DOOM, the first in a series of first-person shooters, is considered by many to be one of the most significant and influential titles in PC and video game history. Upon its initial release in 1993, the science-fiction horror themed shooter instantly became one of the most coveted old PC games on the market, receiving high praise from all the major video game critics, and being named Computer Gaming World’s 1994 game of the year. This game has stood the test of time as many video game reviewers, including Computer Gaming World, GameSpy, IGN, GameSpot and TIME have put DOOM on their list of the best and most influential video games of all time.
idSoftware, the workshop responsible for creating DOOM, was very pleased with the results, as they were making upwards of $100,000 a day off the title, which sold for only $9 per copy. Experts estimate that within two years of its launch, the game was played by up to twenty million people in the United States. DOOM was notorious for its high levels of graphic violence and inclusion of some satanic imagery, which stirred controversy from some groups, as Yahoo lists the game as one of the top ten most controversial games of all time. DOOM was among the first video games to ever be given the rating of M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
DOOM’s Revolutionary Gameplay Lead to Critical Success
One of the main reasons DOOM was set apart from its competition was its incorporation of realistic 3-D graphics. Of course, compared with the standard for modern gaming graphics, DOOM would seem primal and poor, but back then, the graphics were unbelievable, and the advancements made to the quality of 3-D were by far the best available. Additionally, DOOM was one of the first video games to successfully alter the graphics in a way that would affect the player. DOOM used darkness to frighten or confuse players, which was previously unheard of.
DOOM implemented many new features which greatly enhanced gameplay, including physically shape-shifting levels and a new sound system technology which made it possible for players to determine which direction a sound had come from. Players could now hear a grunt from a monster and know which way they needed to look to face it.
The storyline of this game is simple. Players must find a way to exit each level in the game to advance to the next level, and on the way, they will encounter hordes of monsters which they must kill with a myriad of weapons, ranging from bare fists to chainsaws, shotguns and plasma rifles. The player can also gain various power-ups throughout the course of the game, but the ultimate goal is to complete the final level and exit the old PC games.
Multiplayer Mode and Modifications
Aside from the single-player story, players could join forces in a cooperative multiplayer mode, or face off in a deathmatch between 2-4 players. Multiplayer mode required users to establish a network connection between PCs, but online multiplayer was eventually made possible.
Single-player and multiplayer modes were pertinent, but what really sets this game apart from all others is the ability for players to modify the game for their own desires. Doom was designed to be expandable, which meant players could design their own levels and upload them onto the DOOM system. The ability to create custom levels was a key contributor to the old PC games success.
DOOM, while bringing its fair share of controversy, was one of the most wildly popular games of the 1990’s, and the franchise which is gave way to has continued to become one of the most popular franchises of all time. The graphics, playability and allowance for modifications all made DOOM a fan favorite, and it remains well loved today.
