|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oo er, I think I need to change my trousers..., 16 May 2005
This game is PROPER creepy, particularly (and bizarrely) the score. It's not what you would call music, it's sort of... a menacing ambient drone, full of razor-on-blackboard noises and jarring chords. It fits the game perfectly, and adds to the cinematic experience. Sound effects, voice talent, cut scenes and the other none-game elements are also excellent.The bits of the game that are not creepy are just plain scary, and the game's programmers expertly underplay the shocks. If there was a huge snarling monster behind EVERY door it wouldn't be scary at all. But just like a good horror film, this game builds up the tension and leaves you dangling, and then lets you go with a huge sigh a relief. And then at other times it pounces out from the most unexpected and innocuous corner and shouts 'Boo' with a huge mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. Brilliant! This game rivals Code Veronica (Resident Evil) for genuine jumps in a game. Perhaps ELSPA should develop a rating system for the frequency and intensity of yelps and vertical take-offs the game will induce in the player? The game's graphics are nothing short of astonishing, and easily outclass Halo 2, particularly the character animation. The only down side is that the levels are a bit small, and too much of the combat is corridor and room based. A change of scenery would have been welcome. The gameplay is simple two-thumbstick FPS blasting, with few puzzles to get in the way. Most of the levels involve finding the key card or code that will get you through the door to find your way to the next level. On the way, kill everything that moves. If you can't see anything that moves, use your torch, but not for long, 'cause you can't use your torch and shoot at the same time! Oh for a miner's helmet... Overall, Doom 2 has reeks of quality like an over heated charnel house reeks of the putrid black stench of death (this game is obviously affecting me a bit too much). True, it's not the most complex or thought provoking game in the world, but it provides no-frills old-school blasting gameplay with such confidence and rock-solid quality that you won't care.
|