Doom III: Resurrection Of Evil Review

By Kristan Reed Published 19 April, 2005

Hell's a sunny place this time of year. We recommend a visit...

Version tested: PC

Order yours now from Simply Games.

In an era when most publishers are content to churn out annual expansion packs masquerading as full sequels, it's heartening when they're honest enough to actually put the real thing on the shelves. You know that with an expansion pack you're getting essentially more of the same and it doesn't matter, because that's pretty much all you want; an expansion of the game you love.

The trade off, though, is that historically this extra content is farmed out to another developer to basically make more maps with the same game engine - albeit a team that's normally not quite as talented as the game's creators. But we're dealing with id here, a company not exactly in a hurry to churn out games before they're ready, and its choice of Nerve to produce Resurrection Of Evil was evidently an astute one. This is no slapdash rush job to appease the faithful, but a genuinely high class next episode that neatly moves the Doom III story on to a satisfying degree.

Doom too

'Doom III: Resurrection Of Evil' Screenshot 1

Set two years after the epic climax of Doom III, a UAC satellite monitoring Mars detects a beacon still emitting a signal from Site 1 - apparently a 'long forgotten' facility that existed before the invasion. A 'massive' research and security team lead by the (predictably massive-breasted) Dr. Elizabeth McNeil has foolishly been sent to the red planet to investigate in some hare-brained attempt to discover a bit more about the ancient civilisation that once lived on Earth's neighbour. Greedy, ugly profiteering ahoy.

But really. What did they expect to find two years after the entire UAC dig site was spectacularly wiped out? A few skeletons and some charred shattered remains? Maybe the presence of hell itself on the red planet two years back might have given them the impetus to stay the hell away, but there you are, an innocent Marine combat engineer wandering the lonely tomb only to find yourself uncovering an ancient artefact and opening up a portal to hell itself. Cue violent attacks from floating flaming skulls and assorted minions from hell. Best saddle up.

Taking my cynical hat off for a moment, the plot may well resemble Swiss cheese, but it's not that it really matters about ten seconds into the proceedings. You're simply there wanting ten more hours of Doom III action and that's what you're damn well getting, soldier.

Doing the resurrection shuffle

'Doom III: Resurrection Of Evil' Screenshot 2

Fittingly for a game involving Satan's spawn, Resurrection Of Evil starts off like a house on fire. Stolen mercilessly from Half-Life 2, the first new toy you get to play with is the Ionized Plasma Levitator, or 'The Grabber', or, more accurately, the game's Gravity Gun. Working in a virtually identical manner to Valve's creation you can pick up and lob small to medium-sized objects at enemies, or in some cases pick up the enemies themselves and propel them (such as the flaming skulls) to their instant doom. You can't, however, chop zombies' heads off with handily placed saw blades, so minus points for that particular oversight.

Alongside that particular novelty you also get the double whammy of the Double Barrelled Shotgun and The Artifact. The former simply arrives for no good reason other than to sate the needs of Doom II nostalgists (and is mightily powerful, make no mistake), but the latter is probably the key new addition to the entire package. This hideous beating heart tempted the UAC back to Mars in the first place, with archaeologists reasoning that it's somehow tied to the three demons who pursue it. Well that's just great. Why not send an innocent Marine armed only with a shotgun and a pistol down to Mars to fight off immensely powerful demons in the name of science?

But it turns out they were right about this curious thingum enabling the bearer to do 'extraordinary things': Doom III, meet my good old friend Bullet Time. I'm sure you'll get along well.

Plays a mean organ

'Doom III: Resurrection Of Evil' Screenshot 3

And indeed they do. Basically, whipping out your pulsing 'organ' (for want of better imagery) and hitting the fire button slows down time for a good 15 seconds or so (up to a maximum of three times), allowing you to whip around and cap everything in sight before it can so much as blink - especially useful in some otherwise impossible boss encounters. As you progress The Artifact enables you to also go 'Berserk' and run around punching everything to death in one hit, and latterly makes you temporarily invincible, which all comes in handy from time to time. Interestingly, the ammo for your hearty toy involves picking up the souls of downed former UAC employees which litter the base. At least they didn't die in vain...

