Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Indurated polished steel walls, semi-organic bloody detonations, crepitating lightning over a grisly gore pool, showered by sparks, reflected on the semi-glistening stonework landing. These kinds of scenes, and many more, like an unholy marriage of Doom 3's high-tech with Quake 3's crimson morbidity, rendered at breakneck framerates. It lacks the kaleidoscopic brilliance and charm of the original, but this engine is packing serious programming prowess, and has the art direction to match the muscle.

As is the design case du jour, this new Doom is mostly silent on the musical score front, punctuated by variously remixed excerpts from a single song, which was composed by a fellow named Mick Gordon. Grinding, moribund, and lacking nearly any semblance of melody, it is the closest thing to 90s industrial grunge this side of Nine Inch Nails. The lack of a metal soundtrack, such as that featured in the original title or even more recently in the excellent "Rise of the Triad" remake, is a downer. But the sound effect work is impactful and supplies at least some aural character.

The game Doom 3 should have been; this new Doom drops players into large maps with the most functional 3d automapping since Metroid Prime, whereupon the player kills demons, gaining back health with Brutal Doom-style execution moves. Just like the original title, the game's flow alternates between bouts of intense combat, followed by "where am I?", key-nabbing exploration segments. Older gamers will roll their eyes at additions such as "parkour", collectibles, optional challenges, and weapon upgrades, but they are tastefully implemented even if they do feel somewhat unnecessary.

What makes this new Doom stand out is its bounteousness as a package. First, there is the primary campaign mode, with its intricate maps and berserk action; then there is the fast-paced, double jumping, rocket play deathmatch, with Call of Duty-like leveling mechanics; and at the meridian, and almost unbelievably, a Timesplitters-style map editor wrapped with a Super Mario Maker-like hub! It's not difficult to imagine this title's core as a true re-imagining of the original formula, in contrast with its Quake 3-like, modernistic makeover. And indeed, what a treat that would have been! But even standing as it is, this new Doom is the most complete first-person shooter since 1998's "Unreal".