The FPS game that made the genre explode to the point where other FPS games were called "DOOM Clones." How does it hold up? I am happy to report that it does in an excellent matter. The combat is fast-paced and frantic, where one wrong move could spell the end of your run (until you pull up your convenient save state anyway). The weapons all feel awesome to use (except the pistol but that's kind of the point), the enemies are fun to fight (sometimes), and the puzzle elements are engaging. I didn't expect that last element to be very important coming as a 2016 and Eternal player, but it was satisfying to pick apart and could be real brain teasers if you didn't pay attention. I will say that the major flaw is that Thy Flesh Consumed is a very frustrating difficulty spike to handle, but give it enough time and you'll come out on top. The Doom Slayer's humble beginnings are an explosive and fun game to come back to even 30 years later, and worth checking out.

DOOM 2016 a really solid entry in the series that brought back the franchise to the spotlight through overhauling the gameplay that many games try to emulate with varying degrees of success. The gunplay is crafted to perfection, the level design is very atmospheric and desolate, and the story is pretty neat. However, it's hard to say it's my favorite because we live in a post-Eternal world. 2016 feels slower in comparison and the level design can feel very samey (even though it's kind of the point since it's stuck to Mars and Hell locations). Secrets feel less fun to find because it feels like there's less inclination to find them with the barebones map and signals they give you, but I can see the appeal in terms of how it is harder to find them and incentivize replay value. I can appreciate the crowd that likes 2016 over Eternal because both games are excellent in their own ways while sharing similar DNA. Good game, I highly recommend if you're looking to get into boomer shooters or just really good FPS games in general.

This is a game that I hold near and dear to my heart. I got it when I was around 10 or 11 for Christmas morning, and I played...most of it. I never actually beat the game until high school, and never completed it until now. This game reminds me the most of what I love about video games: gameplay that feels like a dream to master and control, a setting that you can get lost in, a score that immerses you into the world and sways your emotion, and an escape from a trying world that does its best to hammer us down. This game is my favorite of all time because it's a piece of media that has influenced me in my childhood and in my currently blossoming adulthood. I won't lie and say tears were shed when I beat the game not only because it holds such heavy nostalgia, but it also is a complete vision and package that everyone and I mean EVERYONE should play at least once in their lifetime. What else can I say? It's fantastic. Give it a shot when you get the chance.