Dive into 15 Minutes of Electrifying 'DOOM Eternal' Gameplay

A Glimpse Before the Release

Before its official release on March 20th, fans were treated to an exclusive preview of the first three levels of DOOM Eternal. Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda, this game is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 DOOM reboot. The initial impressions are overwhelmingly positive, with the new game offering a faster and more refined experience.

New Mechanics and Features

DOOM Eternal introduces a plethora of new mechanics that significantly enhance gameplay. The demo, which covers the first three levels (approximately three hours of gameplay), showcases these new features:

• Dash Ability: This new feature allows players to zip around the battlefield with incredible speed. Limited to two charges with a quick recharge time, it can be used for dodging, closing gaps, and making long jumps.
• Wall Climbing and Swinging Poles: These additions make the game world more explorable and open. Secret areas are now more challenging to reach, requiring a combination of agility and brainpower.
• Environmental Tools: Beyond explosive barrels, players can now use swinging axes, movable bombs, and platforms that fall after a few seconds to their advantage.
• New Weapons and Abilities: The Ice Bomb freezes enemies, the Flame Belch sets them on fire to drop armor, and the Blood Punch delivers a powerful melee attack. Slayer Challenges offer difficult repeatable areas that reward Weapon Upgrade Points.

One of the most exciting new features is the ability to control and play as a Revenant, adding a fresh twist to the gameplay.

Returning Favorites

While DOOM Eternal introduces many new elements, it also retains several beloved features from the 2016 game:

• Weapons and Mods: Familiar weapons like the Shotgun, Super Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, Heavy Cannon, and Plasma Cannon return, along with the iconic chainsaw. Weapon Mods remain two per weapon, with a third tier unlocked via challenges.
• Level Challenges and Enemies: Classic enemies like the Mancubus and Revenant are back, now with specific weak points that can be targeted to disable their abilities.
• Glory Kills: These brutal finishing moves make a triumphant return, adding to the game's visceral combat experience.

Enhanced Upgrades and Progression

DOOM Eternal revamps its upgrade systems to offer more depth and customization:

• Health, Ammo, and Armor Upgrades: These are now tied to ability upgrades and earned through Sentinel Crystals, a new resource found throughout the game.
• Praetor Suit Tokens: The system now features five categories instead of three, including upgrades for Exploration, Fundamentals, Environment, Ice Bomb, and Frag Grenade.
• Runes: These powerful enhancements are back and more potent than ever. For example, a rune that boosts speed during Glory Kills is significantly faster than in the previous game.

For completionists, the game now condenses total level progress, including challenges, Slayer areas, secrets, and enemies destroyed, onto a single bar, making it easier to track progress.

The Soundtrack

No DOOM sequel would be complete without Mick Gordon's iconic soundtrack. The heavy metal guitars are back in full force, providing an intense backdrop to the DOOM Slayer's mayhem. Gordon's all-out style shines during combat, but the ambient tracks between levels are equally impressive.

For more insights into Mick Gordon's work, check out this detailed presentation and the best video game music of all time.

Conclusion

DOOM Eternal promises to be a worthy successor to the 2016 reboot, with faster gameplay, new mechanics, and a host of returning favorites. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, this game is set to deliver an unforgettable experience.

Interesting Stats

• DOOM Eternal's Development: The game took approximately four years to develop, with a team of over 200 people working on it. (Source: Polygon)
• Sales Figures: Within its first week of release, DOOM Eternal sold over 700,000 copies on PC alone, making it one of the fastest-selling games in the franchise. (Source: PC Gamer)
• Player Engagement: On average, players spend about 20 hours to complete the main campaign, with completionists spending up to 30 hours to find all secrets and complete all challenges. (Source: How Long to Beat)

These stats highlight the game's significant impact and the dedication of its player base.