In recent years what is old is new again and games inspired by the FPS classics like Doom, Quake and Duke Nukem 3D are becoming more and more common. Games like Dusk, Amid Evil, and more are getting a lot of attention for their quality and polished design, as well as how much they bring back the feeling of playing classic FPS games in the ‘90s. Now a long-awaited game in this mould has been released, but is Prodeus any good, or does it not live up to what came before?
Prodeus, like many others of its kind, is inspired by the classic Doom games but also has a lot of modern ideas as well. The story is basic and there is not really much of a plot here, but to be honest, none is needed. You are taking guns and going after enemies and that is all that is needed.
Prodeus has some interesting visuals, and they look great on most platforms but have taken a noticeable hit on the Nintendo Switch version. It is not too bad, and the gameplay itself carries the experience, but you can tell the visuals are downgraded significantly. Another thing that is notable about the Switch version is that while many games of this nature, including the ports of Doom and Quake, have Gyro-assisted aiming, this is not present on Switch and can take a few minutes to adjust too, though there are aim assist options.
What does deserve praise is the level editor that is included in the game, which can be used to create some truly amazing maps and levels. The developers have even claimed that they created the entire game of Prodeus using just the level editor and I can believe that. There are numerous fan-created campaigns to check out and play, ranging from holiday-themed campaigns to recreations of classic Doom.
But how is the main campaign? Well, it is really fun actually. The weapons all have that excellent feeling of OOMPH or the impactful feeling that gives you a sense of satisfaction. The controls are easy to use, and the gameplay keeps increasing the intensity in the right increments. What feels especially good is that the game has both a genuine horror feeling and a feeling of being overpowered in the best way possible at the same time.
The gameplay loop encourages replaying older levels constantly to find more secrets once more is unlocked, and that calls to mind Powerslave: Exhumed as well. Prodeus has been described by some fans as the next step of the Doom-likes and it lives up to that reputation. Even the melee combat feels much more refined here and gives a minor sense of playing a beat ’em up at times.
Prodeus also featured excellent multiplayer modes that are great to spend some hours playing and while it may not be exactly like the classic LAN days, it represents a nostalgic feeling that is welcome for trying something new. And that is the best way to describe Prodeus, a nostalgic game that still tries new concepts and feels fresh. With amazing music that keeps you pumped, there is a constant desire to keep going as you play and that is an X factor many games cannot manage to have.
Prodeus is highly recommended to fans of FPS games, classic or new and those who just want a fun time. You can hardly go wrong with this one.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided