Doom Multiplayer Open Beta - Some Random Thoughts From Someone Who Just Doesn't Care Anymore

[DefunctTheory]

Spoiler: Full Experience

So, the Doom Beta on Steam opened up today. Doom was one of two games I was hyped for this year (The other being Star Fox), so I thought to hell with it, why not. I booted up Steam, went to the Steam page, saw the 'Mostly Negative' rating, said screw it again, and downloaded it. My internet, as it is, took over 4 hours to get it done. Then I booted it up.

The game started by misreading which of my screens was the primary and loading up at a 1680x900 on a 1333x768 TV screen. After waiting 10 minutes for it to actually start, I killed the process and tried again. And again. And again. Fair enough, it's a Beta after all. Finally, it started, at which point I was confronted by the 'Terms and Services' page. After 5 minutes of trying to find the 'Start Game' button on the wrong resolution, I was able to get to the real menu and switch to the right screen. Finally.

At this point, I booted up the multiplayer. After a few minutes, I was assaulted by what I assume was several stoners. So VOIP functionality is working well, to my chagrin. I turned it off (Or rather, I turn them off) and started the match. I'm confronted with 3 classes. Two of them have a shotgun, I random choose one of those and I'm off.

I load into an arena that looks... simplistic, to say the least. I jump around a bit. The double jump works, I suppose. Pretty much every height level change requires a ledge grab to get there. The movement is fairly zoomy. Images of Unreal float through my head. I go forward, and run into my first enemy. I fire my shotgun, and he dies. Someone shoots me, and I die.

The cycle is repeated several times, until the kill limit (75) is reached, and our team wins. I level up and receive several random loot items. Someone on VOIP comments on how the servers are over capacity. I agree in my head, but probably not for the same reason he thinks. I decide to help him, and myself. I hit exit several times, and quit out of the game. I go to Steam and uninstall the Beta.

Doom music continues to play for several minutes before actually dying.

So, the above was my story. For those who don't want to dredge through it, here's my opinion of the Doom Multiplayer Beta.

The Good
-Not a god damn thing.

The Bad
-The game is both fast enough, and yet slow as molasses. Everything actually moves fast, but everything feels slow.
-Double jumping feels pointless. The single jump from a Halo game feels more powerful then a double from Doom. Every change in elevation needs a 'ledge climb' that's awkward and annoying.
-The weapons are flat. Really, really flat. The sound is flat, the visuals are flat, and the impact is flat. When firing weapons, the only feed back you get is a pathetic little number over the enemies head - The weapon itself might as well not be there. When hit, it's even more pathetic. A little red marker shows up, and that's about it. A convenient little message shows up when you're low on health.
-Items are everywhere. And I mean everywhere. They might as well have tiled the arena floors with the stuff. If the enemy sticks around for the whole fight, the items wont help you. If they don't, or you win, you'll be at full health and ammo before you can even think that you need more ammo and health. They might as well have made your gun replenish ammo automatically if it hasn't been fired for half a second, as well as your health if you haven't been hit.
-There are special weapons. You can become a demon. I haven't the slightest idea how to get/do either.
-Everything just feels bad. So bad.

Outside of the Game
Honestly, I question why this was released. The response has been overwhelmingly negative. The multiplayer is a mess, the leveling/loot system is bizarre, and the game just feels terrible, from the weapons to the movement to the sounds to the visuals. It's just bad.

But at the end of it all, I'm grateful, because now I know that on May 13th I'll be 60 dollar less poor then I was going to be. So thanks for that, Bethesda.

So, after all that... what do you guys think? Anyone else played the Beta? What was your experience like? Opinions?

 

[Worgen]

I liked it, while the weapons dont sound particularly meaty I don't dislike how they sound or feel. Plus I dont mind the movement system, the double jump adds some verticality to the combat. The playstyle reminds me more of unreal tournament than doom but then again I never really played doom multi. The two weapon limit is kind of strange but considering how the maps are done I don't think it really hurts the game, having the demon powerup and super gun show up gives both teams something to fight over. The mouse acceleration is also kind of strange but I can live with it. I dont see how its a bad looking game though, looks pretty good to me even though the character models are kinda generic marine. Then again doom guy was pretty generic also, just more in a 90s way.

Really, I think the question is "what is doom?" Cause we have 2 very different doom games already. We have the original doom about you vs hordes of enemies and then we have doom 3 which is much more about you verses one or two tougher enemies.

