We return to Mars once more to end the demonic invasion… in Virtual Reality. After trying Doom 3 with a thousand and one modifications, the official version for VR was missing. A version with light and shadow, but that allows you to enjoy the classic in a new perspective.
Idon’t know how many times I’ve played the start of the Doom 3 campaign in the nearly twenty years that id Software’s work has been since its original version was released. Somehow it was always there to graphically surprise at the time; to return with its expansions; to test a new mod; as a benchmark for a new computer; with the BFG Edition and the later versions that came out, even on Nintendo Switch…. And yes, also for VR with the different mods that adapted the classic, from Fully Possessed for PC to Dr. Beef’s Doom3Quest , recently released for Oculus Quest 2 .
Beyond the anecdote, that indicates well the character of this game that has been and is one of the most adaptable in the history of our environment. Criticized and praised in equal measure, given its departure from the essence of the previous and subsequent games, and the so-called Doom Dance. A concept that disappears here to offer a more linear shooter, less focused on the big arenas. Doom 3 offers, on the contrary, an approach to terror. At least enough to allow the team, led by John Carmack, to test its new engine that emphasized the play of light and shadow.
Interestingly, this design decision makes Doom 3 ideal to take to the virtual environment. Doom Dance, as engaging as it may be, as Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal have shown , is too fast-paced for VR. The slower pace and sinister setting of the third installment, however, does it perfectly. It is surprising to visit the station of Mars and the infernal environments through the PS VR helmet, in which it will probably be one of the latest releases until its new edition for PS5 virtual reality .
Back to Mars on PlayStation VR
DOOM 3: VR Edition comes to PS VR for PlayStation 4: this is how the shooter looks in its launch trailer
Here Archiact, the adaptation team, has had to make serious decisions. The PS Move, although they have managed to manage the standard virtual reality controls, do not have enough resources to move correctly, since they do not have built-in sticks. This is a problem for a game like Doom 3, difficult to adapt to teleportation. Something that, in part, we already noticed in Doom VFR , where analog control was missed.
We will always see our health and armor thanks to the new device hooked on the wrist.
Here, therefore, the Move have been discarded and control has been opted directly through the DualShock 4 and the Aim Controller . The first one is an irregular experience. Although it is controlled almost like a traditional shooter, the light of the controller is used as the aiming method, having to turn the wrists to aim accurately. If it is the only way you have to play, it can serve you, but it has nothing to do with the Aim Controller, a device that, although it has not been widely used, has always given us great joys. A great accessory that I consider to be one of the best that the previous generation offered and that works like a charm here.
The Aim Controller is how I have played Doom 3: VR Edition most of the time. Thanks to its two sticks and its weapon shape, it perfectly conveys the sensations of carrying a weapon held by two hands (even better than modern controllers), while allowing us to turn with both the body and the stick. The biggest problem? Already used to the sensor technology of more modern devices, it is difficult to accept that of PSVR. You often find yourself in moments where the “tracking” is lost and the movements are not represented so faithfully on the screen. Also, something curious happens in Doom 3: VR Edition. Not all weapons are in the same position and that lack of spatial correlation Between where you have the weapon in the game and where you have the Aim Controller in reality, it does not always favor immersion.
My experience has been good, but it shows that we are facing a game that was not conceived for virtual realityWhen it comes to shooting, the sensations are better. The weapons sound forcefully and the revision work on the sound effects is appreciated, also because, being in the virtual environment, it is much more necessary to know exactly where the threats come from (especially when you face lost souls ). Many of them have a new laser pointer that replaces the on-screen peephole and is greatly appreciated, since it is not always easy to aim accurately. In fact, the game seems to be aware of this and activates a pointing aid by default, which you can of course disable. Weapons have also been modifiednot only to gain a little more detail, but to include part of the on-screen HUD. We can now see the bullets in the chamber and stored in the rifle itself, while our health and shield are monitored with a device built into the left wrist.
In general, my experience has been good, but I have to clarify two things. The first, that you can see that this is, deep down, a modification of a game that was not conceived for virtual reality. Even in its simplicity, a game like Farpoint fully planned for VR generates a better feeling when it comes to handling the weapon and shooting from many angles and inclinations (even from the peephole) more effectively. Doom 3: VR Edition can’t adapt that much. The scripts of the enemies are designed to ambush you, scare you and appear from all directions, forcing the player to make turns that here, even with the possibility of pressing the stick to turn 180 degrees, are not so comfortable.
In my experience, the moment I disabled sharp turns in favor of smooth control, the game gained a lot in pace and speed. It is something that will depend on each one, since it is a system that can cause dizziness, but the truth is that I hardly felt motion sickness when I walked its corridors. The less you tolerate this speed and smoothness, the more it can cost you to face the high difficulties of the game. And even so, it will be more difficult to have the devilish precision of a keyboard and mouse and the agile exchange between weapons. So I see this edition as a way of playing that is more immersive than challenging.
The devilish precision of a mouse may not be achieved, but the laser pointer does a good job of correctly directing long-range weapons.
In the end, Doom 3: VR Edition looks a lot like the rest of Bethesda’s catalog for virtual reality, demonstrating the company’s commitment, but using traditional games as a foundation. This has its advantages, since they allow us to enjoy great works in VR, but also its drawbacks: it will never be as polished as a game planned from scratch. However, I see a very decent adaptation here.The fact of being a game with so many years behind it works almost in its favor: its interiors adapt well and are shown in detail without having to sacrifice too much resolution and only in moments when we see more details in the distance, such as the environments infernal, is where we lose the most sharpness. To this is added in the control the more platform moments, which are less comfortable and somewhat vague situations, such as when we climb stairs. Others, such as the interaction with touch screens, are more careful.
In short, I think Doom 3: VR Edition has a clear and varied audience. It may well be intended for the fan of the work, who wants to feel hell more closely or the gamer hungry for more games for PSVR. Maybe it is not the perfect way to play Doom 3, but as I said at the beginning, after so many versions tried and played, that is the least of it, because we are happy to return to Mars once again.
“Good adaptation”
DOOM 3: VR Edition
Doom 3: VR Edition is a very decent adaptation of the classic shooter from id Software, as long as you look more for the immersion that virtual reality produces, than the challenge and precision of the original work. Even if you use a technology that is already in dire need of that announced replacement, it is still a fun and intense experience. It has successes and it has shortcomings, but it knows how to balance them with great elegance. Nothing that does not allow you to enjoy the pleasure of shooting a super shotgun in the face of a demon, wow. Of course: better with Aim Controller.
5 things you should know:
- It takes classic Doom 3 to an intense and fun level of immersion.
- Weapon upgrades to integrate the HUD and sound.
- It is better played with the Aim Controller (which offers a great experience) than with DualShock 4.
- Some actions and movements are less adapted to the virtual environment.
- The spatial correlation of command and weapons is not entirely well achieved.
Duration: 15 hours
Players: 1
Language: Texts in Spanish and voices in Spanish
Requires: PlayStation VR and PlayStation Move
