Doom 3 Review

Doom 3 Review
The fact that the Doom 3 engine is going to be one of the foundations for the next generation in PC gaming bodes well for the industry. Id Software has once again created a technological tour de force. The cramped corridors and rooms that make up the bulk of Doom 3 are incredibly realistic thanks in no small part to the real-time lighting effects that the game engine is capable of pulling off. Other games have done real-time lighting, but never before has it been so convincingly realized.

And the effect is put to good use throughout the entire game. The Martian research base that comprises the bulk of Doom 3’s levels is cramped, dingy, and filled with moody, flickering lights that often leave you wondering just what might be lurking in the shadows. In contrast, the Martial landscape (which you spend far too little time on) is convincingly lit with a single light source that casts harsh, realistic shadows everywhere.

This fantastic attention to detail carries over to the creature design. Although the creatures and objects can appear a bit boxy, the lighting, textures, and bump mapping all work in conjunction to create monsters that look more realistic than in any other game.

By far, the most impressive thing about the Doom 3 engine is how well it performs on a mid-range system. Even the lower detail settings look amazin