Moving to Doom Eternal is vital, as the enemies are very fast, and the game further twists the dynamics, calling new opponents into the arena next to the hero. It also works for your benefit, allowing you to replenish your health, armor and ammo supplies in time, using brutal finishing, a flamethrower and a chainsaw. Of course, this is all balanced, because a chainsaw needs fuel, and the flamethrower takes a long time to recharge.
Weapons in Doom Eternal have two upgrade options that change the auxiliary shooting mode. So, a shotgun can be both a grenade launcher and a machine gun, which allows you to adapt to a particular enemy.
For example, a grenade launcher is ideal against cacodemons, because from one precise hit by a shell in the mouth it puts them into a state of stupor. The sniper mode at the machine with a single shot shoots a mancubus his massive gun on his hand. A plasma rifle quickly destroys the soldiers’ energy shields, causing them to explode, hitting everyone in the area. A freezing grenade is ideal against fast and invisible enemies, a reinforced glove breaks through steel armor, and sharp jerks allow you to dodge a kick ram attack and instantly be behind her – the most vulnerable spot.
Switching between guns, upgrades and shooting modes in time, you can deal with hordes of enemies much faster. A similar weapon system was in Halo: Combat Evolved, and it’s great that Doom Eternal uses the best practices of the genre.
When dealing with opponents and exploring locations, you will find numerous secrets, such as music from previous id Software games, extra lives (works as a resurrection in case the character runs out of health) and get special items that you can pump your abilities and weapons into.
Unlike Doom 2016, these optional, but really useful activities are made much more interesting. To get an item, you need to solve a fascinating riddle, and not just find a secluded place in an inconspicuous part of the map. And with the exception of a couple of points, the developers leave you access to all areas of the level using the system of opening cuts, which simplifies the study of locations.
id Software copes with the elements of adventure, and, frankly, from the next game I would like more courage in this direction. Eternal stubbornly goes towards full-fledged adventures in the style of metro-diving, so developers are simply obliged to add a gradually opening whole world and more complex bosses in the next game.
The only thing that really disappointed me was the lack of powerful bosses. In Doom 2016, the studio made some memorable huge opponents, but in Eternal, you are mainly played by mini-bosses, who then become ordinary enemies in a motley squad, and the levels often end with a meat fight in the arena, a short splash screen and return to the space station. Of course, there will be a couple of unique opponents, but in the sequel it is necessary to completely change this aspect.
Graphically, the game looks just great. Thanks to the new locations of the expanded lore, id Software artists were able to fully demonstrate their talent by presenting ancient temples, Gothic fortresses, destroyed megacities and magnificent cosmic landscapes consisting of pieces of levels rotating in space.
All this is complemented by a chic soundtrack from Mick Gordon, where there are atmospheric covers of cult classic themes.
At the same time, optimization is at an excellent level. At the maximum possible graphics settings in 4K with a dynamic resolution adjustment mode, the game always produces 60 frames per second for GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. The clarity of the image is unbelievable.
We did not see release versions for PS4 Pro and Xbox one x, but judging by the preview build, the image there is inferior in sharpness, but still impressive.
