I spent five hours with D3 last night. Initial assessment, after five hours of play: mixed.

Spoiler-free comments:
<UL><LI>Graphics: Duly impressive - the quality of their models and lighting is much better than anything you've seen before. Although id blew Quake 3 by making it oddly cartoonish, they redeemed themselves by making Doom 3 surprisingly realistic and solid. However, as mentioned, the game is <i>really</i> dark - I've seen most of the game through a flashlight beam. This is frustrating for two reasons:
<UL><LI>You can't hold a flashlight while aiming, so you often find yourself shooting blindly to hit a fast-moving monster.
<LI>The nice level design is partially wasted by your inability to see it. And since you don't see enough of the room to build a decent mental map, you find yourself getting lost more than usual.</UL><LI>Weapons: <i>Very</i> well-done, even without an alt-fire mechanism. Many recent FPSes are frustrating because the enemies just don't respond to damage. You blast them with 39 bullets, and they don't look different or even flinch; the 40th bullet drops them. Half-Life suffered from this; Halo suffered so much that I actually stopped playing halfway through. Doom 3 is much better in this regard, and it ramps up the fun factor a lot.
<LI>Creep factor: id borrowed liberally from Half-Life for the story and feel, but it's considerably less revolting. You don't have headcrabs burrowing into your skull, or barnacles swallowing you head-first; at worst, something leaps out at you. In fact, this is great - it makes Doom 3 much more playable. Half-Life's horror was excessive, and it made me overly cautious: I spent most of the game tiptoeing around, trying to find and snipe every headcrab from a mile away. You don't have to do that with Doom 3, and you can focus instead on playing the game.
<LI>Difficulty: At the same skill level, Doom is an easier game than Half-Life - again, a great decision. With Half-Life, I found myself playing most scenes 2-3 times (often many more) simply because I had to ration bullets and health like crazy. Eventually, I just <i>assumed</i> that I'd have to replay every new room several times - which <i>wrecked</i> the experience for me. Doom 3 is much better: as long as you're not <i>wasteful</i>, you'll have plenty of ammo and health. I find myself reloading only occasionally, and the game keeps moving.
<LI>Length: I played for five hours last night, and based on the single-player map list, I think I'm about 20% through. Honestly, I think this is too long - I'm already finding the environments and enemies somewhat repetitive.
<LI>Performance: My 3.2GHz P4 with 128mb GeForce FX5700go gets a steady 30fps at 640x480 with medium-res textures. I've had some framerate drops when viewing lots of sfx - fire, in particular, seems GPU-intensive.</UL>Overall, I'm quite pleased. I'm looking forward to multiplayer, and my final assessment will depend heavily on it (as a measure of long-term viability.)

- David Stein

One more statement, which I am prepared to be bashed for: I'd be more impressed with Doom 3 if I hadn't played Riddick: EFBB. The graphics in that game were pretty damn good, and *GASP* featured guns with lights and the handy eye shine ability for seeing in the dark.

ram is a bit on the low side, but it would still run. Your biggest problem is the video card. I'd recommend picking up a 9700-9800, they can probably be found for ~200

birrman54

when you say "still run", can I expect 20 fps at the medium res settings?

i don't have experience with that particular video card.

I would expect that you'd be able to run it at 640x480 with reasonable frame rates, possibly at slightly higher resolutions.

I know that it's running smooth as silk on my 2.8P4 6800GT.

birrman54

btw

http://www.forumplanet.com/planetdoo...33&tid=1438663

I don't know if any of you have seen this. I believe it's basically a tweak that allows Doom to cache more data into system memory.

I tried it (raising 20 to 128) and it allowed me to up quality from 1280x1024 High to 1280x1024 Ultra w/ 4xAA. I get between 45 and 60 fps.

birrman54

I took it very slow last night and made it back to the command center after all hell broke loose. This game should come with an extra pair on undies.

