DOOM II

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,317 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
DOOM II Game Cover
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DOOM II is a classic first-person shooter where players must save Earth from an invasion of powerful demons. The game offers enhanced and original versions, featuring new weapons like the Super Shotgun and iconic enemies like the Icon of Sin. Additionally, it includes TNT: Evilution, The Plutonia Experiment, and Master Levels for Doom II, providing countless hours of intense FPS action.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,317 reviews
gameplay96 positive mentions
story10 negative mentions
  • gameplay326 mentions

    The gameplay of Doom II is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics that build upon the original Doom, introducing new weapons like the super shotgun and a variety of enemies that enhance the combat experience. While many players appreciate the engaging level design and the nostalgic feel, some criticize the later levels for being overly gimmicky and less enjoyable than those in the first game. Overall, the game remains a classic, offering a satisfying gameplay loop that is still relevant today, especially with the support of numerous mods that expand its replayability.

    • “The gameplay is fast, furious, and unforgiving, demanding quick reflexes and strategic thinking.”
    • “The gameplay is fluid, the controls are responsive, and the gunplay is satisfying.”
    • “Doom II expands and refines the gameplay of the original, with more weapons, enemies, and challenge.”
    • “Doom II's gameplay is the same as Doom '93 with the addition of the iconic super shotgun and some new enemies, which is good and adds some extra variety to the demon slaying you'll be doing, but the game loses me at about the mid-way point where the level design becomes a pure headache.”
    • “Unfortunately, I felt like most of the levels in the game weren't that fun to play on, which is the only thing I can really criticize since the core gameplay between the first one and this is basically the same.”
    • “Doom II, while improving gameplay mechanics of Doom, brings a lot of frustration with its level design.”
  • graphics234 mentions

    The graphics of Doom II are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 1994 origins, yet they maintain a nostalgic charm that resonates with many players. While some critiques highlight the lack of color and detail compared to modern titles, others appreciate the game's iconic enemy designs and atmospheric visuals that contribute to its enduring appeal. Overall, the graphics may not impress by today's standards, but they effectively complement the gameplay and can be enhanced through various mods for a more modern experience.

    • “The game's iconic enemy designs, imaginative environments, and visceral gore effects create a unique and captivating aesthetic that holds up well, even by today's standards.”
    • “Doom II, while not on par with modern AAA titles, retains a certain charm in its pixelated graphics.”
    • “The graphics look good for almost being 29 years old, but they are old.”
    • “The graphics aren't as colorful as the first game, which makes Doom II less appealing to look at.”
    • “You can replay this classic all you want, but with these really outdated visuals, I honestly think that this game is losing its charm and relevancy as time goes by.”
    • “Now, unless nostalgia is at play, you will want to gouge your eyes out because of the awful graphics and hit or miss level design.”
  • music222 mentions

    The music in Doom II is widely praised for its energetic and iconic soundtrack, composed by Bobby Prince, which enhances the intense gameplay experience. While many players celebrate the nostalgic and heavy metal tracks that perfectly accompany the demon-slaying action, some critiques mention that certain calmer pieces feel out of place amidst the chaos. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's enduring appeal.

    • “This, combined with the game's industrial, ambient soundtrack, creates an intense and exhilarating experience, reminiscent of the John Wick film series.”
    • “The sound design is equally remarkable, with the iconic heavy metal soundtrack by Bobby Prince providing the perfect backdrop for the demon-slaying carnage.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece of metal fury.”
    • “The music is strangely enough no longer guitar shredding metal and is instead a more laid back industrial techno sounding type of genre.”
    • “Overall the soundtrack is a little out of place and not as rockin' or ambient as the original.”
    • “The frame rate runs at a constant stutter, the music is off beat, it has some performance issues oddly enough, and more that I'm sure I didn't encounter.”
  • story129 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as minimal and often overshadowed by its fast-paced action and gameplay. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and creepy elements of the narrative, many criticize the lack of depth and complexity, with several noting that the focus is primarily on killing demons rather than storytelling. Overall, the game is seen as a continuation of the original's premise, but with a less engaging plot that serves mainly as a backdrop for the action.

