The journey of the Doom franchise has followed an incredibly rare trajectory. It’s not common for a game series to be developed exclusively by the same company for its entire lifetime. It’s even rarer for that franchise to fade away only to rise to the pinnacle in an industry where the competition is constantly growing and improving. Doom has defied all of the odds. However, we’ve reached a station on this hype train of success. It’s time to take a look at where we’re headed.

Doom (2016) set a new standard. The transition from the previous game’s lean toward survival horror to pure action and minimal story was welcomed and praised. Doom Eternal leaned into this but changed enough to draw just as much anger as praise in the process. A shift toward a more arena-style movement-focused experience showed that id Software wasn’t afraid to take some chances. They certainly could have simply iterated directly on the previous game and found just as much success. The efforts they made with the new multiplayer – Battlemode – were twice as ambitious and probably ten times as contentious. Yet they have backed it up to this day.

The DLC for Doom Eternal, The Ancient Gods, practically split the fan base right down the middle. The first release had some players praising the extra layer of difficulty while others felt it was unnecessary and convoluted. The second part didn’t receive as much positive feedback though. For me in particular, it felt rushed and uninspired. I did enjoy the way the story wrapped up, but with the new enemies being glorified reskins and the final boss being a repetitive exercise in frustration, I wasn’t too impressed. Given this mixed response, it begs the question – will there be more DLC or is it time to move on?

Most would say this is a clear sign that it’s time to work on Doom 6, or whatever that may be called. I think any typical developer would agree. Yet, id Software identified this two-part DLC as part of the “year one pass.” That’s indicative of there being a “year two pass.” It seems like it could still be the case too. Hugo Martin said in part of a two-hour interview,

“The beast sleeps. People have said he’s dead. I’m like ‘he’s not dead,’ I’m like ‘he sleeps,’”

and follows that up with

“There’s more Doom stories to tell always. The Doom universe is vast, ya know, and I think there’s lots of cool stuff we could do.”

The interview leading up to that statement makes it seem as though the saga that is Doom Eternal and The Ancient Gods may be the last of the story DLC for the game. With his talk of future Master Levels, however, it seems that may not be the end of all DLC. Building future content around paid Master Levels (hopefully in new levels) would be a good way to appease the most committed Doom Eternal fans while the developers work on whatever the next experience would be. I also suspect that there may be more multiplayer content coming including, but not limited to, the long-awaited Invasion mode.

If adventures with the Doom Slayer are over, at least from a story standpoint, I think it would be advantageous to see the world through a different set of eyes. It may be difficult to transition to a protagonist that isn’t almost entirely silent and superhuman, but it would be nice to climb the mountain again. One of the most fulfilling aspects of virtually any good first-person shooter is unlocking new weapons and feeling their power. While DLC typically doesn’t deliver that, a new game would, so I’m hoping Doom 2024 will be a reality whether I’m the Doom Slayer or not.

What do you think is next in the Doom world? DLC? Multiplayer? A whole new game? Let us know in the comments!

Today in an open letter to fans, Marty Stratton, Executive Producer for Doom Eternal, discussed the entire issue with Mick Gordon and the poor soundtrack mixing situation. Within it, he explained how Mick Gordon was accommodated with extra time to finish the mixing process but was unable to deliver it even within the delayed time frame for the Doom Eternal Collector’s Edition.

Contrary to what man fans believed, the mix of the majority of songs in the soundtrack wasn’t done poorly, they were mixed from the audio samples provided by Mick for the game’s development. These audio samples were already pre-mixed and pre-compressed for this process. Marty describes the system further in this section:

“It is important to understand that there is a difference between music mixed for inclusion in the game and music mixed for inclusion in the OST. Several people have noted this difference when looking at the waveforms but have misunderstood why there is a difference. When a track looks “bricked” or like a bar, where the extreme highs and lows of the dynamic range are clipped, this is how we receive the music from Mick for inclusion in the game – in fragments pre-mixed and pre-compressed by him. Those music fragments he delivers then go into our audio system and are combined in real-time as you play through the game.”

In general, while this lifts much of the blame for the lesser-quality soundtrack from id Software and leaves the situation a little more ambiguous than before, it highlights an important change going forward. Mick Gordon and id Software won’t be working together in the future. Not even for the upcoming DLC.

“As for the immediate future, we are at the point of moving on and won’t be working with Mick on the DLC we currently have in production.”

It’s not clear at this point who will be the composer for this content. The DLC is highly anticipated as, unlike in Doom from 2016, the DLC will be more single-player content for a game praised for its high energy gameplay. With Doom’s soundtrack so heavily featured and somewhat integral to the experience of the game, a new composer may have a notable impact on the quality of the game.

