FINAL DOOM

Developer

Williams

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Distributer

GTI

1-2 Players

Game Type

Shoot-em-up

Mem. Card

Review Date

Oct 1996

Link-up

Setting the Scene

As a big fan of the original DooM, I have been waiting with baited breath for the next and last chapter. Will it live up to the great expectations, only one way to find out.......read on:
So here we go for the very last time, as we enter the world of FINAL DooM. For those of you who have been in the world of Sleeping Beauty for the last few years, DooM was the first game to spawn the now endless world of Virtual Reality Adventures.

In Final DooM you are once again the Hard Nut soldier with a mission to single handedly save the world from the invasion of the Monsters from Hell. You will need all your toughness and brain power(and a good few pairs of boxer shorts) to make it to the end alive!

Genre

It's Doom and it's Final.

Graphics

FINAL DooM has the same cast of Baddies as seen in the previous DooM games but you will find them more clearly defined this time around. The characters don't seem quite so blocky when they are near you as they did in the first Playstation version and you will find they are far quicker and fire more accurately.

The texture of the walls and doors have been smoothed out and new panoramic scenery has been added, such as the new night-time skylines. As you travel through the new 30+ levels you find the same Skull Keys, First Aid Kits and ammo as previously but as it is a sequel this is no surprise.

What is a little disappointing is that there are no new enemies for you to pit your wits against. I can only put this down to the fact that they see this as such a successful formula that they found no reason to change it.

Sounds and Effects

The Music and Sound F.X are where FINAL DooM (like DooM) wins hands down over all of its rivals, as they have once again managed to capture the, on the edge of the seat feeling.

The music is similar to Doom with subtle changes to keep you on the edge of your seat right from the off. For those(if any) of you who are new to the game, why not try locking the doors, closing the curtains, turning off the lights, cranking up the volume on your T.V. and enjoy as you crap your pants time and time again.

GT have stuck with their winning formula and therefore you will need to use those ears almost as much as your eyes. Listen out for the Monsters attacking you from the Rear (although your not likely to miss this as time after time you're sent from the comfort of your sofa - six feet into the air) and make sure your always alert as you might just have walked over the sensor that opens the door to the all important Blue Key - but where did those Monsters appear from?

Playability

FINAL DooM has lost non of its predecessors brilliance. Just as in the original game, I don't want to put this game down until all the levels have been completed on the hardest setting at least ten times.

There are three new sets of levels and this should keep most people busy for a few weeks at least. These are The Master Levels (best of the levels created for the Internet), TNT and Plutonia (the brand new levels by the original designers). The new levels start at about the same difficulty as DooM II finished, so if you managed to conquer that you should be quite at home. If you didn't then maybe you should start on the I am a wimp setting as this will be challenging enough.

On the disappointing side, there are only 30 levels available on the new disk as opposed to gossip prior to the release and thus you may finish the game much quicker than DooM.


To counteract this though the level have been made much bigger and far more testing. The makers have also introduced the option to use the mouse, which should please those who spent months playing the PC version as this will make you feel more at home.

Value for Money

FINAL DooM has brought back more of the tried and tested formula of the DooM series. If you appreciated the previous games then this is for you, but if your new to DooM, then you may be better off purchasing the original game as it starts a little easier giving you a chance to get used to the gameplay. You will also get a lot more levels in the original but FINAL DooM provides a far stiffer challenge.

Opinion

DAVE

GRAPHICS:

Brilliant

Final DooM completed on Ultra Violence. Haven`t found any secret levels and am only short a couple of secrets on the levels 9,28,29. I found completion easier than original DooM but I was well practised at that game. 2 player link up is still the best way play DooM.

SOUND:

Brilliant

PLAYABILITY:

Good

VALUE:

Good

OVERALL
8/10

MARTIN

GRAPHICS:

Good

What....! Doom with no secret levels. Someone's taking the piss!

SOUND:

Brilliant

PLAYABILITY:

Good

VALUE:

Good

OVERALL
7/10