Doom 3: BFG Edition

Doom 3: BFG Edition
Doom 3: BFG Edition
Developer(s)	id Software
Publisher(s)	Bethesda Softworks
Designer(s)	Jerry Keehan
Programmer(s)	Brian Harris; John Carmack;
Artist(s)	Kevin Cloud; Andy Chang; Pat Duffy;
Series	Doom
Engine	id Tech 4
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows; PlayStation 3; Xbox 360; Nvidia Shield Tablet; Nvidia Shield TV; Nintendo Switch; PlayStation 4; Xbox One;
Release	PS3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows NA: October 16, 2012; AU: October 18, 2012; EU: October 19, 2012; JP: November 22, 2012; Nvidia Shield Tablet, Nvidia Shield TV NA: June 4, 2015; NS, PS4, Xbox One WW: July 26, 2019; PlayStation VR WW: March 29, 2021;
Genre(s)	Survival horror, first-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Doom 3: BFG Edition is a remastered version of Doom 3, which released on October 16, 2012 in North America and on October 19, 2012 in Europe for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.^[1] The BFG Edition features enhanced graphics, better audio (with more horror effects), a checkpoint save system, and support for 3D displays and head-mounted displays (HMD). The game also includes the previous expansion, Resurrection of Evil, and a new single-player expansion pack called The Lost Mission. Additionally, it includes copies of the original Doom (specifically the Ultimate Doom which includes a fourth episode: "Thy Flesh Consumed"), and Doom II which includes a second episode: No Rest for the Living, which was previously available for the Xbox 360. The BFG Edition also features the ability to use the flashlight while holding a weapon, in the form of the armor-mounted flashlight.^[2]

The source code of Doom 3: BFG Edition's game engine was released under the GNU GPL-3.0-or-later on November 26, 2012.

On June 4, 2015, Doom 3: BFG Edition was released as Doom 3 for Nvidia Shield Tablet and Nvidia Shield TV without online multiplayer.

On July 26, 2019, Doom 3: BFG Edition was released as Doom 3 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.^[3]

On March 29, 2021, Doom 3: BFG Edition was released as Doom 3: VR Edition for PlayStation 4 via PlayStation VR.

Plot

Doom 3

Resurrection of Evil

The Lost Mission

The player takes the role of the last surviving member of Bravo team, which was seen being ambushed by demons in Doom 3. The Bravo team survivor is contacted by Dr. Richard Meyers (voiced by Paul Eiding), a scientist working on teleportation experiments in Exis Labs, and asked to help Meyers destroy an experimental teleportation array that was captured by the demons and is currently held deep inside Hell. The array is potentially powerful enough to send an army of demons all the way to Earth, hence Meyers' desperation to destroy it. To achieve this goal, the marine must acquire the components necessary to activate the Exis Labs teleportation system, then travel to Hell in order to destroy the teleportation array. In the epilogue, the marine is teleported by Dr. Meyers back to Mars. The reinforcements from Earth arrive to search for another marine who is still missing; eventually, they find him in the Delta Labs complex.^[4]

DOOM (Ultimate Doom) & DOOM II (Hell on Earth) + No Rest for the Living

Main Articles: Doom (1993 video game) / Doom II

Remasters of the first two DOOM games with remastered controls. Some things worth noting that are unique to this version is that this release of the games uses the Gravis Ultrasound soundfont rather than the OPL2 (used in the original DOS version) or SC-55 (intended sound, used in many modern releases) soundfonts. What's also interesting is that playing the games on the "Nightmare!" difficulty does not cause certain demons (like pinkies) to speed up like in other versions. This version of the games also has far inferior lighting than the original or other releases of the games, with far less shading and a lack of some dynamic lights.

Reception

The BFG Edition received mixed reviews. The rework of the graphics and sound design, and inclusion of the new Lost Mission content were praised. Most of the criticism was toward long loading times, forced auto-saves, and a control scheme which forces the player to cycle through their weapons continuously in order to access a particular weapon – a feature deemed extremely inappropriate given the game's suspenseful, action-oriented gameplay. The controls overall were considered a step backwards due to the original version Doom 3 allowing players to assign weapons to hotkeys. The new addition of the flashlight being part of your weapon and not a separate one was also heavily criticized, with many players arguing that having the ability to use weapons and the flashlight simultaneously had "ruined the atmosphere" of the original game.

Notes

^ Nvidia Lightspeed Studios developed the Nvidia Shield version. Panic Button developed the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions. Archiact Interactive developed the PlayStation VR version.