, why that purple goo?
If there's one thing about the missions that got me really happy is the fast travel option that you unlock after finishing the level. If you are like me who likes to search for every piece of collectible, this will definitely make you happy as well.
As I said at the beginning of my review, the Slayer is settled in some kind of space-fortress headquarter called Fortress of Doom and at the end of every mission, you return to the headquarter, and there you can unlock new skins for your Slayer, songs from previous ID Software games, upgrades, using sentinel batteries that'll find throughout the levels, and chill out in the "Slayer's room." Inside the Fortress of Doom, there's a lot of easter eggs from ID previous games such as the skull of Commander Keen, the soul cube from DOOM 3, etc. And by the way, you can play the entire DOOM I and DOOM II on the Slayer's PC, imagine playing Doom inside Doom.
Doom Eternal soundtrack, in my humble opinion, is the best that I've heard in years, Mick Gordon, composer of the previous title soundtrack for sure did a terrific job in Eternal. I doubt that without Mick's soundtrack Doom Eternal would be this great. You know whenever a soundtrack is great when makes you feel powerful and capable of taking down an entire army of demons with your bare hands.