 

[Saelune]

But...is the single-player good? That's whats been bothering me. I don't give a fuck about the multiplayer, since its not what I played with the old DOOMs. I know DOOM mp was a big deal...when it was a new game, but the single-player was the best part overall.

I don't plan on playing the beta. I'm just going to buy the game and find out if the full game is good. If not, then I own another bad game, but its a game I intend to own regardless, so its just a matter of waiting for me I suppose.

 

[DefunctTheory]

But...is the single-player good? That's whats been bothering me. I don't give a fuck about the multiplayer, since its not what I played with the old DOOMs. I know DOOM mp was a big deal...when it was a new game, but the single-player was the best part overall.

I don't plan on playing the beta. I'm just going to buy the game and find out if the full game is good. If not, then I own another bad game, but its a game I intend to own regardless, so its just a matter of waiting for me I suppose.

I didn't really care about the multiplayer either. I just downloaded it to see what the game felt like. I figured that could at least inform me of the feel.

And it feel's terrible. The movement is disappointing and the weapons are disappointing. Those are two things that easily translate between multi and single player. The level design might be different, but it would have to be fantastically different from the multiplayer to be worthwhile. There's just no impact, at at least to me, that's one of the key parts of Doom.

I can't tell you what to spend your money on, but I highly recommend you pay attention to reviews before dumping 60 bucks. If they don't remark on a disparity between the multi and single player, then pass it.

I liked it, while the weapons dont sound particularly meaty I don't dislike how they sound or feel. Plus I dont mind the movement system, the double jump adds some verticality to the combat. The playstyle reminds me more of unreal tournament than doom but then again I never really played doom multi. The two weapon limit is kind of strange but considering how the maps are done I don't think it really hurts the game, having the demon powerup and super gun show up gives both teams something to fight over. The mouse acceleration is also kind of strange but I can live with it. I dont see how its a bad looking game though, looks pretty good to me even though the character models are kinda generic marine. Then again doom guy was pretty generic also, just more in a 90s way.

Really, I think the question is "what is doom?" Cause we have 2 very different doom games already. We have the original doom about you vs hordes of enemies and then we have doom 3 which is much more about you verses one or two tougher enemies.

I guess we'll just have to disagree. I can't even really remember what the levels looked like really - They were so unremarkable and bland they slid out of my mind. I know there was a lot of red. I think I fell into some lava. Or orange water. And the weapons were just sad. I couldn't even tell what I was getting hit with half the time, with the exception of the plasma rifle, and that was only because there was a distinct blue tracer to see. If they hit me from behind, the hell if I know.

 

[Saelune]

But...is the single-player good? That's whats been bothering me. I don't give a fuck about the multiplayer, since its not what I played with the old DOOMs. I know DOOM mp was a big deal...when it was a new game, but the single-player was the best part overall.

I don't plan on playing the beta. I'm just going to buy the game and find out if the full game is good. If not, then I own another bad game, but its a game I intend to own regardless, so its just a matter of waiting for me I suppose.

I didn't really care about the multiplayer either. I just downloaded it to see what the game felt like. I figured that could at least inform me of the feel.

And it feel's terrible. The movement is disappointing and the weapons are disappointing. Those are two things that easily translate between multi and single player. The level design might be different, but it would have to be fantastically different from the multiplayer to be worthwhile. There's just no impact, at at least to me, that's one of the key parts of Doom.

I can't tell you what to spend your money on, but I highly recommend you pay attention to reviews before dumping 60 bucks. If they don't remark on a disparity between the multi and single player, then pass it.

I prefer to watch videos of gameplay, cause I find "mixed" is my sweet spot of love. But some games I just need to own regardless, and face the consequences first hand. This new DOOM is one such game.

 

[Pickles]

I thought it was alright, serviceable but nothing spectacular.

Everyone does feel a bit too tanky which definitely makes the weapons feel a lot worse. And I see your point about them feeling flat, even the gauss cannon doesn't really feel that exciting.

Two things that stood out though, I had mostly been playing TDM but tried out the other game mode today (with the moving control zone) and I actually had a lot of fun with that. And I really liked the way the rocket launcher worked, with the ability to detonate along on the flight path.

 

[B-Cell_v1legacy]

Multiplayer is bieng made by certain affinity. same guys who made Halo 4 and black ops MP. of course it would be like halo. the day it was announced i expect it to be bad. I dont know why they even bother with releasing MP beta.

ID software only working on SP. and that looks very different.

