Review by: the Dark Falcon

After a whopping 25 months on the console market, the Sega Saturn finally gets their own version of Doom, following the previously released versions for Nintendo 64 and Playstation. However, going after this version rather than the aforementioned ones is sort of like going to a steak house and ordering a plate of Spam- you're getting the lesser product when such a better one is available.

To be fair, Doom could have been horrifically worse. For example, the SNES version was chunked to the point that it could have been peanut butter, and the 3DO version reminded all of us just how painful a console it really was. So, there are worse versions. In the light of 32 and 64-bit awakening, however, I expected more.

The graphics pale in comparison not only to the PS and N64 Dooms, but also other Saturn first-person shooters like Powerslave and Hexen. They're dull-colored, washed-out sprites with poorly animated enemies and undetailed hallways that remind me of my years in middle school (believe me, they're that bad looking). The pixilation also leaves a lot to be desired.

Nothing seems to be wrong with the sound, mind a few muffled growls and groans. The music is right on target, mostly lifted from the Playstation version, so nothing new, yet nothing horribly amplified through an amateur Yamaha keyboard- sort of a good/bad thing.

The control doesn't seem to have a problem, but, since the game moves at a snail-like pace, it never seems to totally click. Even with the use of the analog pad (a feature welcomed to future first-person shooters, if you're paying attention), it never really comes together- and that's a shame. With a little more detailing on the speed, Doom might have been the playable game.

I wasn't really looking forward to another Doom review, to be honest, but I came into it with my highest expectations. After all, GT Interactive produced it, not some third party company like Art Data (the team behind the 3DO version- the last I heard, they got involved in the wonderful world of plumbing). But, after playing it, I can truly say it was a case of too little, too late. So many better games are out now, and some, like Sega's own Duke Nukem, are on the way, and to see GT Interactive fold rather than work on their product and give it the gloss it needs to succeed kinda hurts. Go ahead and multiply that if you're a Doom fan.

So, I conclude this review with the score of 3 out of 10, and, folks, that is being generous.