Doom 3 on Ubuntu

id Software is keeping up its support of Linux gaming with yet another release of its hit PC titles. is a single player sci-fi horror title set in 2145 on Mars. You play an anonymous space marine, who lands on Mars shortly before a gateway to hell opens, which lets demons roam the science base on Mars. You are required to stop the demons from invading Earth. The story of the game is fairly weak. There is a good use of cut scenes which form the story, but you won't miss much from skipping them. Doom 3 is more about the gameplay and environments rather than the story. Doom 3 is like any other first person shooter; the missions are moving to different objectives in linear paths, shooting everything in sight and completing each level. Doom 3 still follows the popular run and gun approach. You have the standard array of weapons, such as pistols, shotguns and assault rifles, which are all effective and sound great when fired. The game is very much a horror game. Instead of having gore-scare, it scares you by using effects and things to make you jump.
Lighting is an important part of the game for achieving the scare factor - flickering lights which could go off any second, and dark corridors with enemies lurking behind any corner. To increase the horror factor of the game, it uses an interesting mechanism which other games have never used. Usually, you are able to use your torch while holding your weapon. However, in Doom 3 you can use only one or the other. You will feel fairly safe with the lights on and your gun in front, but when the lights go out, you will need to switch to the torch with no weapon. Enemies could jump out any second while you are unarmed. It's a mad few seconds when the lights go out - switching to your torch to look around, you see an enemy appear, quickly switch to your gun and aim into the dark. The sound is excellent, which helps build the tension. The sound of
the collapsing base and the growls of approaching enemies all add to the atmosphere. The graphics are stunning, the best in Linux gaming. The shadows and the lighting effects are some of the best in gaming. You will need a powerful graphics card to run the game in all its glory, but the game is also very scalable. There are also online and LAN multiplayers to Doom 3. However, this is a huge disappointment. A few standard game modes and maps, nothing special that we haven't seen before. The size of the online community reflects the quality of the multiplayer. You should play Doom 3 for the single-player story, not the multiplayer.
Doom 3 is an excellent single-player game for Linux. The story may not be great, but the missions are brilliant. It will take you a good 20 hours to complete, with replay value. The lighting and atmosphere for the game are excellent. The new mechanism id has brought to the game - only being able to use torch or gun - you would think to be annoying, but it actually improves the game. The multiplayer is poor, and not even worth playing. The installer is a pain. As with (see FCM# 35), you need the Windows DVD and download the shell installer.
Score: 8/10
Good :
• Enjoyable single player
missions
• Stunning lighting effects
• Great sound
Bad :
• Poor Story
• Bad multiplayer
Specs :
1.5 GHz CPU,
384 MB RAM,
64 MB 3D video card

Source : Full Circle Magazine #36