DOOM VFR
- November 29, 2017
- id Software
- 3h median play time
Doom VFR is a brave shooter that proves that VR games don’t have to be conservative with movement to work.
In DOOM VFR, players experience the fast-paced, brutal combat of the DOOM franchise in a new virtual reality setting. As a cybernetic UAC survivor, players must fight off hordes of demons and solve puzzles to uncover the mystery of a UAC research facility on Mars. With intense gunplay and immersive environments, DOOM VFR delivers a thrilling and challenging VR experience for fans of the series.
Reviews
- Intense and immersive gameplay that captures the essence of Doom.
- Great graphics and sound design, enhancing the overall experience.
- Fun combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and enemies.
- Awful controls, particularly for Oculus and Index users, with no smooth turning option.
- Short campaign length, taking only about 2-4 hours to complete.
- Frequent crashes and technical issues, making the game frustrating to play.
- graphics313 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in Doom VFR are generally praised for their impressive quality, with many users noting that they are on par with or even exceed those of Doom 2016. While some players experienced graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, the overall consensus is that the visuals are stunning and contribute significantly to the immersive VR experience. However, there are also complaints about inconsistent performance and the need for better optimization, especially regarding graphical settings and controls.
“The graphics are absolutely fantastic.”
“Amazing graphics, good performance on lower-end PCs and no technical issues.”
“The game's graphics are also impressive, with detailed and realistic environments that add to the overall immersion.”
“Very short and kinda bad graphics compared to Doom 2016, also glitchy.”
“The graphics are lacking.”
“The game's graphics are noticeably much worse than Doom 2016 (which I own and played extensively on my GTX 1080). The lighting seems to have this weird sheen to it and the fuzzy textures kind of suck.”
- gameplay291 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Doom VFR has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, immersive action and satisfying gun mechanics, reminiscent of Doom 2016. However, players have expressed frustration with the implementation of core mechanics, particularly the teleportation and dash movement systems, which can feel clunky and lead to motion sickness. While the visuals and overall experience are often highlighted as strong points, the lack of smooth locomotion options and occasional bugs detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
“However, it nailed the mechanics and immersion of a VR game, which a lot of companies fail to grasp.”
“The gameplay is smooth and looks great in VR.”
“The gameplay is exciting with enough downtime to catch your breath.”
“It's almost a port of Doom 2016 in the fact that a lot of the general mechanics are there, just half finished.”
“Movement is god awful with no turning mechanics and kills feel very unsatisfying.”
“The main problem is the undercooked gameplay.”
- story240 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either bland or lacking depth, often feeling like a rehash of Doom (2016) rather than a standalone narrative. While some appreciate the attempt to provide context and a new perspective, others criticize it for being short and unengaging, with many preferring to focus on the gameplay rather than the plot. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the story exists, it is not a significant draw for players, who primarily seek action and gameplay in the Doom franchise.
“First of all, why does everyone think this game is bad? Doom VFR has an amazing story, amazing music, and the weapon mechanics are wonderful.”
“I'm strongly pleased to say that it has its own story, and it's not just a rehash.”
“The story is interesting and gives your character purpose.”
“The configuration settings are very lacking, the support for the Valve Index knuckles is abysmal, the combatants and combat arenas have a cartoonish appearance, the combat is uninteresting and there is essentially no story.”
“The story is mostly the same with a few minor changes, and the combat for this game is top-notch for VR.”
“The story is incredibly bland and I would have skipped everything about it for just more linear pew pew pew.”
- stability132 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and control issues, particularly on the Quest 2 headset. While some players experienced smooth performance and minimal glitches, others faced frequent freezes and graphical problems that hindered gameplay. Overall, the game appears to be a "buggy mess" for many, leading to frustration and requests for refunds, despite some acknowledging its potential and enjoyable aspects once operational.
“Not buggy, very replayable and commands a different play style to the non-VR version that I actually found more enjoyable.”
“My experience was bug-free and fun; I know I'll be coming back to this one again and again.”
“It also runs great with my Radeon RX 580 8GB on the Vive, no hitching or anything to me, smooth as butter.”
“With some of the decisions that Bethesda has made recently and with the fact that the game crashes on me constantly when I'm trying to play, I cannot recommend this. It's very buggy and completely unplayable for me.”
“The menu system is extremely buggy and the game consistently hangs after 10-15 minutes of playtime.”
“There are many bugs and frustrating glitches that can require frequent reloading of checkpoints, or even the game itself.”
- optimization103 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its impressive performance and graphics on higher-end systems, while others report significant issues, particularly with lower-end setups and specific VR controllers. While some users experienced smooth gameplay and minimal stuttering, others faced performance drops, tracking issues, and poor control optimization, indicating that further improvements are needed for a more consistent experience across various hardware configurations.
“Amazing graphics, good performance on lower-end PCs and no technical issues.”
“I'm most impressed by the performance; it doesn't drop a single frame no matter how much is going on when playing on my G2 at full resolution.”
“The performance is great; however, there seems to be a constant issue with loss of tracking, freezes, and random crashes.”
“Game is horribly if even at all optimized for the index.”
“Avoid at all costs if you own an index or Oculus; however, the game is simply not optimized for touch/index controllers and plays horribly even with custom binds.”
“Horrible optimization, it ran real bad on my i7-6700k & gtx1080 setup.”
