As it stands, it seems the Xbox version will produce the terrifying scares and impressive visuals we all saw on our PC monitors last year, and although it won’t have the super high resolution or mouse precision of the PC version, Doom 3 for the Xbox looks like it will come with some tasty surprises and extras.
Doom 3 will place players in the role of a military marine, bound to a Mars research facility. Problems arise however, when all things literally go to hell, as demons and other inexplicable creatures infest the facility, leaving our poor marine to fight his way out. The Xbox version will nearly be identical gameplay wise to its PC counterpart; however some sections will be modified and altered for performance reasons. These changes thankfully have been described by Microsoft as very subtle. Like the PC version, players will be exploring dark and moody areas, blasting away at anything that leaps forward, collecting weapons, health, and, of course, trying to locate the exit.
These guys have a bone to pick with you.
Doom 3 for the Xbox will control similar to Halo. The left thumbstick controls movement, while the right thumbstick controls the aiming reticule. The D-pad however will be used to switch between the games different weapons, and firing like many other Xbox first-person shooters is done with the right trigger. The flash-light will be mapped to the white button, while running can be achieved through the left trigger.
What many people will be wondering however is how Doom 3 for the Xbox will compare visually to the breathtaking PC version. The Xbox version will never be able to emulate the graphics of a high-end computer, but the game still looks mighty impressive and will support 480p progressive-scan. It seems the game will also follow the advance lighting techniques which were a trademark of the PC version, while also offering a reasonable polygon count of models. Framerate looks like it also may be a problem on the Xbox version at times, especially when numerous monsters are on screen, but hopefully this can be overcome so it’s barely noticeable. It is also interesting to note that presently loading scenes (which are normally the bane of PC first-person ports) seem to be at a minimum, so hopefully this trait will continue onto the final product.
Demons never looked so good... except maybe on the PC version.
Sound was very important to the PC version as it added to the creepy atmosphere. The Xbox version of Doom 3 will continue with eerie ambient noises and other strange sounds to keep gamers on the tip of their toes. 5.1 Dolby Digital sound will also be included, which should help intensify the spine-chilling environment.
The Xbox version will include up to four player deathmatch through Xbox Live, on the host of maps included with the PC. It is unknown if the game will contain any new maps or gamemodes different from the PC version, or whether the game will include downloadable content. Furthermore the game will include some stat-tracking device, which will show just how well you stand up against the competition.
The most interesting and promising feature for the Xbox version however is the ability to play the game co-operatively with a friend. This mode is not only will be available through system link, but also over Xbox Live, and should defiantly alter the gameplay experience, as new strategies can be deployed while working together. It seems that while in cooperative mode however, that some of the dialogue from the single player experience will be omitted, so if you wish to understand the full story behind Doom 3 it looks like you have to play it once through by your lonesome.
With not much longer before the game ships, the Xbox version of Doom 3 is shaping up to be awfully impressive. It really looks like this game can convey the terrifying atmosphere that the PC game delivered, while the support of Xbox Live and cooperative play is just extra icing on the cake. PALGN will be reviewing Doom 3 as soon as it hits PAL shores, but until then Doom 3 for the Xbox looks nearly as exciting as its PC equivalent.
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