Game Review--Doom 3 (Switch)

"The board doesn't know the first thing about science.  All they want is something to make them more money, some product."
--Dr. Malcolm Betruger, Doom 3


Essentially a then-modern remake of the original Doom, which was later rebooted and remade in the 2016 Doom, Doom 3 retells the story of how the Union Aerospace Corporation's operations on Mars are disrupted when extraterrestrial demons from Hell breach a scientific facility.  The third entry in the series is noteworthy for its experimental take on the franchise material, which dabbles in survival horror and features more supporting characters than usual.  Dr. Betruger, Doom 3's version of what would later become Olivia Pierce in the following Doom reboot, has a far more constant presence in the story, and the UAC is portrayed as less powerless and corrupt than that of the newer game as well.

Production Values

The graphics have aged fairly well considering that Doom 3 was originally released in 2004, but the characters' facial animations in particular will remind experienced players that video game visuals have come a long way since the early 2000s.  It is actually the lighting system, often tied to the use of the player's flashlight, that stands out the most as far as realism is concerned.  In contrast to the graphics, the sound design seems more modern, but the audio does have one major weakness: the frequent voice acting is mediocre.

Gameplay

The survival horror atmosphere is notably missing from the subsequent Doom reboot, where the emphasis is placed on brutal action, but it is utilized well, usually by means of dark environments (sometimes very dark) and a flashlight mechanic.  The flashlight can be toggled on and off, lasting for a finite duration before it deactivates and recharges for several moments.  Unlike games such as the original Dementium, the Switch edition of Doom 3 allows you to use the flashlight and any weapon at the same time.

There is a fair amount of weapon variety, and many of the firearms will be familiar to experienced Doom players.  As you progress, you obtain a shotgun, an energy rifle, a rocket launcher, the infamously powerful BFG (short for "big fucking gun"), and several other weaponry options.  The Resurrection of Evil and Lost Mission expansion that is included with the Switch rerelease even features a "Grabber" device that allows you to lift objects in the environment and move or throw them--even enemy fireballs can be intercepted and thrown back.

The diversity in the weapon choices, however, does not translate to diverse level objectives.  For much of the game, players will repeatedly complete the same few tasks and kill the same kinds of enemies.  There are many times in the campaign and add-ons when specific PDAs must be found in order to unlock certain doors.  Repetition does not make gameplay itself bad, but it does mean there are obvious patterns that almost every in-game action falls into in some way.

Story

Mild spoilers are below!

A UAC base on Mars is visited by a marine and an investigator after a scientist's disappearance, at which point alien creatures from another dimension called Hell appear and begin killing or seemingly possessing workers.  The visiting marine finds he is the only one capable of repelling the invasion.  However, a base executive has defected to the demons' side, and he obtains a new form in Hell, where he resides after the main campaign.

In the Resurrection of Evil expansion pack, a team of marines are sent to investigate an area, resulting in them opening a door that could release the demons of Hell.  The Lost Mission expansion occurs during the main campaign and follows a lone soldier otherwise only shown in an early campaign cinematic as he tries to deactivate a portal left open in Hell.


Intellectual Content

The 2016 reboot of Doom features a fair amount of optional platforming-based exploration, but Doom 3 lacks this, even if the survival horror approach can better lend itself to cautious, more strategic progression.  Don't expect puzzles, collectible hunting, philosophical themes, or a deep representation of the franchise's lore.


Conclusion

The slower gameplay style and horror atmosphere of Doom 3 are not things many people associate with Doom, but differing from series norms does not mean a video game (or film) is lacking in quality.  Now that Switch owners are able to play Doom 3 and will soon be able to play almost every other Doom game, though, the differences will be obvious to anyone who plays them consecutively.  Doom 3 will likely appeal far more to those who enjoy unique creative choices than those who dislike changes to their favorite series.


Content:
 1.  Violence:  The outdated graphics soften some of the gore, but rooms occasionally have dismembered limbs or mutilated torsos laying around (or hanging down).  Shooting and killing enemies produces blood.
 2.  Profanity:  Infrequent, mild profanity such as "damn" is used.