 

[Poetic Nova]

Without Romero ID really lost their shine honestly.

And from what I've seen and heared the latest Doom is no exception.

 

[Worgen]

I liked it, while the weapons dont sound particularly meaty I don't dislike how they sound or feel. Plus I dont mind the movement system, the double jump adds some verticality to the combat. The playstyle reminds me more of unreal tournament than doom but then again I never really played doom multi. The two weapon limit is kind of strange but considering how the maps are done I don't think it really hurts the game, having the demon powerup and super gun show up gives both teams something to fight over. The mouse acceleration is also kind of strange but I can live with it. I dont see how its a bad looking game though, looks pretty good to me even though the character models are kinda generic marine. Then again doom guy was pretty generic also, just more in a 90s way.

Really, I think the question is "what is doom?" Cause we have 2 very different doom games already. We have the original doom about you vs hordes of enemies and then we have doom 3 which is much more about you verses one or two tougher enemies.

I guess we'll just have to disagree. I can't even really remember what the levels looked like really - They were so unremarkable and bland they slid out of my mind. I know there was a lot of red. I think I fell into some lava. Or orange water. And the weapons were just sad. I couldn't even tell what I was getting hit with half the time, with the exception of the plasma rifle, and that was only because there was a distinct blue tracer to see. If they hit me from behind, the hell if I know.

Well, one level is an industrial type level that wouldn't be out of place in doom or doom 3, and the other is a hellscape complete with fire, lava and chambers with blood dripping from the ceiling. The original doom couldn't match its visual fidelity but doom 3 had some levels kinda like it.

Can you tell what your being shot by in most fps multi games? The game does the standard red screen thing, just around the edge from where the shots are coming from, while in the orignal dooms it was easier to tell you were being shot, it didn't give you any indication where it was coming from. There are pretty big indicators from the weapons, if it explodes it was probably a rocket, the shots from a shotgun or assualt rifle are pretty noticeable and yellow, the sniper and lightning gun both leave a lightning trail. The only one Im not sure about is the stock rifle or something. Its a strange gun that charges up as you run around then fire one round that does more power the longer it charges. Kinda like the sniper rifle, but less power and Im not sure what its shot looks like.

 

[PapaGreg096]

Spoiler: Full Experience

So, the Doom Beta on Steam opened up today. Doom was one of two games I was hyped for this year (The other being Star Fox), so I thought to hell with it, why not. I booted up Steam, went to the Steam page, saw the 'Mostly Negative' rating, said screw it again, and downloaded it. My internet, as it is, took over 4 hours to get it done. Then I booted it up.

The game started by misreading which of my screens was the primary and loading up at a 1680x900 on a 1333x768 TV screen. After waiting 10 minutes for it to actually start, I killed the process and tried again. And again. And again. Fair enough, it's a Beta after all. Finally, it started, at which point I was confronted by the 'Terms and Services' page. After 5 minutes of trying to find the 'Start Game' button on the wrong resolution, I was able to get to the real menu and switch to the right screen. Finally.

At this point, I booted up the multiplayer. After a few minutes, I was assaulted by what I assume was several stoners. So VOIP functionality is working well, to my chagrin. I turned it off (Or rather, I turn them off) and started the match. I'm confronted with 3 classes. Two of them have a shotgun, I random choose one of those and I'm off.

I load into an arena that looks... simplistic, to say the least. I jump around a bit. The double jump works, I suppose. Pretty much every height level change requires a ledge grab to get there. The movement is fairly zoomy. Images of Unreal float through my head. I go forward, and run into my first enemy. I fire my shotgun, and he dies. Someone shoots me, and I die.

The cycle is repeated several times, until the kill limit (75) is reached, and our team wins. I level up and receive several random loot items. Someone on VOIP comments on how the servers are over capacity. I agree in my head, but probably not for the same reason he thinks. I decide to help him, and myself. I hit exit several times, and quit out of the game. I go to Steam and uninstall the Beta.

Doom music continues to play for several minutes before actually dying.

So, the above was my story. For those who don't want to dredge through it, here's my opinion of the Doom Multiplayer Beta.

The Good
-Not a god damn thing.

