Already unquestionablyone of the highest-rated games of 2020Doom Eternalis bringing fans back with downloadable content that is so immersive and expansive that it can easily be confused with a full expansion. And if that’s not enough, the downloadable content isn’t even halfway done;The Ancient Gods Part 2is on the horizon. The content is unquestionably fun and, between the completionists and the Ultra-Nightmare live streamers, the entertainment has only begun.
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That being said, nothing in theDoomseries is a half-measure, and there are sure to be several things that fans love and hate. Tepid opinions are not welcome andThe Ancient Gods Part 1will be the source of both gushing praise and angry criticism. In an effort to categorize these bold opinions, this list aims to organize these strong feelings into what players are loving and hating about the new direction.
10Best: New Runes
There was a mild disappointment when fans found out that they wouldn’t be receiving any more primary guns. It’s fair to be a little grumpy about it, butthe game already has given the players an arsenal of incredible weapons.
And what has been introduced is possibly better than trying to master and mod out a new gun. Three new support runes are available and a few new abilities add plenty of customization value that adds depth to the combat sequences.
9Worst: Assumes Ported Game
The Ancient Gods Part 1can be attempted without completing the campaign. It should not be. This is about way more than spoilers, if the player has beaten the game on another console or deleted the old save file, the game will likely need to be completed again.
Players that attempt to beat the game without first getting through the campaign will feel like they are usingevery last drop of skill on nightmare modeeven when the game is on the easiest setting. The very first encounters are a smash in the teeth and without the weapon and armor upgrades, it will be nearly impossible to get through three full instances.
8Best: Beautiful Maps
There is absolutely nothing to complain about with the maps in this DLC. They are downright stunning and contrast nicely with the maps in the original campaign which were well done, yet sometimes suffered from having redundant aesthetics.
Each of these three maps is unique and varies from one another so that each location has its own incredible atmosphere. In between facing downsome of the hardest enemies in the game, make sure to sneak a few peeks at these well-crafted arenas.
7Worst: Platforming
Gamers on amission to findDoom Eternal’s most hidden detailsare going to have to pull off a series of absurd platform jumps and drops. Nothing changes inThe Ancient Gods: Part 1, complete with all of that clunky mid-air maneuvering.
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This is perplexing because the feedback about the platforming in the original game was widely criticized, so doubling down on it in the DLC is a head-scratcher. That’s not to say all platforming is bad, but the mechanics need to be drastically upgraded before giving players any more trust falls.
6Best: New Music
The music was one of the best parts ofDoom Eternal. The game was already destined for greatness. Not satisfied with greatness, composer Mick Gordon absolutely smashed the game into legendary status with his perfect head-banging jams that belong in the Hall of Fame for video game soundtracks.
Fans were saddened to learn that Mick Gordon and the development team parted ways, but new composer Andrew Hulshult did more than just fill the role. The new metal jams are equally brilliant and manage to sound synchronized with the existing game while still having their own unique heart-pounding flow.
5Worst: Precise Hit Locations
Do not conflate this criticism with the presence of new enemies; the work by the team to manufacture extra enemies is appreciated. But two of the new demons introduced have a very precise hit point that basically needs to be sniped.
Aside from one weapon’s alternate fire (which can hardly be described as a sniper rifle), there is no way to deal with these targets well. Buckle up,Doom Eternalfans,the most horrifying enemies in the gamejust got even more horrific.
4Best: Meaningful Plot
The plot has been steadily getting better in theDoomseries with every new release. The Slayer is no longer some decommissioned engineer angry about the death of his pet bunny. There area few plot holes that need to be mended, but at least now there is a plot to have holes in.
The plot ofThe Ancient Gods: Part 1has objectively improved. There are no more prolonged fetch quests. Each of the three deployments feels necessary and they powerfully move the story forward. It’s a welcome improvement, especially with more story advancement coming right around the corner.
3Worst: Even Higher Difficulty
Thought ultra-nightmare was a tough task inDoom Eternal? That was nothing. Even with full upgrades from the campaign, pro players that are attemptingThe Ancient Gods: Part 1are reaching triple-digit death counts before finishing map number one.
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Usingevery tip and trick in the book to beat ultra-nightmareis a requirement, not helpful advice anymore. Controllers and keyboards beware, the ripping and tearing won’t only be confined to the in-game experience after these encounters start farming the players that attempt them for hours on end.
2Best: Anticipation For The Ancient Gods Part 2
As much as players were looking forward toThe Ancient Gods: Part 1, they knew about what to expect in terms of enemies and game design. They got what they wanted. The game meets and then exceeds expectations.
The ending, however, leaves gamers with absolutely no idea what is coming around the corner. With two significant enemies manifesting at the conclusion, there is a real chance that the Slayer won’t even be battling demons in the next installation. Or maybe he will, who knows? That’s the joy of bewilderment!
1Worst: Bridges Burned
Big spoilers are coming up here in this last section. So anyone that hasn’t played should avert their eyes now before getting down to the last paragraph. It’s a heartbreaking doozy, especially for gamers who have been following along sinceDoom(2016).
VEGA, Hayden, and the Slayer have had a contentious friendship for the entire series, but the disagreements finally got the best of them in a final showdown. Dialogue indicates that Hayden and The Father may or may not be at war with the Slayer, but, at the very least, their alliance with the Doomguy appears to have ended tragically.
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