DOOM 64 Review Summary

Classic DOOM feel: The game captures the essence of the classic DOOM games, providing a nostalgic experience for fans. It is praised for its faithfulness to the original DOOM gameplay and atmosphere, making it a worthy successor in the series.

Excellent level design: The level design is highlighted as a strong point, with well-designed and thoughtful levels. The puzzles and labyrinths are also noted for being interesting and well-integrated.

Positive overall reception: The game is generally well-received, with many players finding it enjoyable and worth playing. The gameplay and combat are highlighted as particularly strong points.

New spin on Doom franchise: The game introduces new elements to the Doom franchise, offering a fresh take while still being a direct sequel to Doom 2. It is seen as a good addition to the series with a new story and unique atmosphere.

Strong sound design: The game's sound design is praised for its ambient approach, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The music and sound effects contribute to a gloomy and frightening experience.

Confusing level design: Many players found the level design to be confusing, maze-like, and non-intuitive. Some levels have frustrating navigation and occasionally feel small or uninteresting.

Overly cryptic puzzles: Puzzles in the game can be overly cryptic and confusing, leading to frustration. Some puzzles are not straightforward and can feel convoluted or esoteric.

Missing weapon animations: The game lacks weapon animations, particularly for shotguns. This includes missing cocking and reloading animations, which can be disappointing.

Not as fun as previous games: The game is considered not as fun or polished as previous entries in the series, such as Doom 1 and Doom 2. It is often seen as the worst among the Doom games and lacks novelty.

Repetitive and bad music: The music in the game is repetitive and lacks distinction between levels. It is often described as mediocre and not memorable.

Maze-like level design: The game features complex, maze-like levels that often require backtracking and puzzle-solving. These levels are filled with corridors, open rooms, and various interactive elements like switches and teleporters.

Classic DOOM gameplay: The game retains the classic DOOM gameplay, including various weapons and enemies from the original DOOM. It offers an old-school combat experience similar to DOOM I and DOOM II.

Fast-paced gameplay: The game offers fast-paced, hardcore gameplay typical of first-person shooters. The combat is relentless and action-packed.

Puzzle-solving elements: The game incorporates puzzle-solving elements such as mechanisms, bridges, and switches. These puzzles add an extra layer of challenge and engagement to the gameplay.

Boomer shooter genre: The game is a classic boomer shooter, combining the speed of classic shooters with a dark and oppressive atmosphere. It falls under the retro shooter category.

Technical improvements and enhancements: The game features various technical upgrades and enhancements, making it a technically impressive port compared to the original.

High frame rate and anti-aliasing: The game offers high frame rate and various anti-aliasing options, contributing to smoother and more visually appealing gameplay.

Frequent crashes and stability issues: The game experiences frequent crashes and stability issues, including problems during launch and specific levels causing system freezes.

Smooth performance on Steam Deck: The game runs flawlessly and smoothly on the Steam Deck, providing a good gaming experience on this platform.

Performance issues with Vulkan: Using the Vulkan renderer introduces input delay, while the OpenGL renderer does not have this issue, affecting the overall performance.

Recommended for Doom fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of classic Doom and retro shooters. It is praised for its nostalgic value and similarity to the original Doom games.

Worth playing on sale: Several reviews mention that the game is worth getting, especially at a discounted price. It is seen as a good bargain during sales.

Nostalgic value: The game is recommended for those feeling nostalgic about old-school shooters and the classic Doom series. It appeals to collectors and those looking for a nostalgic experience.

Play Doom 2 first: Some reviewers suggest playing Doom 2 before this game. They recommend it for those who enjoyed the classic Doom games.

Mod and alternative suggestions: A few reviews suggest playing mods or other versions of Doom games instead. They mention specific mods and alternatives like the Retribution mod for GZDoom.

Steam Deck: The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, with many users reporting a seamless experience. However, there are some issues with controller support and the need to use Proton Experimental to fix dropped inputs, which adds some friction to the user experience.