Note: This game may require an additional serial key for multiplayer mode. In case it is not automatically generated in your GOG.com library (open it via website → select the game → More → Serial Keys), please reach out to our Support team.
It's the best space horror/FPS game I encountered to date. I like everything about it. Graphics, story, sound, scary horror moments. BFG Edition raises Doom's graphics fidelity, now I play 4K @ 120Hz (that's max this game handles).
Also playing original Doom has been fun a lot, after I finished main Doom 3 campaign, Resurrection of Evil and Lost Mission, all on maximum difficulty level (available on first run) Veteran. When I finish old Doom and Doom 2, I may give main campaign a go again at highest difficulty level (available only on second and consecutive runs) - Nightmare :)
Thanks for a great game.
Of course, the BFG Edition re-release is interesting for new players who want to dive into all the main DOOM games before the 2016 release of the game.
However, DOOM 3 in this edition has lost all its charm and complexity thanks to a flashlight glued into the armor, a bunch of ammo and a general lightening of the environment.
I was really looking forward to the original version! Now I am happy!
Gameplay:
The gameplay is mostly fun for a fps game, although it's still sometimes cheap when it spawns enemies behind you or the instant reaction ranged zombie soldiers. I recommend playing this game. I found the 3 hour long Lost Mission Expansion to be more enjoyable than the original Resurrection of Evil expansion.
BFG vs Original:
As a person who liked the original Doom 3 I still would recommend playing the BFG edition because it is a better overall experience. I played the original Doom 3 many years ago and I liked it at the time. Now I've played the Resurrection of Evil expansion using the source port dhewm3. First problem: It takes time to set it all up. Furthermore I found the gameplay to be mediocre because of several factors like few ammo, no visibility, awful crosshair, unreliable shotgun. After playing the original I've played the Lost Mission expansion of the BFG Edition and I have to say that the developers addressed almost all the issue of the original game. The shotgun is still unreliable, but you have more ammo for the good weapons, you can activate the flashlight while holding a gun which helps with visibility. The graphics have also improved: you can set a bigger fov, you don't have to use a source port to play the game in widescreen resolution, the crosshair is more visible, the framerate can go beyond 60 fps.
I love GOG to purchase my games, but it feels like most reviews for games are so picky, including the review for Doom 3 BFG.
I still remember getting Doom 3 on PC when it originally came out. The BFG edition is perfectly fine and there's no reason to have the vanilla doom 3 digitally. It'd be different if it was something like the resident evil remakes, then I'd understand having the original PC releases.
Doom 3 itself is vastly different beast then the first two, filled with darkness, jump scares and a bit slower. While I like the new doom reboots, this still may be may favorite reboot of the originals. It's slower then a boomer shooter, but the combat isn't as slow as a tactical shooter. The weight of the weapons and the weapon sound effects are fantastic (the plasma gun firing is forever stuck in my brain).
This game is still one of my favorites and on sale it's an even sweeter deal.
Side note: Doom64 (which I believe is only on steam) is fantastic
Yes Doom 3 is very very far from the other Doom titles, but does that make it not a Doom game? That's the question I had coming into Doom 3 its expansion (Resurrection of Evil), but I came out of those with a deeper appreciation for the game's darker tone (and environments) and horror-shooter focus.
Gameplay: Doom 3 starts out slow, you are fairly weak compared to the other Doom games, the shotgun for all intensive purposes is like poking a demon with a stick, it deals very little damage till you get up close and personal; however, Doom 3's arsenal really shines once you get the plasma gun and master using the machine gun, the plasma gun deals a lot of damage at the expense of slow projectiles, the machine gun deals average damage quickly and makes cleaning up weaker demons a breeze. In addition to a solid mid/late game arsenal, Doom 3 introduces the Soul Cube, a weapon that insta-kills enemies once you charge it and also heals you in the process, making encounters far more dependent on mopping up weaker demons before bringing down tougher ones in the small arenas.
Flaws? Doom 3 relies a lot on monster-closets and the horror element gets old fast, sure it's a little scary at first encountering imps behind doors but after your 3rd time it gets slightly annoying. The flashlight! I personally love it but some hate it, to see in the darker areas you need to rely either on the muzzle flash of your guns or unequip your guns in favor of a flashlight, making the decision-tree for any encounter slightly more nuanced. Running the game is also tedious, as others have mentioned you'll find the cd-key a pain in the butt to acquire, fortunately that's on the web version of GOG in the game's extras.
Sum up: Doom 3 takes Doom in a new direction, it trades the fast paced shooting for slow combat in dark areas with a reliance on story; however, it makes up for its flaws easily if you don't compare to other Doom titles.
(FYI Mac gamers, Dhewm3 is the source port you'll want)
