As it is, I think the experience of Doom 3 has been the best yet. Once the gates of hell are opened and all the familiar demons come pouring out, it is a harrowing and unnerving thrill ride. Each new level has you walking through dark and oppressive corridors, often times lined with blood. You never know what will happen next when you round the next corner; there could be a zombie jumping out from a dark corner, or an imp will materialize behind you. You seriously can't go far without having to look over your shoulder. Throughout the game, there's always an ominous and tense atmosphere. Overall, it is highly successful at keeping you on your toes, and much unlike the previous games, it really does feel like doom is coming. The only things that really ruin the experience will be the infamous flashlight issue (which, in the BFG edition, as available on the PS3, is not a problem at all, but the original game had it so that you always had to switch from your gun to your flashlight, and I'm sure that would have been irritating), and the fact that you're always running and gunning so much that it kills the atmosphere.
The best thing about Doom 3 is that the story is fully fleshed-out. Previous games had a very faint narrative to determine what level comes after what; this time, you are really put into the middle of things, and you're made to see first-hand how things got so bad (not too different from the beginning of Half-Life). There are actual characters to interact with, and the plot (as simple and short as it is) has you naturally progress through the Martian base to reach the final levels. In the final levels, the game pulls out a pretty neat plot device (and a neat gameplay mechanic) involving the Soulcube, which becomes necessary for the final boss.
All that being said, it is the same story as before, filled with all the same demons and monsters. Yep, the final boss is still the Cyberdemon. You still got to blast away an entire army of imps, cacodemons, lost souls, and other familiar beasts to get to it. However, everything receives a refreshing update; all the creatures feature new and genuinely scary designs, and there are a few new critters added to the mix. All your weapons are the same, but they look, feel, and shoot differently than before. Overall, it's like the ultimate remake of the original Doom, and I think it is a much-needed update, because Doom 3 accomplishes the storytelling and atmosphere the best.
Even after all this time, Doom 3 looks fantastic, with sharp and clean-looking graphics, and extremely lucid gameplay. Some have even said that the upgraded graphics in the BFG edition look better than most other modern-generations games (and I largely agree). The game is most notable for its lighting effects, which are highly effective and wicked. Designs for all the game's levels, settings, props, costumes, weapons, and creatures are phenomenal. Controls are intuitive and good (although, it's probably easier to cycle through the weapons on the PC than on the console). Sound effects are extremely creepy and wicked, and the music is brilliant too.
Doom 3 may just present more of the same, but it's all revamped and presented with a highly effective execution. For its effectiveness and presentation, I think it's the best of the series to date, and I'd encourage all serious gamers to give it a chance (with or without the screwy flashlight).
4/5 (Experience: Very Good | Story: Pretty Good | Game: Very Good)
I played this game as part of the BFG edition for the PS3. This version of the game includes enhanced graphics, more sound effects, and support for stereoscopic 3D (which is quite phenomenal). This edition also includes the Resurrection of Evil expansion pack, the Lost Mission expansion pack (which I believe is brand-new), and copies of Doom and Doom II.
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