I don’t think that I am alone when I say that I like fun things. I enjoy having fun with other people, or by myself; I am perfectly comfortable with going to watch a movie by myself.
Some experiences are meant to be experienced by yourself. A prime example of this is the video game “Doom: Eternal.” For the older people in the audience, if the name “Doom” rang a bell, then you already know what series I am talking about.
The “Doom” series started out the 1990s as a cutting-edge first-person shooter that saw you, the player, go through multiple levels, clearing the Mars base (and later Hell) of demons. The series was thought to be dead after 2004’s disappointing “Doom 3,” but it was brought back in 2016 with the soft-reboot titled “Doom.”
The game garnered universal acclaim due to the fast-paced action and the modernized retro game mechanics, like structured levels, good enemy variety and other things of this nature. Then, in 2019, “Doom: Eternal” was released to even larger acclaim than before, with most reviewers highlighting the ludicrous-speed gameplay, added weapon variety, added enemy variety, gorgeous landscapes, enhanced mechanics and deeper story.
This is personally my favorite Doom game, as it feels like the right amount of heart-pumping action and wish fulfillment, that scratches the itch of, “I’m not stuck in here with you, you are stuck in here with me” (“Watchmen,” 2009), an itch that doesn’t get scratched often.
The most core part of this is that you have to play the campaign by yourself; there is not even local cooperative play available to the player, and rightfully so, as it would detract from the experience. Not to mention that it would be a visual nightmare for any player.
Some experiences are meant to be experienced as a party of one.