- music64 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in Doom VFR is largely praised for its heavy, adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, which is consistent with the acclaimed score from Doom 2016. While many players appreciate the nostalgic and immersive experience it provides during fast-paced gameplay, some feel that the soundtrack could have benefited from additional original compositions or better integration with the game's mechanics. Overall, the music enhances the action and atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and volume balance.
“The music is the same Mick Gordon stuff from Doom 2016, which is most definitely a good thing.”
“The music was amazing and some of the fights were extremely difficult.”
“Great music - gets the adrenaline pumping!”
“First of all, the whole soundtrack and sound effects just suck. It's kind of inspired by the original Doom 2016, but lacks the continuous soundtrack that plays all the time, and it lacks so many incredible sound effects from the 2016 game. If you've played the original, the sound when you pick up an argent cell is disappointing and doesn't feel good.”
“The music pacing seems off to me; it uses the same soundtrack from Doom, which makes it feel repetitive and uninspired.”
“The only issue I had was that the music stopped playing, and I couldn't hear anything during the first minute of the game.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and dark qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Doom franchise with impressive graphics and sound design. While some players express a desire for new environments, the overall experience is described as fast-paced and atmospheric, enhancing the thrill of gameplay with a blend of action and horror elements. The combination of tight controls and engaging visuals contributes to a compelling and enjoyable atmosphere that resonates with fans.
“The levels are visually nice enough for me personally to enjoy doing desktop work while admiring the atmosphere.”
“Graphics, sound, atmosphere, handling of the guns, immersion... it's all there and believe me: it will blow you away!!!”
“Extremely atmospheric.”
“And yet, the low resolution of first-gen VR systems means the gory atmosphere is lost in translation.”
“I really would have liked to see some new environments and atmospheres here.”
“I'm more of a Doom 3 guy because I prefer the scary atmosphere in that game, but this Doom is certainly fun enough.”
- humor15 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional glitches and absurd situations, such as enemies freezing and game crashes triggered by simple actions. While some players found moments of genuine hilarity, particularly in VR encounters, others expressed disappointment in the overall execution, suggesting that the humor often stemmed from the game's flaws rather than intentional comedic design. Overall, the humor is seen as hit-or-miss, with some players appreciating the absurdity while others found it lacking.
“Enemies would occasionally freeze in place, which was quite funny.”
“You see, it does this funny thing where it immediately crashes the game to SteamVR if you even take a glance at the red beam shooting out of the tower, so once you get to that section of the game, make sure you get up as fast as you can without looking directly at the beam.”
“Kind of funny to still be hunting yellow keycards in space after all these years.”
“It's not funny this time, such a pity.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the secrets and collectibles that enhance replay value, many criticize the limited number of levels and overall content, suggesting that it lacks substantial replayability. Some users note that higher difficulty settings and unlockable classic stages offer additional incentive to replay, but overall, the game is seen as lacking depth and variety, making it less appealing for repeated playthroughs.
“There aren't many levels, I finished the game in 4 hours at the easiest difficulty, but there are secrets and new maps to unlock, and the replayability is very high because the game is awesome.”
“Great level design with plenty of secrets and collectibles adds replayability.”
“The replayability, for me at least, is tremendous, and I'm definitely showing this game off when people play my Vive.”
“Not very replayable though.”
“I would recommend this but only if it's on sale for 15 dollars or less, as 30 bucks is a bit steep with this game having limited replayability.”
“Unless there are some super deep secrets I am not aware of, the game offers roughly eight short stages, with the only replay value being the classic Doom stages you can unlock, which is double that of the regular levels.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of nostalgia and frustration among players, with some experiencing pleasure from the gameplay mechanics while others feel hindered by restrictive controls. While fans of the genre may find enjoyment, the game's limitations can lead to emotional disappointment, particularly for those expecting a more fluid experience reminiscent of classic titles like Doom. Overall, the emotional responses vary widely, reflecting both personal attachment to the genre and dissatisfaction with certain gameplay elements.
“It genuinely made me feel nostalgic for a game I played a few years ago.”
“This is, however, probably to a great extent only because of my fanboyism, so if you really love Doom and have the tools to enjoy this game, go for it, but otherwise wait until they file the sharpest corners off this thing or you hurt yourself (emotionally) bad enough that you may not want to return.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is criticized as a cash grab by Bethesda, with reviewers expressing disappointment in the lack of innovation and quality, suggesting that the game feels like a rushed attempt to capitalize on the VR market rather than a genuine effort to enhance the Doom experience.
“This is another of Bethesda's 'me too' VR cash grabs, and at this point, it's my own fault for still giving them money.”
“Thanks for the cash grab, Bethesda.”
“But what you can't fix is sloppy development for a quick cash grab.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game initially engaging but quickly label it as tedious and repetitive, with some expressing frustration over gameplay mechanics and performance issues that exacerbate the grind.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's eye-catching for 5 minutes and extremely tedious afterwards.”
“Playing the game can be tedious with how the guns work, and how the headset will always have low LOD so it can run stable.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight impressive graphics and level design, they do not provide specific insights into character development, suggesting that this aspect may not have been a focal point for players.
Critic Reviews
Doom VFR Review
Doom VFR is a brave shooter that proves that VR games don’t have to be conservative with movement to work.
80%Doom VFR PSVR Review
... a sensation that only a Doom game can provide, the epicness is cranked up to eleven when playing in VR.
80%Doom VFR Review - Doomed
When Doom VFR is at its best it's a fast paced game that uses VR to shine. It just holds up the action a little too often, and requires making some control compromises.
70%