However, it’s important to realize that Mick Gordon wasn’t magically manifested in the development of Doom. He was chosen by the creators of the game because he is a talented individual who can create great music in line with the design. These same people are going to be choosing another person to fill that role. It’s an incredible endeavor to undertake, but there’s no reason to believe they won’t be just as successful.

Hopefully, id Software can deliver some incredible DLC that will give players a reason to get back in the game. This situation has cast an unjustified shadow on one of the best games of the year in a year already overflowing with great games. If that can be continued with an expansion of the thrilling gameplay, maybe this can all be left behind and we can get back to enjoying a game that can simply be described as “great.”

As we continue into 2020, a year absolutely swimming in high profile game releases, Doom Eternal had everything to lose. Following up on what some had identified among the best games of the entire decade, the expectations were soaring. This was a situation where Doom could coast on well-established good graces or build upon the solid foundation of quality gameplay to make something truly great. Now that we’ve finally gotten our hands on Doom Eternal, let’s find out what makes it so great…

Recently you may have read that Doom Eternal deserves a better multiplayer mode. The argument made is that classic deathmatch is a staple of the first-person shooter genre and one that adds to the overall quality of the game. While I did spend a good chunk of my youth playing classic FPS deathmatch in games like Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena, the mode is no longer popular enough to sustain a multiplayer community.

While it would be reasonable for Doom Eternal to include a generic deathmatch mode, modern gamers are seemingly not interested in playing them. I’ve followed and played numerous titles that attempt to capitalize on the potential nostalgia for games centered in this mode only for them to fall apart. Games like Reflex Arena and Toxikk attempted to reignite the Arena Shooter genre from the indie side but failed to maintain a following. Even the AAA industry created Quake Champions and a modern Unreal Tournament only to have them flounder despite being free to play. 

Asymmetrical multiplayer, as rare as it has been, is one of my favorite experiences in multiplayer gaming. It’s also one of the most difficult to balance – especially when it has to consider the skill of a single player against several. Games like Evolve struggled with having an individual adapt to playing a role against a whole team with their only practice being to play against squads of various skills. Battlemode might have had the same problem with playing the Slayer, but conveniently everyone has the campaign to show them the most efficient ways to Rip and Tear.

This means the real burden is on the side that seemingly has the advantage in this 2 vs 1 experience. It allows newer players of the Demons to lean a bit on their teammate if they don’t know the best ways to engage in the competition. It fits together in the same way Left 4 Dead allowed you to play the survivors against AI and learn the mechanics, but the special infected had to learn as they played in multiplayer. Left 4 Dead 2 is still going strong eleven years later, so they must have done something right in this regard.

The best thing about Battlemode though is that it puts the three involved players in a tug of war with chaos as the rope. The role of Demons is to establish that chaos and build upon it. Few demon attacks do all that much damage and the Slayer can regenerate health and armor quickly if allowed. So only overwhelming him can ensure victory. The Slayer can use the tools you became familiar with during the campaign to practically wipe the slate clean and come out with more resources than when he went in. His disadvantage though is the requirement to kill both Demons within the span of their respawn.

Battlemode’s matches aren’t timed, but they’re rarely more than a few minutes per round because of the high level of concentration it takes to manage the chaos. Demon heals are few and far between, but they can summon demons indefinitely. Slayers can virtually always buff up and gain ammo, but a well-timed resource steal from the Demons can leave him running scared hoping for something to glory kill or chainsaw. This multiplayer mode has great potential for growth.

That is one aspect of Battlemode that will need to be addressed. Currently, it has as many playable Demons as you could expect, but the 2 vs 1 scale means it’s relegated to small maps that quickly become a bit too familiar. The scope of the experience could be expanded to include more players and perhaps even maps with goals beyond simply defeating one another. Invasion mode is planned for release down the line – which allows players to jump into the campaign of others as demons. This mirrors games like Dark Souls and Watch Dogs, but I assume Doom will be much more action-oriented. 

Doom Eternal could have taken the easy route once again and made a simple Arena Shooter Deathmatch-driven game mode that people would enjoy for a bit. However, I think their experience with the previous game’s short multiplayer lifespan inspired something that could grow with its audience. Battlemode may not yet stand on its own, but its on a foundation that could potentially have it selling more copies down the road. Hell, it could even spin-off to something much bigger in the future if id Software puts in the time and effort to refine it. We’ll just have to wait and see!

Ori and the Will of the Wisps – March 11

The sequel to 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the first major releases of the month. The Metroidvania-styled platformer once again puts you in the role of Ori, a white guardian spirit as you take on enemies, unlock abilities, leap to platforms, and unlock doors. This title previously stood out for its touching narrative and incredible artistic design for the various environments. It will release on Xbox and PC and will be available on launch from Game Pass.

