DOOM

DOOM left an amazingly good impression, and became my favorite shooter since... hmmm... Black or the Killzone trilogy? That sounds right; first-person shooters or games that are violent simply for violence's sake fell out of my favor in my 20s, so it is rare than one gets anything more than a passing "meh" from me. But DOOM is really something special. It's faster than 95% of the shooters I've played, and more intense than nearly all of them. The exploration, huge stages and mountains of collectibles and upgrades set it aside from the average "kill everything, move on" shooters, and the glory kills make dispatching bad guys as satisfying a treat as it's ever been in any other game before it. The in-game map is a huge pain and the multiplayer is a GB-hogging snoozefest, but those are literally the only downsides I see. Every adult Switch owner except for the most squeamish, should have DOOM in their cartridge slot or installed on their SD card. In a whirlwind year for the Switch and AAA releases, DOOM stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the big boys, and missing out on it would be a crime.

Much of the discussion surrounding Doom for Switch has been different compared to that of most games. To some, it seems less a game than a statement about the console’s viability as a platform for third parties to bring their biggest, most demanding games to. While this assessment is likely true, one shouldn’t forget that Doom for Switch is great game in its own right; the campaign is compelling, the Arcade mode translates perfectly for on-the-go play, and the online multiplayer is incredibly fun in addition to being the most fully featured mode of its type on the system right now. Yes, one can lament lower frame rates and resolutions but that doesn’t change the fact that Doom for Switch looks good, plays great, and can be taken with you wherever you go.

Despite some limitations, Doom is back once again: Bloody, intense, brutal, fast-paced... and now also portable.

Knowing the limitations of this console, DOOM manages to maintain its essence and offers wild and amazing combat. An incredible game that is a must-buy for Nintendo’s new console.

Doom on Nintendo Switch is visually pared back compared to other versions, but it’s still fast, addictive and gorgeous. Seeing it run on a portable is truly a sight to behold. Nintendo fans should not pass this one up.

Bethesda pulled off quite the trick with Doom, giving us the first real AAA third-party game experience on the Nintendo Switch. What it lacks in graphical power, it makes up for in portability, and the fact that the complete, unadulterated campaign and multiplayer modes made it over intact is an achievement other studios should take note of.

It’s hard to recommend Doom to those that have played it unless they fit certain criteria. If playing Doom on the go is a huge factor, it gets no better than this. It doesn’t look the clearest or run the smoothest, but 90% of the time players can still enjoy one hell of a game. Folks that never played this and are looking for their Doom experience, playing this first and then the other systems could be the way to go to see the differences. Lastly, if players just want to see how the little Switch that could performs and how much Doom pushes their console from a purely tech perspective, look no further. It’s super impressive, a technical marvel, and the port team Panic Buttons should be proud of what they accomplished. It’s just nuts!

DOOM is a great game, no matter what platform you play it on, including Switch. On the Switch, you lose SnapMap and will have a significantly reduced graphical presentation, but the experience remains fun and addictive, and now also portable thanks to the nature of the Switch. For some, the trade-off may not make sense, but for others, it’s more than fair.

Even after all this time, DOOM is still a blast to play through. Making the Switch release my third time I got my ass to Mars in order to send a whole lot of demons back to hell. And Cohagen, if he's around. Being able to take it anywhere, at work, on a train, pop it in your bag, and resume later - is great. Awesome even. Portable DOOM single-player and Arcade Mode alone make it worth it for any Switch owner.

It's far from the best version of DOOM, but still is a perfectly playable and enjoyable version of DOOM. Which means it has amazing gunplay, atmosphere and brutality in spades. All now on the go.

If you are a seasoned DOOM player, there’s nothing new to see here, but the portability aspect could lure you in. If you are brand new to DOOM and own a Switch, it’s worth picking up. It’s fast, it’s fun, there’s tons of content, and it’s an extremely solid port of a technical beast.

Brutal, fast paced and fun, Doom pays homage to classic FPS. The Nintendo Switch version, at 30 FPS (unstable), is not as spectacular as the original released last year, but remains fresh and it´s unique in its genre.

Despite some shortcuts and downgrades in shoehorning a huge FPS juggernaut onto a handheld, Doom on the Switch is the real deal. All of the action, all of the fun, and most of the gameplay are in your hands, in a port that definitely fulfills its massive expectations.

Despite limitations in graphics and operation, it's amazing that Doom works so well on the Switch, even in handheld mode. Personally, I would like to play such an impressive experience as Doom rather on the big TV, but luckily with the switch one has the choice.

In the end, Doom is a worthy successor to the original and although there was mixed reviews of Doom 3 way back in 2004, id Software should be praised on not only paying homage to the original but successfully rebooting the franchise on high-end consoles, the PC and now the Nintendo Switch. Sure, it’s a little old school at times but that was also the beauty of the original and if you’re looking for a fast paced first person shooter then Doom is the game for you. Yes, the game is quite linear but there’s plenty of secrets to be found which definitely gives you incentive to either explore all the levels totally or play the game again, so Knights of Hell beware!

