Summary
Adrenaline. Horror. Doom.
The Good
The graphics are simply awesome. Yes, if you stick your nose on the wall you will notice some low-res textures. Indeed. However, the models are several levels above anything currently on the market. I don't mean to rain on your Far Cry, but the models in Far Cry and Painkiller look funny in comparison. And the engine is comparatively lighter than both Far Cry and Painkiller. I'm using a Radeon 9100 card and both games gave me much grief (especially Painkiller which simply refused to go on after a particular level). Sound is simply the best I've heard in a game
As for the AI, frankly I don't see what the problem is. It is simple and straightforward, but effective. The marines are especially good: they execute rolls, make slight sidesteps, take cover behind obstacles and it is VERY hard to hit them without being hit yourself. And they are not inhumanly accurate either. There were several occasions in Far Cry where the "revolutionary" AI just sat and stared at nothing while you shot them to pieces. That never happens in Doom 3.
In a few words, Doom 3 is atmospheric, scary and offers simple, yet enjoyable shooter gameplay.
The Bad
There isn't much interaction with all the items, but I suspect that the engine would become too heavy if there was. Plot and characters are relatively simple, but this is a Doom game, after all. I suppose it had all the story it needed.
The Bottom Line
It is a worthy sequel to Doom I and II and it is good. This is NOT Half-Life 2 or Far Cry and it shouldn't be. It is a straightforward horror FPS game with excellent production values. Not perfect or groundbreaking as its predecessors, but an excellent game nonetheless.
