The original Doom put the first-person shooter genre on the map. Sure, it wasn't the first of its kind, but Doom's focus on fast-paced movement, labyrinthine map design and iconic monsters set the standard for shooters.
Of course, if there's any one thing that solidified Doom's place in the gaming industry, it was the weapons. Players may have started with a simple pistol and a few extra rounds, but by the end of the game, they were walking tanks. The shotgun, chaingun, Plasma Rifle, the BFG 9000 — everything about the first Doom's arsenal was perfect.
Now, more than 20 years later, Id Software's newest Doom is finally here. There was some concern that the classic arsenal wouldn't make the jump, but that couldn't be further from the truth: while players will still have to hunt down each gun, they can rest assured knowing that every firearm from the classic Doom games are available throughout the new single-player campaign.
That being said, these aren't just carbon copies of the old weapons: Id Software wisely added in a new progression system, and the game's guns now evolve as the player continues through the story. It may sound complicated, but don't worry — at the end of the day, these are the same old weapons you know and love:
There's really nothing quite as satisfying as bisecting a demon with a well-timed Super Shotgun blast, is there?
Then again, almost every weapon in the game is just as satisfying: be it the Gauss Cannon's ridiculous stopping power or the chaingun's never-ending tidal wave of bullets, Id Software did a fantastic job of bringing some truly iconic weapons into the current generation. Oh, and if you thought the BFG 9000 was powerful before ... just wait until you see it in action now.
Sadly, they're not all perfect: while no one expected the pistol to outshine something like the Plasma Rifle, Doom's sidearm is basically worthless from the start. It may come in handy in select situations during the early levels of the game, but there's a good chance you won't use it for very long. Even so, it's hard to complain when there are so many amazing weapons to use — if you're tired of basic assault rifles and grenade launchers, Doom might just be the game you're looking for.
For more on Doom, including a guide to the game's first boss fight, make sure to check out our in-depth coverage hub!