Doom in this portable version is an experience to try at least once and to enjoy completely, despite some graphical limits and controls in need of careful calibration.

This is the game I was expecting back in November. Now I can finally recommend DOOM to friends without having to append a mountain of caveats! [Issue #33 – May/June 2018, p. 74]

It’s not a perfect port. For those looking to play DOOM purely on the big screen, the Switch version’s janky visuals make it difficult to recommend. Yet, if you’re looking for a portable version of one of the best shooters in recent memory, DOOM thoroughly deserves to be the blood-soaked outlier lurking in your Switch library.

Despite these bugs, I’m still impressed with the quality of Doom on the Switch. The singleplayer campaign – with it’s replay value and multiple difficulties – easily makes it worth the price tag. It is a must play for Switch owners clamouring for some hyperviolence on their train rides.

It’s as compelling a ‘pure’ single-player shooter we have had in many years. What is perhaps most surprising, and welcome, is how well an FPS controls on the Switch in handheld mode. It isn’t as naturally suited as other controllers, perhaps, but after a little adjustment I found myself tearing around hell blasting demons with no problems at all. A great game worth the technical compromise if you want to play it on the go, and a promising sign that FPS can find a home on Switch.

Doom on the Nintendo Switch is a beast that does not disappoint one bit. Thanks to its magnificent campaign mode, consistent and solid technical performance and to a memorable soundtrack, the newest version of one of the granddaddies of the FPS genre makes a killer impact on Nintendo's latest console and deserves a great deal of attention from every Switch player out there.

The thing is, the UI is so tiny in handheld mode I can barely read the words and button prompts. It's pretty easy to just miss button prompts altogether. When docked to a TV, this isn't a problem at all, but it's quite frustrating on the go. I can only imagine how difficult this would be for someone with worse vision than my own.

Doom is a fast-paced, blood-soaked first-person shooter which pitches you in an exhilarating war against the hordes from hell. While some concessions have been made in order to make it run on the Switch, it is still pretty much the same Doom game. With almost exactly the same content as the console version, it's made all the better for its portability.

DOOM on Nintendo Switch is a two-sided game. On the one hand, it impresses less than the original and, on the other, it impresses as much because it’s running in the palm of your hand. Its technical characteristics have been severely cut to run on the console, so when recommending it is very important to know how much interest you have in playing it in portable mode to take full advantage of it.

Technical limitations make the Switch version the worst way to experience id’s fantastic Doom reboot, but the stellar campaign is still there underneath the layers of muddy textures and resolution dips. Despite its less attractive veneer, being able to play such a demanding game on the go is still a strong selling point.

If you haven’t played Doom before, you should definitely play it. It’s a culmination of ideas and passion since the 90s, leading to a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you’ve played it before on another platform, this *is* a downgrade in graphics and some features, but the idea of playing Doom wherever you go, TV or not, is going to be huge deal for most players.

Doom on Switch has no right to be as good as it is. Some compromises aside, you’re getting the full, current-gen experience of Doom (minus SnapMap) on a console you can take anywhere. It’s a technical marvel that, besides a few issues, demonstrates what’s possible on Nintendo’s new hybrid.

Doom is an inferior experience on Switch in virtually every way, with the major exception that it can now be taken anywhere. And should major publishers continue making concessions on triple-A titles to release them on this platform, that’s the tradeoff that’ll be hanging over consumers’ heads. Whichever direction people swing, I’m glad that Bethesda is giving us the choice, and that the wonderful Doom survived the transition to handheld mostly intact.

Though not the optimal way to play the game, Doom comes to the Nintendo Switch more or less intact and will it does nicely fill the void for anyone looking for solid single and multiplayer FPS experience on the go.

Doom is, at core, a classic first person shooter with satisfying weapons and lots of ways to kill and dismember a legion of demonic enemies from another dimension. The game's great level design and near-perfect pacing shine through on the Switch, and moment-to-moment gameplay is still a blast to play, though the framerate drop and somewhat gauzy visuals may irk players used to other versions. In the end, Doom on the Switch is a welcome bit of mature content and a fine shooter that transcends whatever compromises had to be made to port it to the system.

Objectively, this is the worst version of Doom, but that doesn’t really matter because it is the best version of Doom on the Nintendo Switch. A great campaign with lots to find, a frantic multiplayer with plenty unlockables to work towards, and a few annoying bugs that will hopefully be patched sooner than later. Pending you have a Pro Controller, you’re in for one hell of a time.

Despite the technical limitations by the Nintendo Switch hardware, you will experience all the brutality and incredible action in this version of DOOM which is a good opportunity for a new audience.

