This is the lost Doom 3 game that community had finally rediscovered and reevaluated. Loved the clay look of enemies, which seems like a logical step forward for OG Doom art-design, liked touched up balance that makes the game feel pretty fresh. Level design is a bit of a mixed bag, but there's a certain pacing to how the game ramps up complexity of levels with plenty of standout maps along the way, especially in the middle third. All in all a great entry in the series that aged better than any other console shooter of that era.

The level design is disappointing, the first levels are too linear and when mixed with the small amount of enemies that this game has, gets boring fast. The last levels have so much non sense puzzles that is impossible to not get frustrated. The mid game is solid though.
The art direction is very interesting and provides a new horror look compared to the previous DOOMs, although the enemies visuals doesn't look right with that desaturated reddish color.
The soundtrack works as an good ambience sound, but looks very similar to each other. Besides, it doesn't seems to suit the (not very fast, but still) fast paced gameplay. Often the music just stops and I had to finish the level with complete silence.
And the saddest thing, the lack of proper animations on the guns, almost every gun in the game stays practically motionless when shot.

The aesthetic of doom 64 really caught me off guard. After playing Doom 2016, I expected compressed guitar solos and run and gun gameplay, but what I got was eerie dark ambient music and some of the most undeniably sick settings I have ever seen. Blasting through a castle full of demons under a flaming green sky is so sick, and the run and gun gameplay really holds up. It's just so cool, every teen metalheads dream.

My only gripe with Doom 64 is some of the more esoteric level design. There are some parts where I had to look up a walkthrough and was astounded that anyone figured it out on their own. Specifically, the yellow key on the pedestal when you have to...press the light like a button? also the part where you have to stand on a block and shoot a switch, when shooting switchs to trigger them was never introduced as a mechanic and also never works elsewhere in the game lol. Also, the trap where you step on the rocket launcher pedestal and get killed instantly by arrows but there is a way to raise shields to protect you but its hidden behind a wall that looks like every other wall in the level. Video games don't do shit like this anymore, and that is def for the better; running around a level and trying to open ever wall to progress is something I do not have time for as an adult.

Besides the gripe of the occasional shaky design choice, Doom 64 whips ass and easily worth the 2 bucks it costs on the e-shop.

Oh man, this is one of the best DOOMs I've played. After DOOM II left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth with a large portion of dodgy levels and a baffling final one, this was such a breath of fresh air.

Really had that same feel that the first game gave me, but with more dread. The sci-fi vibe kinda went out the window to make way for what at times felt more like a horror shooter.

Traps litter the levels, on edge in every room despite all the enemies lying in bits at my feet. Screams of "Ah ya cheap fuck" as the platform just before an exit dropped me into inescapable lava, changed into sighs of "That's what I get for sprintin' everywhere".

A friend told me that the programmer said he wanted players to feel like “helpless rats trapped in Satan’s maze”.

Mission Accomplished

In an era already dominated by first person shooters of the likes of Quake, and the soon to be coming Goldeneye, it seemed like Doom's place in the industry had come and gone. It's hybrid 3D style fast paced gunning was a marvel at the time, but now long oversaturated and outdone.

So the fact that Doom 64 even exists is wild to me, and I am so glad it does. Rather than being a Doom I to II situation with being more of an expansion, Doom 64 shakes things up a little - primarily in it's art design. I. LOVE. THIS. GAME'S. ATMOSPHERE.

Every monster is updated to fit the horror game aesthetic and they all look fantastic. The lighting effects brought to life by the N64 hardware, and revitalized in the remasters keeps you on edge at all times. The flickering lights in the hallways, the red and blue light casts, the acid-illuminated sewers, it just looks so good. Aubrey Hodges's ambient soundtrack especially nails the environment of the game. There's this one level where the skybox flashes and you can hear thunder in the distance, and it's genuinely amazing. That constant feeling that something is around the corner is what keeps you going.

Gameplay wise, well it's Doom. There's some tweaks here and there, rebalanced weapons, kickback, and the introduction of the Unmaker (dubbed Unmaykr in future installments), a weapon that's upgradable via demon keys found in secret levels. Once all 3 keys are acquired, it becomes the best weapon in the game, melting even Cyberdemons. As for the levels, being on better hardware (full 3D baby) allows more creativity and freedom within the levels, maps themselves can change shape when you progress, (traps are much more prominent as a result) allowing for more interesting levels than 1 & 2. The enemy roster is cut back a bit due to storage limitations, though the returning enemies hit harder than ever, and the more intense level design and traps makes up for their absence.

Of course, there are some mediocre levels that you have to get through, but other than that Doom 64 nails everything it goes. It's gameplay is still as fun as ever, but the scenarios it puts you in is an experience all on it's own. It doesn't get as much attention as it's predecessors, but it's still a phenomenal game.