by Ryan Coby

Created on: February 28, 2008

I remember playing the first Doom, lights out and sound turned up, on my computer in my room when I was in high school. There was something frightening and exciting about putting yourself in the shoes of a marine fighting against zombies and demons from Hell. It was an instant classic and fanboys everywhere scrambled to buy the sequels. When it was announced that Doom 3 would be coming out on Xbox I was a little concerned that the grittiness of the original would be lost in translation on the newer generation console. However, a hardcore fan of horror and video games, I caved in and purchased the latest installment of the Doom franchise.

After only five minutes of playing Doom 3 I was completely astonished and blown away by the graphics and sound effects. Just like the original the player is first pitted against zombies as a foreshadowing of the madness to ensue but the biggest difference this time around is the A.I. The enemies are smarter and more aggressive than any of the original chapters and as you sneak through darkened hallways you can't help but tighten your grip on the controller in anticipation of what might be lurking around the next corner. The lighting in Doom 3 is the primary factor that gets the player's heart pounding. Taking a hint from the survival horror genre the makers of Doom 3 made it nearly impossible to maneuver and survive without the use of the always trusty flashlight. There were times when I was playing that I was too scared to switch to another weapon because it was easier to run away and see where I was headed than to turn out the lights and face the demonic nightmares.

It would be a huge injustice to the game not to mention the horrifying sounds that echo throughout the empty halls. Growls, grunts, and groans are sharp and will have you turning every which way to find the source of the horrendous cacophony. Even mechanical sounds, such as steam hissing or distant explosions, will make you jump. The intensity of the first game has remained but the creators upped the ante with a much darker and realistic atmosphere.

The aforementioned zombies aren't the only creatures lurking around in the Doom 3 universe. If you've played the original then you are already familiar with the variety of demons and how they tend to get larger and harder to take down as you move through the game. If you've never had the experience of facing the denizens of Hell, then let me tell you now, after the zombies there is nothing worse than running into a fire throwing Imp with insect eyes and inhuman speed. From there it only gets worse and the monsters become faster and uglier. The only downside to this game is that it's difficult from the beginning not only because the enemies are more intelligent but also due to scarce ammo. You could use your flashlight to pummel a demon to death but that would be like trying to smash down a steel door with a rubber mallet. As difficult as it is, and sometimes frustrating, this only adds to the challenge and the fear that it creates.

Doom 3 has more than earned its spot next to classics of the first person shooter genre. It's recommended for best results to turn out the lights and turn up the volume of your television. Be prepared for a horrifying ride through the eyes of a space marine as he battles the legions of Hell armed only with a few firearms, a flashlight, and the will to survive. If you thought you'd played scary games before you haven't seen anything yet.

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