Nioh 2 – March 13

Another sequel (in the form of a prequel) coming in the first half of the month is Nioh 2. Instead of playing as the character from the previous game, William, you’ll be creating your character this time around. The game will most likely continue the challenging Souls-like-styled gameplay for those fans of nuanced stamina-based hack and slash action. Nioh 2 will be released on PlayStation 4 first and will be coming to PC at an undetermined time in the future.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – March 20

Fans of this franchise are always excited to get a new title in the series. This marks one of the first of the core series on a home console (if you consider a Switch that) since the Wii. While I haven’t played any of these games, it has a die-hard following that can’t be denied. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be released on the Nintendo Switch exclusively.

Doom Eternal / Doom 64 – March 20

The item on this list I’m most excited about is Doom Eternal. This sequel to 2016’s Doom and is set to put you back in the role of the Doom Slayer as he returns to Earth to try and put an end to the new demon assault. Doom 64 will be releasing on the same day and is also a preorder bonus for Doom Eternal. It marks the first time that this ‘sequel to Doom II’ will be released on a platform other than the Nintendo 64. Doom Eternal will be coming to the PC, Xbox, and PS4 on the 20th, and Doom 64 will be on those platforms as well as the Nintendo Switch.

Half-Life: Alyx – March 23

While it may not be the Half-Life 3 we’ve all been waiting for, Half-Life: Alyx is the first real venture back into the Half-Life universe in nearly 13 years. You’ll be playing the role of Alyx Vance, a prominent character from Half-Life 2 and its expansions. One thing to note, however, is that this is a VR game and requires that equipment to play. As such, and since it’s a product from Valve, it will only be releasing on PC via Steam.

Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord – March 31

Mount and Blade was a game that won the hearts of people that played it, but the iterations on the series mostly only expanded from the original design. Several DLC expansions were released within the past decade, but the sequel was rarely discussed unless it was delayed. Now fans of the series will finally see an all-new design for the rich medieval fantasy game. It is important to note that this release will be early access at launch and only on PC.

Having a half-dozen games of this magnitude with such huge followings released in the same month is going to be interesting. I’d be willing to wager just about any one of these has the potential to be a top game for the year. Lesser-known games like Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord may not generate the sales of the others, but those that are interested are brewing up plenty of hype. Hopefully, none of these highly anticipated games disappoint their fanbase. If they don’t, March 2020 will be one of the most exciting months for gaming released I can recall.

What games are you excited to play this month? Are they any notable titles that you think should be on this list?

I’ve pored over quite a bit of Doom Eternal content lately in anticipation of the upcoming release and a lot is going on. Following up on one of the most successful games of 2016 and a revival of the franchise, many would assume the game follows the original closely. However, I’ve found that id Software has made some significant changes to how you’ll be playing the Doom Slayer.

Doom (2016) had a very straightforward approach to combat. Players collected and upgraded weapons and picked up mountains of ammo to blast away at demons as haphazardly as they pleased. Upon doing enough damage, Glory Kills allowed those players to regain some health and ammo if necessary. Outside of the harder difficulties, however, these functioned as a “decorative touch” and some people rarely used them. The chainsaw, once acquired, also created a fountain of ammo from shredded enemies, but again was less often a requirement.

Doom Eternal takes the glory kill and the chainsaw and makes them a core component of the gameplay. With the third addition of the “flame belch,” the player now has to make a choice when finishing enemies. The glory kill will create health, the chainsaw still makes ammo, and the flame belch causes armor to drop. Now the player will have to choose one of these to best address their situation – while also considering if it’s still the best choice for the enemies at hand.

Tactically, dealing with enemies in Doom (2016) usually involved laying down as much damage as possible in the shortest amount of time. Enemies like the Pinky had the obvious rear weak point and some shield demons posed a minor inconvenience. “Run and gun” was the go-to tactic and, as long as you had ammo, you were probably going to be successful in finishing off your opponents.

With Doom Eternal’s numerous additional enemies and their wide variety of tactics, weapon choice is now more important than ever. The Carcass will punish the player by creating walls that will cause splash damage from rocket launchers. The agile Whiplash will force players to use weapons that can track and keep up with the speedy demon. Some enemies will even require you to pick apart their armor and weapons to defeat them effectively.

One of the major changes I’ve seen in Doom Eternal is that the story is now much more significant. Doom’s (2016) narrative was intentionally sparse until well into the game. Even then, there was little for you to absorb outside of the idea of stopping Dr. Olivia Pierce from opening portals to Hell. Doom Eternal seems to have a much richer story involving several characters and even other Slayers in an all-out war raging across the Earth. While this approach may disappoint some, it’s looking to be a well fleshed out addition to a much longer game.

