At this point in quarantine, everyone is looking for something to do. Whether it be chores, gardening, or finding books to read. Among these activities, this is the perfect time for gaming. Hours can be spent by gamers playing either competitive matchmaking battle royale, or more of a story driven campaign. A new game has recently been released, and fans of the game have waited a long time to see another of its kind: Doom Eternal. 

This 20 hour long game will put you into the mind and body of the Doomslayer, more commonly known as Doomguy, in his eternal crusade against the demons and inhabitants of the underworld that have taken over Earth. In this endeavor the player will be given loads of guns to help them, from the “ol’ reliable” shotgun, to a plasma rifle, to a minigun. Throughout the story there will be chances and choices to upgrade the weapons and the modifications that come with them. These “mods” are attachments for the weapons and can change the style of how the player uses them. For example, the Heavy Cannon, an automatic machine gun, that is obtained a little while after the player starts the game will be just that: an automatic machine gun. If the Precision Bolt mod is attached, however, the machine gun has been changed to be that of a sniper weapon. With many weapons at their disposal and two mods for the main guns, they could be used in any situation the player finds themselves in.

Playing as the Doomguy can be summarized in four words: you are the boss. Throughout the game the player is thrown against countless enemies in open areas. As the Doomguy, the player must keep a delicate balance of health, armor, and ammunition. Each one of these items is accessible to the player if they use a certain weapon. To get health you must do something called a “Glory Kill”, once you deal enough damage to a demon they will glow orange, melee them to perform a brutal finisher and gain back health. To get ammo you must chainsaw demons, once that is complete you gain ammo back. To get armor back you must use a weapon called the “Flame Belch” to set enemies on fire, when you deal damage to them they will drop armor for you to collect. Another part of these battles is that mobility is key, if you stay in one place too long then you will be fighting a losing battle. The player must always be moving if they wish to stay alive and out of the demon’s claws. With these ideas and mechanics in mind, the combat is fast and exhilarating and is never the same twice. 

Doom Eternal is a fast paced game filled to the brim with enemies with their own unique powers and weaknesses. The vast use of weapons and their mods can be adjusted to fit the playstyle of any player. The combat helps push the player to move around and constantly balance their health, armor, and ammo against the onslaught of demons that are constantly hunting the player. With this game out and quarantine in effect, there will be lots of time for players to rip and tear through demons until you feel like the Doomguy himself.