This is a stunning translation, ported without taking anything
away from purists. The music is pure MIDI and unforgettable. All the levels are intact
from Ultimate Doom, and the enemy roster is complete. The game features a blazing
frame rate that never once dips below its standard speed regardless of the number of
sprites. One noticeable change has occurred, and that's dual analog control. Doom has always played with a single stick/d-pad/keyboard for both moving and turning, along with an additional key for strafing. Since the game does not allow for vertical movement, this is used for nothing more than faster turning and easier strafing. It's a vast improvement given the seemingly minor adjustment.
Running in full HD glory, the mass of pixels that make up the depths of hell keep their retro style. It's a sharper looking experience than what fans are used to, greatly eclipsing the PC original on the proper set up. The sound is also in full 5.1, and this is a stunning enhancement to the experience.
This first-person classic would not be the same without multi-player, and Doom still manages to create an air of addiction. With four-player co-op or deathmatch, either locally via split screen or online with Xbox Live, replay value here cannot be measured. Lag is miniscule, and rarely causes enough of a disruption to be noticeable.
All the extras can't make up for what Doom has always done best, and that's level design. The game could work on its superlative feeling of power when guns are fired into the various denizens of hell, but the corridors are what keep this game playable. To this day, it's hard to find a first person shooter with this much variety, secret areas, and traps all wrapped around the simplistic goal of finding a few colored cards scattered about.
As of the current roster, Doom quickly rises to the status of best retro title on the Live Arcade. Playing this classic on Xbox Live feels like a natural pairing of two perfectly compatible objects. The intensity, fun factor, and lengthy single player campaign make the $10 price meaningless.
