The classic Doom games are some of the most loved FPS games of all time, but the true third entry in the series was one that not many got to play. Doom 3 may be called Doom 3, but that was a reboot of the series, with the true third entry being Doom 64, a game that continued on from Doom II and upped the ante considerably. While Doom 3 is known for its survival horror aspects, the trend toward horror actually began with Doom 64, but in a slightly different manner.
Doom 64 has the same basic style of gameplay as Doom and Doom II, but goes for a more atmospheric approach. The music worked in combination with the darker visuals gave you a more panicked and claustrophobic feel that managed to make Doom 64 stand out more. The new re-release for modern systems manages to keep this intact, even with changes made to allow the game to be more brightly lit, preserving the horror atmosphere of the original release. The music also has had minor tweaks here and there to remove the rough spots, and the sound is much more robust and full and gives you the claustrophobic feeling you want when playing this title. The game’s visuals have aged well and have had some nice polish applied to make them pop, and the lighting options allow you to truly experience them in all their greatness, rather than having to strain your eyes. A nice touch, but then again this port was developed by the masters at Nightdive.
In terms of Gameplay, Doom 64 holds up well, with the classic style of run n gun fps action, but taken up a level. The weapons are more intense, the secrets are more involved, and the levels have a lot more thought put into them, giving you new reason to explore. I was excited to see how the gyro controls would be implemented when playing on the Nintendo Switch, and I was not disappointed. The gyro controls work extremely well here, and manage to somewhat replicate mouse controls on console. It is not an exact replication mind you, and it can throw you off just as much as help you, but is a big asset when used right. The weapons are also bigger here, such as a more powerful chainsaw, and guns that have a bigger impact. The rumble feedback on controllers is great and brings you into the experience a great deal more. The only drawback, is that some weapons aren’t as useful as others.
This port of Doom 64 is a masterpiece and a great way to experience the final entry in the original Doom Trilogy. The developers even added a new epilogue level to expand the story, and there are achievements available even on the Switch. I implore you all to try this game, because it is a work of art that clearly had a lot of love put into it.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided.
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
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