Much like the original, Resurrection Of Evil is one dark and gloomy game, and creeping around the abandoned base will once again require plenty of switching between the dreaded torch and your weapon as a succession of creatures leap out predictably every time you turn your back. After the experiences of Doom III you simply expect things to leap out at you, and RoE takes just as many opportunities to scare the bejesus out of you.

But is it as scary as Doom III? Arguably no, because by this point you're well and truly conditioned to things that mysteriously jump out of service hatches go 'boo!' and throw fireballs and plasma at you. Besides, when things get truly hairy you simply whip out the Artifact, slow down time and nail them with far more success than before. It's simply not as challenging as it once was, and with far less in the way of exposition, it's arguably not as immersive on a narrative level either. But likewise it's not as intrusive, so some may actually prefer the more consistent action.

Trapped Nerve

'Doom III: Resurrection Of Evil' Screenshot 4

It's also a game that largely uses the exact same creatures as previously, meaning there's little sense of the unknown, but what is known is fabulously animated, brutally evil and incredibly detailed. There are one or two new creatures, admittedly, but these are really just variations on what's already there. Nerve tends to save its best moments for the various boss encounters that appear every two hours or so, but, again, your new time-slowing abilities combined with your Grabber make short work of anything the game can throw at you. Even the final boss was dispatched with relative ease in slow motion, and that, you could argue, was a bit of an anticlimax.

It was also bit disappointing to see the typical over-reliance on picking up PDAs to progress through the game. A little more imagination here would have gone a long way, with maybe more puzzles to get stuck into [or, you know, any -Ed], a little more narrative interaction rather than this continual reliance on 'find the key to unlock the door'. But if you're just here to blast through a few more zombies in one of the best looking game engines around then there's no way you can complain too much at what's on offer here. Remember, this isn't a sequel. You pay for more of the same.

Aside from the single-player antics there have been a few positive tweaks to the multiplayer experience, which now increases the player count from the miserly four to a more respectable eight, and throws in a CTF mode for good measure. With some decent new maps on offer and the addition of the double barrelled shotgun it's a far more solid multiplayer offering than it was last time, but still not exactly something that will distract you from your online gaming for more than a few hours (or until people work out where the Rocket Launcher is, which as ever kills the fun dead). And why can't we use the Grabber, eh?

Expansion plans

On reflection, if you were in the camp that loved Doom III for what it was, warts and all, then you should definitely treat yourself to this well-rounded episode. It's not offering anything revolutionary, and you could argue that it doesn't fix anything that was wrong with it last time out, but the new toys are a lot of fun, it still stands out for looking absolutely stunning and given that it lasts about as long as most full priced shooters you're getting good value for money. One of the better expansion packs you'll come across, and not the kind of cash in fodder that's often associated with these things.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

8 / 10

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Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Kraftwurm #1 7 years ago

    Doom? Yawn.

  • countlippe #2 7 years ago

    You are unwise to lower your pants

  • Killerbee #3 7 years ago

    Well I for one really enjoyed Doom III, so more of the same sounds all right. I'll probably be picking this up as soon as I see it going cheap. At least it'll plug the gap until Half-Life 2 Aftermath arrives..

  • sam_spade #4 7 years ago

    Do you still have to shoot mutant babies?

  • krudster #5 7 years ago

    yes

  • d0bbo #6 7 years ago

    More of the same? Doom III was too much of the same on its own.

  • drumbaby #7 7 years ago

    There's a console lull after RE4, and hopefully this'll come down in price by then.

    Looks wicked.

  • Sko #8 7 years ago

    HL2's gun, MaxPayne's time-related shenanigans and a down-beat review with the same dark levels, same enemies and same lame-ass scare tactics. 8/10?

  • krudster #9 7 years ago

    8/10 if, like me, you happen to like all the things you're criticising.

  • Royal Fool #10 7 years ago

    I suppose fans will be getting this just for the eight player deathmatch.