​Doom is still one of the best first person shooters out there and the limited power provided by Nintendo Switch can't change this. Despite its ridiculous resolution and its low FPS, you can now enjoy the experience in full portability thanks to this porting.​

Bethesda has done a superb job of bringing Doom to the Switch. It plays excellently and while it may not look as visually stunning as it does elsewhere, it still retains that visual style from last year that we loved.

This may not be the definitive version of Doom, but it is without a doubt the most versatile. It’s also much better than the Super Nintendo version.

Doom on Switch is a triumph of the human spirit. It is just one more feather in Nintendo’s cap as third party developers are flocking to the Switch. Panic Button deserves extremely high praise for this port. It may not be perfect, but Doom on Switch offers players a new way to play one of the finest shooters to come out in recent history. The ability to pick it up and play for short bursts outweighs many of the technical limitations.

The less capable hardware does force a lot of sacrifices, but fewer than many might have expected. This results in a less visually pleasing game, but still a solid one that delivers on the important stuff. And the game really takes new shape when played in handheld mode, presenting one of the best looking and playing shooters ever found on a portable console.

Obviously, we have to sacrifice graphics and performance to get portability, but if you're happy with that, you'll get a very good version to play on the go.

Despite the technical limitations imposed by Nintendo Switch hardware, the latest version of DOOM confirms itself as a winning bet without too many sacrifices.

Even though this is the worst version of Doom available up to now, it's still a remarkable achievement for Nintendo's hybrid console and a good version of one of the best shooters of 2016.

It’s clear, beyond the obvious limitation with resolution and frame-rate, that DOOM for Switch has had to make some restrictions. Even so, for those who haven’t yet experienced one of last year’s finest, most surprising releases, DOOM even now represents one of the genre’s finest moments for some time. Clearly those who already own the game on another platform will have to think long and hard over the novel value of having a game of this caliber on the go. And while the visual blemishes and rough edges do detract on occasion and are clear to spot, playing DOOM on the Nintendo Switch still conjures that same jubilant energy that id Software’s behemoth has long been praised for. Tainted in its visuals it might be, the heart, soul and demon-crushing ferocity of its gameplay, in the end, shines through regardless.

DOOM is an incredible game, flaws and all. Audio issues and frame rate drops were annoying at times, but weren't dramatic enough to deter us from a beautiful, pulse-raising good time - and we imagine that future updates will at least partly solve these problems. DOOM is one of the best first-person shooters we've ever played, and is certainly the best in its class on Switch. There's a certain magical quality about having a game this good on the go. Its brilliant campaign is reason enough to pick it up, but DOOM's multiplayer will keep you coming back for more for months to come. While it's perhaps not as polished as it is on other formats, having DOOM in portable form is a revelation, and developer Panic Button deserves high praise for porting over id Software's classic title so brilliantly.

Bethesda did it -- they ported Doom to a Nintendo console. It might not be the prettiest version, but it works, and it was enough to get me to play it all over again.

Doom on the Switch is impressive. It's pretty much the same game it was over a year ago, and that is not a bad sign. It obviously isn't perfect and won't be everyone's cup of tea. Some may be bothered by the technical hiccups, while others will rejoice in the newly awakened third-party support that has brought them one of the better FPS experiences in the past two years.

We swear on our double chainsaw that we'd have loved to give DOOM on Switch a higher score: the game is the one we already loved in every possible version ever released, brutal and crazy, but the technical compromises are significant, and cannot be put aside. If Switch is your only game console, this is a must buy; if you own another gaming platform, you'll find a better experience there.

The arrival of DOOM on Nintendo Switch is an achievement that must be celebrated by playing. Panic Button has done a wonderful work with the id Tech 6 engine that captures, most of the time, the complete and ultra-violent experience of one of the best FPS in recent time.

DOOM on Nintendo Switch runs a fantastically fun, playable version of our favorite console shooter, but it can’t be denied that optimizations and the lower framerate make for a less pretty, slightly rougher version of the game. Despite that, if you want a handheld version of DOOM, I still can’t help but recommend it. It plays well for the most part and is still loads of fun and a refreshing experience, even a year and a half later.

Technically this port is so impressive that sometimes it’s hard to believe it actually exists. It’s the game itself that I have some issues with, as in my opinion its campaign is encumbered by elements that sometimes unnecessarily slow down Doom’s fantastic pace. [01/2018, p.53]

Obviously, DOOM cannot match with the graphical power of its counterparts on other consoles, but it still is DOOM running on a Nintendo Switch. The Joy-Cons are not sufficient for a FPS, but the overall experience is a good and gory game on the Switch.

Doom on Switch is not the greatest way of experiencing this modern classic, but it still is worth playing on Nintendo's console. Doom is still the quick and crazy shooter with amazing multiplayer options that we love.

While the visuals cannot keep up with the big brothers on PS4, One and PC, the Switch version does a decent enough job to maintain the essence of Doom. And that is a gloriously violent no-frills old school shooter.

Almost everything I wanted out of the port, but it is only worth picking up if you plan on playing handheld only.