How it looks
On the high graphic setting, I must confess the textures in Doom 3 look pretty good, but they're certainly not in the same league as Far Cry. It's really a shame the developers at id went to so much wasted effort in making these nice textures, as they really can't be seen. Doom 3 is one of the darkest, and I mean visually dark, games I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, it's so dark as to be unplayable. If you're wondering just how dark, take a look at Figure B, it's indicative of the typical illumination in the game.

FIGURE B


This dark landing platform is a typical setting in Doom 3. Roll over picture for a larger image.

All the screen shots in this article are untouched, taken directly from gameplay on High detail level, with all other graphic settings at the default level. You'll notice how dark the environment is. id was kind enough to include a Brightness setting in the graphic options, but you can only increase the brightness so much before light areas actually become contrast hot spots. These images were taken with the brightness on the middle setting. In Figure C, you can find one of the better-illuminated areas of the game, that is, until everything literally goes to Hell.

FIGURE C


This is about the best it gets. Roll over picture for a larger image.

After "the incident", there are power failures, power fluctuations, emergency power, and all different kinds of events that affect the environment of the game. Most of the time though, the power flickers on and off throughout the complex, giving you pretty much the kind of play you see in the two images shown in Figure D.

FIGURE D


Most of the time, the lights flicker on and off throughout the complex, as these two images show. Roll over picture for a larger image.

How it plays
To be honest, I had some pre-conceived notions when I purchased Doom 3, and only did so in a fit of boredom. I played the demo when it first came out and was less than impressed. At that time, I thought I'd take a pass on Doom 3, but after whipping Men of Valor in only a few days I was left feeling a bit peckish and needed further gaming stimulation.

I figured I'd need a bit of a system upgrade to tackle Half-Life 2, and I was pretty much tired of the whole WWII setting, so Pacific Assault was out. In the end, I decided to go ahead and give Doom 3 a shot. I can only take consolation in the fact that I'm able to write off the cost of the game as a business expense.

Yes, I actually paid for Doom 3. So don't go thinking id gave me this game and now I'm ripping on them. But even if they had, I tell it how I see it.

Doom 3 isn't THE worst game I've ever played, but it's close. In fact, it was so bad I didn't even finish the game. I made it about two-thirds of the way through and finally gave up, not because it was too hard, but because it was too boring.

If skulking from room to room in the dark, waiting for something to jump out at you is your idea of a fun game, then Doom 3 is definitely for you. If on the other hand, you like variety in your enemies and environments, then your money would be much better spent on the Half-Life Platinum Collection, containing all of the original retail releases of Half-Life, including Team Fortress Classic, Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Counterstrike.