  • rogermellie #11 7 years ago

    I did enjoy Doom III for the most part, despite the many problems. Unfortunately, the technology was better than the game.

    When you see how good RE4 is on an old console it does make you realise what's missing from Doom. For starters, the baddies react much better to the being shot and they appear more intelligent. Although the monster designs of Doom3 have always been scary.

  • UncleLou #12 7 years ago

    I fully agree with the review, I enjoy the addon a lot. The combination of the grabber and the artefact works exceptionally well.

    And how tired I am off all the Doom III haters coming out of the woodwork at each and every opportunity.

  • Shadar #13 7 years ago

    Freddy: It hasn't occured to you that solid, simple game design that worked in 1995 might actually be solid, simple game design that works in 2005 as well? Okay, so it is a bit of a horrible cop-out to include the gravity gun, but that's the videogame industry for you. That's the way this place works.

    And YOU don't like a game because you were expecting more, and then you claim it is a poor game BECAUSE of hype? Well, you probably don't mean that (I mean, you can't be stupid ... you know what PLASMA is!), but you wrote it. Poorly.

    And I love, simply love, the way people expect Jesus on a fucking bike everytime a new FPS comes out. "Oh, this is not a startling revelation of physics-based gameplay (undoubtedly one of the most over-rated notions ever), emergent, non-linear gameplay with a ground-breaking narrative of love, hate and psychological realization? THEN IT FUCKING SUCKS 'CUZ HALF-LIFE 2 WILL DO THAT!"

    Half-Life 2 came and went, people, and the reason why that seemed sophisticated wasn't because of the physics, which played a hysterically minor role in the game, after all, nor because of the AI, which was plain bad after Halo, but because Valve is so good at making coherent environmental puzzles, a mainstay of FPS gaming the last ten years. Quit fooling yourselves.
    Edited by 2 at 19/04/05 @ 12:50

  • Genji #14 7 years ago

    Pfft... environmental puzzles. Like piling bricks onto a seesaw? They felt less like puzzles and more like an excuse to show off the physics engine. Give me FarCry any day.
    Edited by 1 at 19/04/05 @ 13:16

  • Darren #15 7 years ago

    The Expansion Pack is pretty good I think if a tad on the expensive side (£29.99 RRP). It's more of the same as to be expected but it does add some new weapons at least.

    I thought the review came across as rather negative so I was surprised to see it get 8/10 at the end.

    Why the gripe about the PDAs? There seems to be far less of them in this game than the original anyway as well as fewer cutscenes, which means more action!

    Overall it's a great expansion pack but it doesn't offer any more than others like Call of Duty: United Offensive or The Sims 2: University and they cost under £20.

  • Dire #16 7 years ago

    I imagine the iD software faithful will lap this up, Its that the expansion pack will just be the same as doom 3. Good looking but lacking everything in the brains department.

    iD software should really just stick to creating gfx engines really.

  • Speedwolf #17 7 years ago

    So then, do you think us people who enjoyed D3 more on the Xbox than on the PC are likely to get a look in at this expansion pack?
    No?
    Didn't think so.

    Shame though, if it uses the majority of the same models and environments (I'm struggling for the word that encompasses both in development terminology) I'd happily pay for a premium rate download, 10/15 quid or so. Alternatively, it would be nice to see a reduced cost sequel like RS:BA, same engine, new content.

  • UncleLou #18 7 years ago

    I imagine the iD software faithful will lap this up, Its that the expansion pack will just be the same as doom 3. Good looking but lacking everything in the brains department.

    iD software should really just stick to creating gfx engines really.

    Oh, really, come on, don't tell me you need more brains to play HL2 or Halo than to play Doom 3. Don't be ridiculous. And if you always want to tax your brain with video games, be my guest, I have other hobbies for that.

    And who are you to say iD should stick to creating graphics engines? They should stick to what they do, technically impressive, polished and infinitely playable games.

  • rogermellie #19 7 years ago

    " The Expansion Pack is pretty good I think if a tad on the expensive side (£29.99 RRP)."

    You can buy it on-line for £17.99 (inc p&p).

