Doom 64 reviews

[Scottier681]

I know this comment is years late but after purchasing doom 64 on every platform I could get including the mods and TC, I read reviews and other commentaries about it, it's history, and quality. Some reviews gave lower scores due to no multiplayer( even though N64 version had none), unoriginal(?), poorer graphics and animation( gun animation, no hands holding guns, also a N64 limitation) and so on. While I know everyone has a right to ones own opinion, these factors are things that belonged to the original game and as a purist way of looking at it I'm glad it stayed as true as possible to the original without too much "change". I guess I just wanted to voice this to a doom lover community and read others opinions and/or ideas about this. I love doom 64 and just wanted to put this out here better late than never I guess.

[TasAcri]

DOOM 64 got mediocre reviews in the unofficial UK N64 magazine only because Turok and Goldeneye existed. The main complain basically was that the game wasn't "next-gen" enough. They criticized the old school gameplay style and 2D sprites. There were no massive 3D dinosaurs or mission objectives and realistic shooting mechanics you see. The game also received a tiny, one paragraph review in C&VG magazine, which only mentions the enemy redesigns and lack of reload animations that make the game "not really DOOM", 3/5. American publications loved it more though.

 

I was planning to buy the game back then but those reviews prevented me so i only rented it. I didn't mind the redesigns that much but i do remember being disappointed by the lack of reload animations, one of the coolest things about DOOM for me. This omission alone made me not buy the game. Not sure if it's cart memory restrictions to blame but i would prefer it if they cut a few random textures instead of those animations that make the weapons look much more boring in their absence.

 

Aside from that, what i didn't realize was how this game was basically the best looking DOOM engine game ever released, beating even the PC originals. While all other console ports had regressions or simplifications, this one featured new levels with even more detail and complexity than the original DOOM/DOOM II/Final DOOM while also having better lighting and visual effects. And it had the smoothest frame rate VS all console ports. It was also a very unique looking game on the N64 in particular because it lacks some of the full screen filters almost every other game has, making it look sharper and the textures are also much better than 90% of N64 games anyway.

 

Nowadays i say this game has aged much better than both Turok and Goldeneye. The later aimed for cutting edge polygons at the time that now aged very badly while DOOM 64 is still the best looking DOOM engine game, making it much better to look at today, after the whole "3D or bust" of the 5th gen hype is no more. And i'm sure this is one of the reasons why it was such a successful re-release.

Edited September 1, 2023 by TasAcri

[Purple_HEV]

Doom 64 is a moderate but still fun game 

 

despite being 1 of 2 of the black sheep of the series it has some qualities. For example the speed is lowered but then you can indulge in the world of hell which makes maps with darker places more intensified if said in doom 1&2 with a dark room. next off is the music the music in this game is very well the only gripe is the introduction is just a remixed version of the Doom port for the PlayStation 1 and the intermission theme is alright but not the best.

 

Game play is just the same as doom 1 and 2's. the art style is a lot more dark and gothic and more organic and when i mean organic I mean it looks like the inner organs of an animal and or human the weapons in this game look very nice and sort of fit the style. the unmakyr in this game is very beautiful in an odd sort of way and the super shotgun seems scarier since the doom guy doesn't need to reload it. 

 

 

the enemy designs match with the plot of the game. They look bigger, badder and more evil, and mutated a little. the plot is a lot more edgier and more horror based. the whole game sort of feels quake one-ish with it's castles and citadels and the dark skies and the ambiance replacing heavy metal and the copyrighted music. but there still is heavy metal in the intro and ending themes. so in conclusion doom 64 is a 6.4/10 game for it's unique and interesting theme. please try it out.       

 

(P.S this is my first ever review)

[Immorpher]

On 9/1/2023 at 8:33 AM, Scottier681 said:

I know this comment is years late but after purchasing doom 64 on every platform I could get including the mods and TC, I read reviews and other commentaries about it, it's history, and quality. Some reviews gave lower scores due to no multiplayer( even though N64 version had none), unoriginal(?), poorer graphics and animation( gun animation, no hands holding guns, also a N64 limitation) and so on. While I know everyone has a right to ones own opinion, these factors are things that belonged to the original game and as a purist way of looking at it I'm glad it stayed as true as possible to the original without too much "change". I guess I just wanted to voice this to a doom lover community and read others opinions and/or ideas about this. I love doom 64 and just wanted to put this out here better late than never I guess.

Nice seeing someone who remembers the perceptions of Doom 64 when it was released! For the Wadazine, I went back through the magazine archives and found the critics gave it an 80% rating on average, with many giving it in the 90's as well. They seemed to appreciate it for what it offered. Although it seems people were happy to write in to the magazines, saying they didnt like it haha. You can read my article on it, "Then and Now of Doom 64", here: 

Then for the Doom 64 Discord, I compiled an archive of all the written press for Doom 64 I could find in the 90's. There's a lot of stuff in there and you can find it here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z151ztcuzrawaq7/AAAtbtujiavO2cWdcUgyYDaya?dl=0

[Midway64]

1 hour ago, Immorpher said:

Nice seeing someone who remembers the perceptions of Doom 64 when it was released! For the Wadazine, I went back through the magazine archives and found the critics gave it an 80% rating on average, with many giving it in the 90's as well. They seemed to appreciate it for what it offered. Although it seems people were happy to write in to the magazines, saying they didnt like it haha. You can read my article on it, "Then and Now of Doom 64", here:

 

Of course NightDive had to bless us so people could actually love it, haha!