DOOM Eternal is shaping up to be . . . different from 2016’s excellent DOOM reboot.
For one thing, Bethesda and id Software are focusing on the game’s online elements a lot more. While DOOM was pretty much a single-player game with some online multiplayer, DOOM Eternal is going the live-service route, at least to some degree.
DOOM was so good, such a pure, raw, gloriously violent single-player game. Yes, there was multiplayer but the focus was clearly more on making a badass single-player experience. This time around more emphasis is on the online experience.
id Software’s Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin describe this new approach in a developer diary:
Here’s the official description of this new approach:
“DOOM Eternal comes fully integrated with online features rewarding your skills with XP, unlocking awesome cosmetics like player skins, weapon skins, nameplates, podiums and more to personalize your experience in the single-player Campaign, BATTLEMODE and even the main menu. And yes, you can earn XP for Events just by playing the Campaign!
To track Events progress and ensure you get your in-game rewards, a Bethesda.net account login is required to enjoy DOOM Eternal online – there is no ‘offline mode’ for the game while connected to the internet.
If your platform of choice isn’t hooked up to the internet, don’t worry – players can still rip and tear through DOOM Eternal’s single-player Campaign offline. Only online features like BATTLEMODE, Invasion and progression towards DOOM Eternal’s in-game Events will be unavailable without an internet connection.”
So this isn’t terrible. You can still play the campaign offline. You just don’t earn XP if you do. You need a Bethesda.net account to do any of the online stuff which is annoying but not truly awful. If the multiplayer is good, having some live-service elements will keep the game humming. Then again, we’re all still a little traumatized from Fallout 76, Bethesda’s attempt to take Fallout online.
While I don’t think id Software will go that route, my concern is that the campaign won’t get as much TLC as the last game with multiplayer such a big focus. If the point of the game is more about unlocking cool cosmetics, well, color me unimpressed.
All that being said, the first reviews are flooding in (Forbes was not offered a review code) and they’re very positive. The game is reviewing better so far than the last game by several percentage points on Metacritic and the reviews are all rather gushing.
DOOM Eternal blasts its way onto PC, PS4 and Xbox One on March 20th. I am cautiously optimistic.
