It almost doesn't feel right to be reading about Doom
and not have the words congress, politicians, banned, or morally apprehensible attached to
it. It's one of those games that just doesn't want to die, and there's usually one or two
quotes a year from someone trying to draw a comparison to this FPS classic. One would
think they would move on by now.
Besides, it's a pain to get this game working on any modern PC. You almost need and
emulator, and that's just not for some people. They're left with one of the many console
ports, and the 32X has one of the weakest. While it does have an acceptable resolution,
decent frame rate, and easy controls, when you're missing an entire episode worth of
levels (and the ones included aren't always complete) and multiple enemies, something
isn't right.
Those are the major complaints. If it included everything, then there would be little to
complain about. This is a decent showcase for the 32X, proving it can handle what a
developer want to throw at it. The screen is scrunched down and boxed in a little
(conveniently not shown on the back of the box). It's not the worst you'll find, and it
doesn't affect the gameplay. You'll still be able to see all the weapon pick-ups and
enemies trying to slaughter you. Brief bouts of slowdown are here if things become
crowded. Though rare, it's worth mentioning.
The music has been cut down significantly, so much so that it's hard to even recognize
anymore. All of the sound effects are accounted for (including that always classic zombie
moan), and the sacrifice of music is likely to keep the game moving quickly. You'll still
be able to enjoy the sound of a demon splattering as he walks nest to a barrel, just don't
expect the wanted musical accompaniment.
There's not much left to discuss here. Doom can be dissected quickly and easily
since everyone reading this has taken a shot a raving mad zombie soldier. If the missing
levels are a problem for you, just head somewhere else. This is an average port, and not
the replacement for the PC version you're looking for.