  • kururin #20 7 years ago

    Love the level design in this.

  • asphaltcowboy #21 7 years ago

    Well, I really enjoyed Doom 3 for what is was, didn't go in with amazingly high expectations and was very pleased with my purchase. Looking forward to pick this up in the future (i.e. when I can afford it). I think perhaps I've forgotten how sh*t-scary I found it...

  • Tyronne #22 7 years ago

    I know this can be bought cheaper on-line than on the street however I am still not going to pay the price of a complete full game (wither that be 30 quid street price or 18 quid on-line price) when all this is, is but a add on which should be way cheaper than that.

  • BlackJedi #23 7 years ago

    I've been enjoying this immensely - it's certainly "more of the same", but it's a lot of fun. I would never have paid £29.99 for it, though - that's "greedy, ugly profiteering" in my book - but I was happy to pay £17.99 from play.com.

    And oh how I love that shotgun...

  • kururin #24 7 years ago

    :) Yeah, the shotgun is great.

  • kururin #25 7 years ago

    Yep, Quake 4 and Prey will determine that.. I've got a suspicious feeling they'll both look very DOOM3. Let's hope not.

  • penhalion #26 7 years ago

    er well um sorry but, Quake 4 already looks doom 3 with cyborgs instead of zombies. Heck it's even as dark in the environment stakes (from the limited amount of it I've seen).

    As for the doom 3 expansion well sorry I think my money will be better spent on something that isn't over priced cack. I mean didn't they get the hint from everyone and their grandmother asking why you couldn't get the torch duct taped to the ruddy guns!

    I really pitty the twat that buys this. Unfortunately I know that the twats who do buy it, will turn up here singing it's praises in the hope of getting some other poor sucker to waste their money. What is it they say "misery loves company" or something

  • Davrak #27 7 years ago

    Dont be a twat penhalion

  • Dis #28 7 years ago

    I'm a twat I guess! I liked Doom 3 and look forward to picking up the expansion when a) I have some spare cash and b) it is less than £15 'cos I'm a miser.

    I must confess that one of the appeals of the game to me was the stark choice between protection and knowledge. Yup, I actually liked not being able to use both weapon and torch at the same time. Heightened the tension and the fear factor.

    I know this may be a radical thought - but perhaps game design is not *just* about realism and logic. Kind of odd, but that design feature was about the only original thought in the game - and it is the one which most people seemed to complain about. The more vocal netizens at least.

  • beep #29 7 years ago

    Seeing how the Doom enemies are all Hell related, why don't they send in a marine with Satanic beliefs? Surely the monsties of Hell would welcome him with open arms, give him a tour of the place, and maybe even have a heavy metal thrash out.

  • UncleLou #30 7 years ago

    er well um sorry but, Quake 4 already looks doom 3 with cyborgs instead of zombies. Heck it's even as dark in the environment stakes (from the limited amount of it I've seen).

    As for the doom 3 expansion well sorry I think my money will be better spent on something that isn't over priced cack. I mean didn't they get the hint from everyone and their grandmother asking why you couldn't get the torch duct taped to the ruddy guns!

    I really pitty the twat that buys this. Unfortunately I know that the twats who do buy it, will turn up here singing it's praises in the hope of getting some other poor sucker to waste their money. What is it they say "misery loves company" or something

    lol, what an idiot you are, remarkable. :D

  • Shadar #31 7 years ago

    I know this may be a radical thought - but perhaps game design is not *just* about realism and logic. Kind of odd, but that design feature was about the only original thought in the game - and it is the one which most people seemed to complain about. The more vocal netizens at least.

    Warmed my heart. Game design is all about coherence within own gamespace, not adhering to real-world logic. So the game doesn't allow you to put the flashlight onto the gun? Well, that's because that's the way the game is supposed to be played. Kratos was given the power of the Gods in God of War ... you don't see me complaining that he can't fly. Why can't Gordon Freeman point the zero point energy manipulator at his own feet?

    Who cares?

  • penhalion #32 7 years ago

    Davrak

    Yea your right maybe all of the doom 3 likers are not twats. I just think that if people always simply buy this stuff then there is no incentive for games companies to make better games.

