QuakeCon kicked off last night and fans in attendance got their first look at Doom 4, which id Software and Bethesda are officially calling Doom. That’s right, it’s a reboot. But reports from the packed auditorium (no recording was allowed and Bethesda has announced they will not publicly release the demo video) tell a tale of a Doom that returns to its roots.
According to Game Informer, id’s Marty Stratton introduced the video by saying: “You’ll see crazy demons. Unbelievable mechanical demons built through secret and corrupt UAC experiments. Demons like Hell Knights, the Cyberdemon, Revenant, and many more. Whether these demons are something familiar or something totally new, each of them is designed to create a unique combat experience, regardless of whether you are fighting against it, killing it, or being killed by it.”
Stratton also said that Doom is not about taking cover, but “charging forward with nothing in your way of slaughtering that next demon.” With this, the demo video began and showed a new Doom for a new century. The Marine battled zombies and demons with familiar looking weapons (shotgun, double shotgun, Plasma Gun) and was able to perform a variety of melee fatalities on fallen foes. But just like the original game, more demons can teleport in to add to the chaos. Thankfully, the chainsaw will also make a return appearance in the new Doom and Stratton said that players can carry as many weapons as they want.
It’s unknown is colored keys will make a return in the new Doom, but locked doors will definitely play a part. At one point in the demo, the Marine was blocked by a lock that required a handprint. Rather than drag over the body of a nearby scientist, the Marine pulled off his arm and slapped the hand down on the scanner. Also new is the inclusion of a double jump to reach higher platforms. Finally, Stratton let QuakeCon attendees know that the new Doom will include some kind of multiplayer mode, though they weren’t ready to talk about it just yet.
While the game itself is decidedly old school, the technology under the hood will be state-of-the-art. Doom will run on the brand new idTech 6 engine and is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. No release date was announced, but I imagine it will be later rather than sooner. More details on the Doom beta, which was offered as an incentive for those who pre-ordered Wolfenstein: The New Order, will also be revealed at a later date.
