Doom Shut Down The Portal
The 2016 reboot of the DOOM franchise was one of my favorite shooters in recent memory. As someone who grew up playing the classic DOOM games on an old Mac computer, it was great to see a modern revival that kept the fast-paced spirit of the franchise alive and well.Now, on the heels of Skyrim in VR, Bethesda and id Software have brought us a VR version of DOOM in the form of DOOM VFR. While this isn't a direct translation of the 2016 shooter, it does take place on the same timeline and universe with its own storyline. Should you strap on your headset and go straight to hell? Let's see how the experience translates to VR.
Not Your Typical Work Day at the UAC's Martian Research FacilityHaving played the 2016 version of DOOM, I was familiar with the story and lore of DOOM VFR, but I wouldn't say that a general knowledge is required to enjoy the events unfolding before you. Unlike the silent protagonist of the 2016 version, DOOM VFR has a chatty main character. He often comments on the situation and reiterates your objectives, but his input isn't very helpful or needed in most cases.The story here is simple, but it fits well into the narrative established in the 2016 release. The protagonist could have been a vessel for more lore, but instead was used for pretty standard narration. I would have preferred that his speaking parts added to the story since this is the first time I've seen a DOOM protagonist actually speak.It's a bit of a missed opportunity, but since the story has never been a focus in DOOM, it's not surprising to see it take a backseat here.Other than that, his narration is neither profound nor a priority.
As expected, the real hook here is the gameplay, so let's see how it stacks up. Three Ways to Play, With One Clear WinnerThe gameplay in DOOM VFR is very much true to the reboot's fast-paced adrenaline-fueled excellence. That means you'll move around a lot and find yourself surrounded demons, blood, and gore almost constantly.For those who did not play the 2016 reboot, this may be a bit of a shock when compared to other shooters, especially those in VR. While other games tend to have more methodical and cover-based gameplay, DOOM VFR doesn't give you an option to sit in cover.In fact, staying in one place for too long spells certain doom (pun intended). You'll need to stay on the move and ever-vigilant, especially on higher difficulties.Many of the weapons and optional mods come over to the VR version intact, including the challenges to complete each level, and hidden secrets/collectibles. Finding the 'Doom guy' collectibles in each level also unlocks classic DOOM stages that are fully playable in VR, which is an excellent bonus.While I rarely used the pistol provided, the shotgun, heavy machine gun, chaingun, plasma rifle, and rocket launcher were all used in equal measure. In addition, access to a BFG weapon gives you major firepower during more intense encounters where you need some space.
Regardless of your control scheme, the game does offer some new abilities to help keep things balanced. You'll have a shield burst that allows you to push enemies away from you if you get surrounded.You can also teleport around as your main form of movement, or at whim if you're playing with full locomotion. When enemies are stunned, you can transport into them for an instant (and very gory) kill. You'll also use the teleportation to cross gaps, move upwards through environments, or position yourself for better combat angles.The core gameplay loop translates very well into VR, depending on the control scheme you choose. The occasional puzzles or minigame appear to break up the action, but they're not very compelling. I could have done without them, to be honest, as they were never very engaging or challenging.Now we come to the big question: which control scheme works best for VR players? Well, you'll have three to choose from:.
DualShock 4. PlayStation Move.
PlayStation Aim ControllerFor the purposes of the review, I played DOOM VFR with all three control options. It's worth noting, to eliminate confusion I've seen elsewhere, that both the Dualshock 4 and Aim controller offer full locomotion options.To enable full locomotion, you'll need to enable 'left stick movement' in the options menu. You'll also want to turn off the segmented turning and leave it as a smooth turning option. Fallout 4 loading screen mod. Despite the high enemy count and ultra-fluid gameplay, DOOM VFR is quite the looker in PlayStation VR. While it's clear that some sacrifices were made in terms of resolution and texture detail, the environments and enemies come through with surprising clarity.It's worth noting that I was playing on PS4 Pro, so this will offer some potential boosts to the resolution and detail. Overall, I felt like the frame rate was smooth and the graphics were very sharp for a VR title.The scale of enemies and their size was a treat as well.
The sheer size of a Cacodemon, for example, is very imposing in VR. I would also be remiss if I failed to mention the metal masterpiece that is Mick Gordon's soundtrack.Just like the 2016 version, the raw and industrial metal soundtrack is an absolutely perfect pairing to the raw violence on screen. Shredding guitar tracks and guttural effects are the musical equivalent to the violence happening all around you, and it's magical.While it only clocks in at around 4-5 hours, the price tag is right for DOOM VFR. Furthermore, the challenges, secrets, and difficulty levels all offer reasons to come back.It's control schemes vary in their effectiveness, and while none of them are perfect, owners of the Aim controller will have the best experience.
It's not the perfect transition to VR, but it gets most things right. As far as I'm concerned, DOOM VFR can drag me straight to hell whenever it wants.Final Score: 8.5/10A copy of DOOM VFR was provided to PS4 Experts for review purposes.
Version was tested with PlayStation VR on a PS4 Pro.Article by -Insert date - 12/4/17Related Articles:.Tags:.
Doom Shut Down The Portal Secrets
Peters observes his physical remains after his cybernetic transference.Dr. Abraham Peters was a scientist who worked at the during the events of, and is the protagonist of.
He was the last ordinary survivor of the invasion when the elevator he was inside seemed to protect him from 's Hell wave like a. Unfortunately, the elevator doors opened shortly thereafter, allowing a to kill him.
A top secret UAC cognitive transfer protocol was automatically activated, however, causing Peters' consciousness to be digitized and uploaded to the UAC's computer systems.Plot. Spoiler Warning: Plot details follow.Dr. Peters awakens within a portion of the to see his own corpse suspended in front of him and realizes that he has died, biologically speaking, but now exists as a virtual agent - a transformation which he states has not been undertaken since was transferred into his cyborg body. After noticing that a Hell portal has been opened at the, he sets about learning how to use the and goes on a quest to restore various base resources in order to shut down the portal. As part of this process, Dr. Peters even has to hunt down a lost prototype in in order to obtain its.After obtaining the accumulator, Dr. Peters uses it to destabilize the Hell portal and manages to shut it down.
Doom 2016 Shut Down The Portal Access The Helix Stone
However, as soon as he accomplishes his goal, Samuel Hayden interrupts the protocol sustaining Peters' activities. Stating that Dr.
Peters has 'caused many problems,' and then bidding him goodbye, Dr. Hayden executes an Omega Subroutine that ultimately terminates the man's consciousness.