    • “Its level design and puzzles are amazing yet creepy; there are so many points where you feel off and don't know what it is or if anything even happened (spoiler alert: something happened and you don't fully recognize it), and the story, both from the actual game and the text document that comes with it, is amazing.”
    • “The visual storytelling from the first installment is present here; the section taking place in the city is by far the most compelling section of the game.”
    • “Taking place right after the first game's ending, the story unfolds on Earth, which has been devastated by an invasion from the forces of hell after the Doomguy kicked their ass on Mars.”
    • “The story itself, starting off with a mission to shuttle the last remaining survivors off-world via a great spaceship, feels too high concept for the anonymously gloomy environments, and as you progress into hell for the third act, much of it lacks the bite that hell had in the original game.”
    • “The story in this game felt weird and the final boss fight was underwhelming.”
    • “More doom, exactly the same as doom but with worse levels, story is almost non-existent, I get lost more easily, plenty of guns, more bad guys, not so much replayability, plenty of doom.”
  • replayability45 mentions

    Doom II offers exceptional replayability, primarily due to its robust modding community that continues to create an endless array of custom maps and gameplay modifications, ensuring fresh experiences even decades after its release. While the base game provides solid replay value, the true longevity comes from user-generated content, making it a timeless classic with virtually infinite replay potential. Overall, players can enjoy countless hours of gameplay, whether through mods or the original content.

    • “Infinite replayability with the modding community.”
    • “The immense amount of player-made wads, ranging from new maps to full-on gameplay conversions, provides near endless replayability.”
    • “Oh how can I forget the modding community? On top of a wonderful base game, you got endless mods and custom levels to play, increasing the replay value of what can be seen as a simple FPS game from 1994 into an art of its own.”
    • “Personally not an enjoyable time on its own; again, most of the replayability of classic Doom comes from user-made content, not the base game.”
    • “More Doom, exactly the same as Doom but with 'worse' levels, story is almost non-existent, I get lost more easily, plenty of guns, more bad guys, not so much replayability, plenty of Doom.”
    • “Oh how can I forget the modding community? On top of a wonderful base game, you've got endless mods and custom levels to play, ranging from all qualities, but luckily the best of the best are not too hard to find and increase the replay value of what can be seen as a simple FPS game from 1994 into an art of its own.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, particularly in later levels where backtracking and complex level designs lead to a slog rather than enjoyable gameplay. While some enemy encounters are fun and varied, the overall experience can feel like a drawn-out chore, requiring significant time investment to progress. The music and sound design receive praise, but they do little to alleviate the monotony of the grinding experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “However, this complexity often turns tedious.”
    • “Of course, I've skipped to the last level and the bonus levels since those can be fun...but the game crosses from fun challenge to tedious slog for a good chunk for me.”
    • “The entire Doom series has too many annoying, tedious maps where you have to stroll around endless corridors searching for the blue, yellow, and red key, searching for the switch that opens the door.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently described as absurd and over-the-top, with players finding amusement in its quirky characters, ridiculous scenarios, and exaggerated violence. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of gameplay, such as funny enemy designs and humorous in-game situations, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's limitations, the humor remains a standout feature that enhances its charm.

    • “Not only does Skeletor look so stupid that it makes him funny looking and lovable, but he is also one of the most dangerous enemies in the game.”
    • “There’s even one level where you can get a cyberdemon and a spiderdemon to fight, which is as hardcore as it is hilarious to watch.”
    • “So combined with the gameplay, style, design choices, and just simply the fact that you could never run out of levels to play, even if that involves sitting back and laughing at the bad ones, classic Doom, and more specifically Doom II, is 100% worth the 5 bucks.”
  • atmosphere21 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and gritty qualities, effectively combining dark visuals, eerie sound design, and diverse level environments to create a foreboding tone. Players appreciate the blend of fast-paced combat with a sense of dread, reminiscent of classic retro shooters, which continues to captivate even in the face of dated graphics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as thick, vivid, and engaging, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly.