    I was a twat when the first doom 3 game came out. I hated it, not for the graphics but, for the lack of any really good gameplay. It really did feel to me like the engine took 4 years and the game was cobbled together in a month or so (art assets aside).

    I recently played the Pariah multiplayer demo. Maybe I'm just missing the point but, what was supposed to be good or new about it? The graphics were same old unreal engine stuff and even on high quality I would have sworn I was playing an unreal 2004 mod (not a very good one at that!).

    Aaaaahhhhh I just wish people would stop accepting the same old fps stuff and be vocal about it!

  • Shadar #33 7 years ago

    I can see that you're very open about what you want, and how you want it. So ... what do you think would improve the quality of an FPS? Do you even know what makes them fun in the first place? Maybe you've simply grown bored with the genre, and need to look for something else?

  • penhalion #34 7 years ago

    Shader

    I liked the first Halo game and half life 2 right up until the ending. I think that FPS games now need to start really creating good stories that explain why is doing what he is doing. Why the bad guys are doing what they are doing and most of all maintain this story (plot twists not withstanding) throughout.

    I think you are right in that I have grown bored of the FPS genre. I don't however, think that I am alone in this growing boredom. It seems that the only thing distinguishing FPS games these days are the weapons. Or at least that was the destinction. Recently even this has stopped being an innovation.

    To illustrate. Stop for a second and name one recent FPS that had an original weapon (even the gravity gun has been cloned now!). You'll probably notice that every recent FPS has a shotgun, sniper rifle, melee weapon of some kind, machine gun and pistol. That's it!

    Then take the plots. Go here, save that planet, destroy that super sized end boss.....

    I've gotten to the stage where I need more motivation to kill that last boss. I need to know that it makes some difference (in the game) and isn't just the transition to the next level. I need a reason to pick up that plasma pistol for the umteenth time!

    edit: I should add (though this illustrates your point more than mine Shader) that I enjoyed the lego starwars demo and found this the most fun I've had with a game in an age!
    Edited by 1 at 20/04/05 @ 20:16

  • MikeD #35 7 years ago

    So call of Duty, brothers in Arms, thief 3, Doom 3, halflife 2, Star Trek elite force II, Chaser, Ghost Recon, Star wars: Republic Commando, Swat 4, Timesplitters 3, halo 2, etc. have all been really the same, huh?

    I don't think so.

    Yes the basic game mechanic is the same. You walk and shoot. But in plot, atmosphere, setting and gameplay there have been huge variations.

    Lego Star wars is a very basic game. Much more basic than Doom 3. What is it that motivates you in that agme then? to kill that boss, as you say. The Star wars license and atmosphere?


    I respect your decision to remove your post, btw. But maybe next time just don't write it, so you don't make me look like a fool by replying to nothing. :-)

  • Shadar #36 7 years ago

    edit: I should add (though this illustrates your point more than mine Shader) that I enjoyed the lego starwars demo and found this the most fun I've had with a game in an age!

    Actually, I was kind of hoping that game would turn out good myself. Either way: you make valid points, and if that is what you expect (I do myself, but will often settle for just plain entertaining or scary instead, as is the case with Doom 3), then I agree that most games simply don't offer up. Sure, we can argue that it's all about gameplay, but you don't remember a good comedy for its jokes ... you remember it for the way they skilfully wrote a script that integrated an interesting or entertaining plotline with great humour.

    Games don't do that. Either, they offer up sub-par stories and no gameplay (most RPGs and JRPGs) or they offer up no stories and action (most other titles) ... they should learn that stories motivate gamers, and learn that character drives action. And they should learn that employing a "veteran Hollywood scriptwriter" for a VIDEOGAME narrative is usually a poor idea.

  • jonnyreb #37 7 years ago

    Anyone got any comments on the improvements to the multi player gaming through this expansion?

    Need a new MP FPS to play and was considering D3 as an option......but heard bad things bout the MP stuff.

    Does this expansion fix the net code (which I heard was awful in D3)?