Doom is a legendary video game series that has inspired countless other games and aspects of pop culture, but adaptations of the games have never been successful. The 2005 movie was mediocre at best, and id software seems to be distancing themselves from the new film. There was also the infamous Doom comic, but that is more well known for its unintentional(?) hilarity than anything else.
There is not any official adaptation that has been successful when it comes to Doom, but what about other original works that end up serving as the adaptation we want despite not having connections to Doom?
Goblin Slayer debuted in 2016 as a light novel series and has since been adapted into manga and anime, and the series has gained a devoted fanbase. The main character is the titular Goblin Slayer, who has devoted himself to destroying the goblin menace, Other figures often wonder why he bothers with what is seen as a minor threat, but the series shows just how needed he is, What is more interesting though is just how much the series seems to feel like an anime version of Doom.
The way violence is depicted and the necessity of the Goblin Slayer call to mind the most recent Doom games, and both series feature a protagonist that is single minded against a specific threat. But with both protagonists, there is more to them than meets the eye. Goblin Slayer has a fleshed out backstory that explains why he is the way he is, and Doom Slayer is given much more characterization in subtle ways in the new Doom game.
Of course Goblin Slayer himself is a bit more rounded than the Doom Slayer, and there is a supporting cast, but a more fleshed out story is needed considering the medium involved. If we look at Goblin Slayer as the unofficial adaptation of the new Doom games, it syncs up somewhat and feels like an expanded story. We get to see what the protagonist is like with other characters and with a a backstory. Even with the single minded pursuit of their goals, we have seen how they do have human qualities. Goblin Slayer in his interactions with others, and Doom Slayer with his physical mannerisms and disgust at the situation he finds himself in, along with his saving VEGA, when he didn’t need to.
So as we see, both works touch on themes of the unending fight against an otherworldly menace but also explore the person fighting. It is also interesting to see how both show how the fight changes the person as well. Goblin Slayer has some issues interacting with others and is trained mainly for goblins, while the Doom Slayer is so consumed by his quest that he has entered a state of rage where he is in fact always calm.
This of course isnt going into the actual fights and action that call to mind id software’s masterpiece, but I feel the point has been made. Goblin Slayer is indeed the Doom adaptation that best captures the spirit of the games, even if it isn’t an official adaptation
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of ROG or its staff