    • “This is an incredibly atmospheric retro shooter set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.”
    • “The atmosphere is very strong, making you feel like the earth has been corrupted with flesh and metallic walls, and the living eye switches that blink when you touch them or the pools of blood. You go to factories, cities, and more.”
    • “The gritty, gruesome visuals and eerie atmosphere add to the game's dark and foreboding tone.”
    • “While the visuals may seem dated by today's standards, the atmosphere created by the game's sound design and level design is still effective in immersing players in its demonic world.”
    • “The atmosphere and dread is gone, with more gimmick levels and bland suburban designs thrown in.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting smooth performance and fluid gameplay, while others experience significant glitches, such as freezing at the title screen or during gameplay. While it runs well on certain systems, particularly Windows 10 with DOSBox, many players encounter bugs that can hinder the experience, necessitating external fixes or workarounds. Overall, the game is described as playable but marred by stability issues that detract from its enjoyment.

    • “4-5 hours of playtime on a single charge; everything is fluid and runs great.”
    • “Bug-free experience.”
    • “The game runs great on my Windows 7 64-bit.”
    • “Doom 2 is great since it has controller support, but the only problem I'm having is that the game freezes up during the secret levels and doesn't want to send me to the next map.”
    • “I want to put it in the middle because while the classic controls version is excellent, and even has some controller support (you still need the keyboard though), the non-classic controls version is unplayable on Windows 10 (freezes on title screen).”
    • “I'm sure this game is great and I was very excited to play it, but it doesn't work; it goes to the title screen and freezes.”
  • optimization11 mentions

    The optimization of the remastered classic is mixed, with some users noting that it runs smoothly on modern systems like Windows 10+, while others experience performance issues such as stuttering and off-beat music. Many recommend using community-created source ports like Zandronum, ZDoom, or PrBoom-Plus for better performance, as the default setup using DOSBox is not well-optimized. Overall, while the game retains its charm, it requires additional tweaks for optimal performance on newer hardware.

    • “A Windows 95/98 classic remastered to run smoothly on Windows 10+.”
    • “- Hilariously small file size with great optimization (thanks Carmack! But I guess it's a given with how old it is by now).”
    • “As with the original Doom, Zandronum or any other modernizer/patch are recommended to make this game run smoothly with newer computers.”
    • “The frame rate runs at a constant stutter, the music is offbeat, it has some performance issues oddly enough, and more that I'm sure I didn't encounter.”
    • “The fake DOS emulation done by the game (without the module) is poorly optimized and runs poorly.”
    • “This Steam release uses DOSBox to emulate a DOS environment for the game, but its default setup is not optimized.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players appreciating the calmness and resilience of characters, while others find the lack of a compelling storyline and dialogue disappointing. The gameplay can evoke strong feelings, particularly through challenging levels that can be emotionally taxing, yet the music stands out as a significant emotional highlight. Overall, the emotional depth varies, with some players feeling a connection to the gameplay and others longing for a richer narrative.

    • “It's, uh, emotionally devastating, for when you're feeling a bit too cocky after beating Plutonia on ultra-violence and need to get knocked down a couple notches.”
    • “New enemies that make you feel like you want to cry.”
    • “Doom 2 is a touching tale of a space soldier and his super shotgun trying to get by in a city run by hell demons.”
    • “The story is pretty boring, and you might want to skip through the cutscenes, which detracts from the emotional engagement of the game.”
    • “While there are great classic levels and a variety of weapons and enemies, the lack of a compelling narrative makes it hard to feel emotionally invested.”
    • “The music is fantastic and my favorite part of the game, but the overall emotional experience is diminished by the uninspiring story.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, limited-time events, and DLC, which detracts from the overall experience and balance, particularly in multiplayer. Reviewers suggest that the game feels like a cash grab with a lack of originality, recommending alternatives like "Doom Eternal" and mods such as "Brutal Doom" for a more authentic and enjoyable experience.

    • “7 weapons, no secondary weapon mode, no mods, no ads.”
    • “Time travel to before microtransactions, broken game releases, and DLC, focusing on perfect fun, skill, and, of course, hell.”
    • “Modern doom = microtransactions, limited time events, DLC, unbalanced multiplayer.”
    • “If you want to play an actual good Doom game, play Doom Eternal and don't get this shameless cash grab with no originality.”
    • “Time travel to before microtransactions, broken game releases, and DLC; focus on perfect fun, skill, and, of course, hell.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by American McGee's imaginative design and Adrian Carmack's strikingly grotesque character designs and landscapes, which create a haunting and memorable experience for players.

    • “American McGee brings his imaginative design skills, and Adrian Carmack, not related to John but just as talented, gives us those grotesque character designs and landscapes that stick in your nightmares.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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