It seems that id Software wasn’t content handing out more of the same gameplay with a fresh coat of paint and some new environments. Those may be prominent elements in this sequel, but the addition of more gameplay mechanics and enemy types and interactivity will provide a richer game. This deeper design may result in a game that is more difficult for some, but deeper gameplay can also be more fulfilling for those willing to dive into it. 

There’s little we can do but speculate at the moment. The handful of people that have had the opportunity to play a portion of Doom Eternal seemed pleased with what they experienced. It would be hard to imagine anything less given the videos I’ve seen of the game in action. One thing we can be sure of is that this game is set to be one of the biggest of a year already bursting at the seams with major titles. Let’s hope that it can live up to the hype.

Final Fantasy VII Remake – March 3

While this remake might not be the “updated graphics/same gameplay” fantasy some have wanted, it has generated a great deal of hype after showing off some gameplay in 2019. The game will feature a real-time hack and slash style of combat rather than the original active battle system. This remake will also be released in parts to allow for more expansive areas to be created. The first part is set for March 3. Recently, a leaked demo showed off similar gameplay to what was displayed at E3. 

Ori and the Will of the Wisps – March 11

Ori and the Blind Forest was one of the most enjoyable Metroidvania games I’ve ever played. The beauty of the environments, strange unique characters, and touching story made it a wonderful (and challenging) adventure. The sequel looks to be even more visually impressive while employing plenty of tough-looking combat and platforming. It is set to release March 11

Doom Eternal – March 20

There’s no question that I’m a big fan of Doom. The fourth iteration from 2016 is one of my favorite games of the decade. Doom Eternal is expanding on that high adrenaline attack-to-survive gameplay and bringing the war against the demons back to Earth. The game was originally supposed to release on November 22 of 2019 but was delayed until March 20 of this year.

Half-Life: Alyx – March

In a world where Half-Life 3 has been in demand for more than a decade, any addition to the franchise is going to be welcomed with open arms. Half-Life: Alyx’s announcement as a prequel to Half-Life 2 presented some mild disappointment from fans, but has created significant demand for VR headsets given its requirement of one. It remains unknown whether it will deliver the same quality of gameplay as its predecessors, but we’ll find out March of 2020.

Resident Evil 3 – April 3

The Resident Evil 2 remake was one of the most successful of 2019. Adapting the restrictive movement of the original into the fluidity of the over-the-shoulder style of Resident Evil 4 ended up working flawlessly and the game received critical acclaim upon release. Now barely more than a year later, the same adaptation is happening with Resident Evil 3 and it looks to be even more appealing. Its release date is April 3.

Cyberpunk 2077 – April 16

There may not be a game more hyped than Cyberpunk 2077. After showing off multiple cinematics and gameplay action, the now prestigious CD Projekt Red is getting ready to release this gritty first-person action/shooter/stealth/dialogue-driven game to its eager fans. With their success in the Witcher franchise, the consensus is that this will be a success, but this much hype is never good for expectations. We’ll find out if it can live up to their previous work on April 16th.

Gears Tactics – April 28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WENurEOb9pE

This game has flown a bit under the radar since it didn’t have anything to show at E3 last year, but from what I’ve seen it looks like it might be a solid turn-based strategy game. The gameplay design is reminiscent of XCOM, which is becoming quite common, but given Gears of Wars cover-based action, it seems to fit in well. On April 28th, we’ll see if it’s a worthy competitor.

Wasteland 3 – May 19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkD83u94_54

Following up on the 2014 resurrection of this franchise from its ancient 1988 origins, Wasteland 3 will head to Colorado to further explore this post-apocalyptic universe. The classic turn-based RPG will have players digging through more rich stories and building characters to suit their playstyle when it’s available on May 19.

Maneater – May 22

After showing off crazy open-world carnage featuring a shark protagonist at two years of E3s, Maneater is finally going to make its way to release. The most recent trailer shows off more over-the-top shark attacks and upgrade systems that will probably make Sharknado look like a documentary. We’ll have to wait until May 22 to see if it’s as amazing as it looks to be.

The Last of Us Part II – May 29

Fighting for survival in a world where a fungus turns people into mutated zombie-like monsters is already a tough prospect, but much of what we’ve seen for this sequel involves surviving the brutality of fellow humans. This was a prominent feature of the original, but now somehow seems even more visceral in the sequel. With so many amazing games coming out before it, the hype for The Last of Us 2 is a little less than it may have been otherwise, but I think we’re in for something special when it hits the shelves (or hard drives) on May 29th.

These are only a small number of the many games anticipated for release this year. With the various delays and new games popping up to be released over the next twelve months, people have already been saying this will be a stellar year. While I definitely agree, I think it’s probably wise to be only cautiously optimistic. Setting the bar too high may have you disappointed with games that don’t achieve perfection.

What games are you most interested in seeing in 2020?