Moaning zombies I can handle. Zombie soldiers with machine guns I can handle. Flaming Imps tossing fireballs I can handle. Whatever crawled up on me in the dark and started smacking me silly while I scrambed for my shotgun scares the crap out of me every time.

It runs pretty darn well on my 9800 Pro / 3000+ XP / 1 gig 3200 system. I'm running on medium settings at 1600 by 1200 and it looks extremely real. The facial animations are just jaw dropping.

Some people complain, but I like the flashlight setup. It really adds to the strategy and atmosphere of the game. You have to be ready to switch as soon as you enter a new room.

The storyline has been very involving so far. The PDA setup was well thought up and it adds to the mood. The sound is also a huge plus. Anyone with a surround setup will be impressed.

I complained about that on the first page of this thread :)

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What cards out there have 512MB? Is it referring to using Nvidia's SLI technology or Alienware's dual video card thing?

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No consumer card ihas 512 right now. The engine was simply designed to be flexible for the future.

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I thought of this too. I'm rather underwhelmed by this game. The graphics are awesome, the sound is great, and the gameplay is from 1998. No secondary fire, few weapons, underpowered weapons (the shotgun feels like I'm firing a pump action BB), cheap scares, and the game is so damn dark. Why make such pretty graphics and then have you run around in the dark all the time?

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The gameplay is certainly a complaint that i've seen a few times. But personally, i like the simplistic gameplay... i don't want a 10 different buttons on my keyboard trying to make my character do flips. I think the gameplay fits the rest of the game nicely. I don't see a need for secondary fire... i think the weapon selection is about on par with most games. You're nuts if you think the Shotgun is underpowered. The pretty graphics and the darkness are just a choice that iD made to make the game scary. I like it, but i know a lot of people seem to be annoyed with it.

Don't get me wrong - I like simplistic gameplay. Serious Sam was one of my favorites, and that was the king of simplicity. Switching back and forth between being able to actually see anything and being able to shoot anything is not what I consider entertaining.

The shotgun may have plenty of power, but it sounds like a bb gun. More than once I've fired the gun and thought I was on the pistol.

EeerrrRRRR...A BB gun? Sounds to me you need to upgrade you speakers. They sure as hell doesn't sound like a BB gun to me.

Hmm - I think you're exaggerating, but I agree that the shotgun sounds surprisingly weak. The single shotgun and the double-barrel shotgun from Doom 2 each packed a bigger wallop.

- David Stein

anyone have experience with the multi-player DeathMatch aspect of the game yet? Is there a limit to the # of players allowed per match?

You think it sounds like a shotgun? I'm exaggerating, of course, but it certainly doesn't sound like a powerful weapon.

The limit is tecnically 4, but people have put up servers that allows for more people. 2 problems with that: 1) Like iD said, there's a ton of lag due to the network traffic of the game. 2) There's not enough spawn points :lol:

My friend told me he went on a 12 player server and at spawn he got telefragged, and then the person that telefragged him got telefragged. Funny stuff.

Nothing will beat Xbox live!

I don't mind the switching from flashlight to weapon all the time but there is an annoyance that I've come across.

If you enter the PDA with the flashlight equipped and then exit the PDA, when you press "F" to switch back to your previous weapon, it just stays on the flashlight. I've taken quite a number of hits because of this.

Other than that, I'm having a blast with the game. I'm currently running at 16x12 in High Quality and it looks amazing.

That's a complaint for me too. The sound effects in this game so far are WEAK - almost no low end at all. I have to turn the subwoofer down with most other games.

I'm shocked nobody is bitching about the battery life of the flashlight. ;)

I have AA turned off and the video is still very choppy. I guess my computer just isn't up to speed. :(

After getting back form Hell this game has gotten really really hard. Much less ammo and you're stripped from alot of your guns :(

I haven't checked this whole thread yet, so maybe someone addressed this but FYI - ATI released beta catalyst drivers (4.9 I think) specifically for Doom 3.

