The legendary Doom series had practically invented the first-person shooter back in the day. It wasn't the first game to do it, but it was definitely the best of its time, and most revolutionary. From its creepy setting, to the claustrophobic corridors, to advanced weaponry at your disposal, to the incredibly monsters - both hauntingly original and bizarre - Doom was an instant classic. The Nintendo 64 got its own chance to host the acclaimed series, and did so in 1997 with Doom 64.

     This is one of the better iterations of Doom out there. First off, it boasts an impressive 32 levels, 7 of which are hidden. The story is the same, a lone soldier, John Doe, is trapped on the alien moons of Mars, and must traverse alone through the treachery that lies ahead. The gameplay and the atmosphere is where this game really shines, and the level design. The graphics are also top-notch, generating some of the clearest, crisp visuals the N64 had to offer. The only hitch with the games presentation is that it is dark - too dark! I would suggest, because getting started, to turn that brightness all the way up in the Options section of the menu. Once the brightness is maxed out, the game will be perfectly fine, unless you prefer playing in such darkness, then by all means. In any case, the visuals are great!

     The gameplay remains largely unchanged from the previous Doom games, but why fix what isn't broken? It's that great first-person shooter experience that you come to expect with Doom. This game does not disappoint in that department. You have some truly awesome weapons in your arsenal, from the rip-roaring chainsaw, to the double-barreled shotgun (my personal favorite in the game), to the cool plasma rifle, to the monstrous BFG-9000.

     The atmosphere is haunting, and one of the strongest aspects of the game. There isn't much in terms of music here, but that's ok considering how much attention there seems to be in terms of ambient sound. You'll often hear groans, gurgles, and other bizarre effects coming from all around you, and it can be quite jarring - in a good way. Also, hearing the stomping footsteps of a Hell Knight, Barons of Hell is scary enough...but the scariest of all is the Cyberdemon. Indeed, one of the most terrifying enemies you'll ever encounter in a video game, and it still makes me shiver to this day - in a good way, of course!

     The level design is also quite clever. You'll be pitted in various labryinths, often with glimpses of a hellish looking sky, only adding to the atmosphere. The character designs of the various demons you will encounter are all quite grotesque, and are very well-detailed - they all convey horror.

     Doom 64 is fun because it harkens back to the good old days of the original Doom games. It is a creepy horror show filled with all the nuances of a truly scary game. It also remains as one of the best Doom titles ever made. I would highly recommend Doom 64 to any fan of the horror, first-person shooter genre.

-Kurt L.

_______________________________________________________