The Bad
-The game is both fast enough, and yet slow as molasses. Everything actually moves fast, but everything feels slow.
-Double jumping feels pointless. The single jump from a Halo game feels more powerful then a double from Doom. Every change in elevation needs a 'ledge climb' that's awkward and annoying.
-The weapons are flat. Really, really flat. The sound is flat, the visuals are flat, and the impact is flat. When firing weapons, the only feed back you get is a pathetic little number over the enemies head - The weapon itself might as well not be there. When hit, it's even more pathetic. A little red marker shows up, and that's about it. A convenient little message shows up when you're low on health.
-Items are everywhere. And I mean everywhere. They might as well have tiled the arena floors with the stuff. If the enemy sticks around for the whole fight, the items wont help you. If they don't, or you win, you'll be at full health and ammo before you can even think that you need more ammo and health. They might as well have made your gun replenish ammo automatically if it hasn't been fired for half a second, as well as your health if you haven't been hit.
-There are special weapons. You can become a demon. I haven't the slightest idea how to get/do either.
-Everything just feels bad. So bad.

Outside of the Game
Honestly, I question why this was released. The response has been overwhelmingly negative. The multiplayer is a mess, the leveling/loot system is bizarre, and the game just feels terrible, from the weapons to the movement to the sounds to the visuals. It's just bad.

But at the end of it all, I'm grateful, because now I know that on May 13th I'll be 60 dollar less poor then I was going to be. So thanks for that, Bethesda.

So, after all that... what do you guys think? Anyone else played the Beta? What was your experience like? Opinions?

I have no idea what you are talking about the fast and slow thing, I personally think the game moves fine
I don't know why a ledge climb makes the umping feels useless, sure they are annoying but I don't see how it makes useless hell the double jump helps me get from point a to point be faster
I agree with the weapons part
Well we don't have regenerative health and looking for ammo helps you scavange
If you have the hack then you can see the weapons and the demon spawn

 

[Morgoth780]

I really didn't enjoy it. I played for about with a couple of friends, and I haven't played since. Now, admittedly, I'm absolute trash at it apparently, so I was just getting stomped all over the place. But I didn't find it interesting enough to keep playing. Arena shooters have never really been my thing though

 

[Smooth Operator]

Didn't play it but I did stumble into a stream of it and had no idea which game was being played (same as most people joining), then the streamer started joking around that it was a new Halo and it never ever remotely registered with me this was not the case... the game looks like Halo.
Now to some people that is a major bonus but I am not fond of those games, and I certainly won't shell out money for a "Doom" title that I can't even recognize.

 

[Zhukov]

Meh.

It feels like playing Halo with most of the gameplay missing.

My God those character designs are ugly as fuck.

 

[chrissx2]

I'm downloading it right now and from what I'm reading (here and on steam), it's not going to be a pleasant experiance.

 

[MHR]

My secondary passtime has been browsing forums and reading and posting about how bad it is. No thanks.

I didn't play it because it crashed 5 times.

 

[Evilsausage]

I tried the Doom beta and got tired of it after 30 mins.
The Unreal Tournament Alpha even though its far less complete, was still much more fun. It felt like old UT.
New Doom just felt shitty, dunno how ID can keep failing like this.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Without Romero ID really lost their shine honestly.

And from what I've seen and heared the latest Doom is no exception.

Do you actually mean John Romero, or do you mean John Carmack?

Because Romero left after Quake and has done very little of note since then beside an advertisement for Daikatana promising us we'd be his *****.

 

[MeatMachine]

I found it to be serviceable, and even had some fun with it. But yeah, very underwhelming and disappointing.

-Slow movement speed, only somewhat offset by elements of verticality/climbing.
-Doublejump barely effects momentum, and can't be used for dodging - only climbing/platforming.
-Armor/Health spawns are too pervasive, making post-firefight survival a nonissue.
-Weapons don't feel satisfying to use, and there is almost no indication you are being shot to shit by enemies.
-Rocket launcher does between 15-55 damage usually... what the actual fuck? No really, 15-55 damage PER ROCKET!
-Pointless progression system that bars most weapons/modules behind arbitrary participation milestones, because fuck you.
-Completely randomized, mismatched cosmetic drops that all look equally ugly and indistinguishable.
-Restrictive, class-style loadouts that lock you into a specific tactic for that life - can't even pick up dropped weapons.
-3/6 loadout slots are frozen defaults - the other 3 customizable loadout slots have to be unlocked with exp, because fuck you again.

In spite of all of this, it can still be enjoyable, but holy shit I don't like the overall direction they took DOOM multiplayer in.

 

[Barbas]

The little I played of it was thoroughly unremarkable. It was...oddly blurry and the characters moved too slowly. I didn't understand the "hack" system very well and don't really care to.