Get Me Coffee,

Suck it up, soldier! :)

:lol:

I'm nearing the end of the game....Pretty good FPS type of story! ALot of action near the end!

I just completed the game. It was pretty darn decent. A lot of action and the creepy atmosphere really added to the thrill of playing the game. The last villain you gun down is HUGE; also you’ve seen him before in DOOM2. I won’t give it away. The soul cube just rocks…major help in the health department and it does some serious damage to the monster.

One thing that didn’t sit well with me was at the last map where they have an upside down crucifix. It was really out of bad taste. It looked terrible. I’m not a religious fanatic but I do draw a line…There was no need to add that on the walls. I don’t know…it just didn’t sit well with me.

Anyway, closing note….Expect Doom4!

Its just a game. Upside down cross is part of the satanic symbol. You sound like a christian somehow with that remark. If you are, why are you playing this game and feeling un-easy about all these symbols that goes against your faith? This game is based on hellish demons, of course you are going to have satanic symbols.

What? So Christians can't play this game? :whofart: It's understandable to have different satanic symbols in the game, it's apart of the game. But a upside down crucifix is going to far. But whatever, it's not going to stop me from playing it.

Go talk to your pastor. -rolleyes-

Dood... He was just making a personal comment. No need for the roll eyes smart ass comment. Get over your atheistic self.

It is not like he was discounting the entire game because of some right-wing religious soapbox.

C. Ryan

Man and I thought Daikatana caused violent personal reactions.

Nvidia released some new drivers a few days ago. They really bumped my frame rates. I don't now if these were released to accomodate doom3 or not but they did make a difference.

Ok , no rolleyes, i got over my atheistic self, he was not discounting the entire game. Btw dood, if you have not noticed, most remarks in this board are personal comments.

I will leave it alone. However, I just did not see the need for the personal attack. Done. "Go see your Pastor"...there is no need for that.

back On topic. The new ATI drivers did help me out. However, it looks as though I may have taken a hit with ffdshow. I will have to play with it more to see what is going on. I really hate new drivers.
C. Ryan

I went to a LAN hall last night just to try doom3, and am pretty peeved that there is no co-op mode

No offense, but based on your reaction to the crucifix it does sound like you're religious. And it's not that Christians can't play the game... it just seems strange that those who are sensitive enough to such imagery, as you seem to be, are playing a game that deals specifically with a satanic subject matter. Especially considering the press that the earlier games have gotten for being "evil."

I think an upside cross is a lot worse than being able to snipe someone's head off as in Grand Theft Auto. :rolleyes:

Honestly though, he does need to go see his pastor if he is a christain and playing with a satanic theme game. I don't think Christains and Satanism should be yoked together.

I'm not overly religious, I don't even remember the last time I've been at church. However, I do have a sense of morals, and respect. In my eyes defacing a crucifix is simple WRONG. Just like a burning American Flag or any icon that repersents a group. I remember back in high school playing Doom2 and yes it was EVIL but fun and it's only a video game. I don't see the need to deface a crucifix, regardless of it being only a game.

WTF was that for? You have some MAJOR Nerve buddy. What are you some kind of CLOWN? Next time you come in here put on a pair of CLOWN SHOES! Why would I need to talk to a pastor? C'mon It's clear to me you're crying inside. Just leave it at that.

I don't know... I think you are being a little over-sensitive. It'd be like playing Return to Castle Wolfenstein and complaining about all the swasticas.

An upsidedown crucifix is appropriate imagery considering the location, IMHO. Hell isn't all sunshine and rainbows, you know... ;)

I have a p4 3.4ghz with 1GB of ram and a 9800 pro. The game looks gorgeous on "high quality" settings (without AA) but I was crashing to my desktop about 3 or 4 times an hour...

Downloaded the beta drivers and voila!! No more problems -smile-

I better back off before this get out of hand. Sorry folks, my bad.