Don’t let the fidelity of the visuals put you off, though. The characters all look a bit “potato” with tiny heads and overly wide shoulders. They look poor compared to the likes of Doom VFR and even Skyrim VR (the original game of which is of a similar vintage). The visuals are that of a nearly decade-old game.
The PlayStation Aim controller is supported and does work pretty well, although it is recommended that you stand whilst using this controller. Rather surprisingly, PlayStation Move controllers are not supported, likely due to the lack of a teleport movement option (which I detest in VR games). The PS4 controller gave me a little bit of movement in order to point my weapon around cover, without having to mess about too much. I’m not a fan of “immersing” myself in VR pointing and reaching for stuff. I played the game with a PSVR plugged into a PlayStation 5, using a PS4 DualShock for the controls (the PS5 controller doesn’t work with PSVR) and a PS4 camera (with the PS5 adapter). The actual shooting is from a pair of disembodied hands gripping the weapons in front of you. There are plenty of weapons, as is the Doom trademark. Could be that the room was just a bit hot or that the movement is a little too slow compared to Doom VFR. I set it to smooth movement with no vignette as I usually do.Ĭompared to Doom VFR and pretty much every other VR game, I did find myself feeling just a little queasy after an extended play. There’s also the option to vignette the view whilst turning. Turns can be set to snap to position or continuously turn. The game has the usual comfort settings for VR newbies and those with a weak stomach.
The linear levels also make for a VR experience that isn’t too disorientating, although I did lose my bearings a few times. The corridors of Doom 3 work well in VR, giving players a real sense of immersion. And it’s up to the player to mop up the problem. After the UAC opens a portal to Hell the outpost becomes overrun with zombies and demons. Having already played a modded version of Doom 3 in VR on the PC, I knew going in that this was going to be very different from the balls-to-the-wall action of Bethesda’s other Doom VR game, the subtly named Doom VFR.ĭoom 3 is set on a Martian colony where uber-corporation, the Union Aerospace Corporation, or UAC, have been up to no good. Whilst the Doom reboot and its follow-up, Doom Eternal continue to thrill fans of first-person shooters, back in 2004 Doom 3 was less over-the-top action and more chilling corridor horror. This time, following Skyrim, Fallout 4, and the Doom reboot, it’s the turn of Id’s seminal Doom 3 to get an added dimension. Bethesda continues its admirable support of virtual reality gaming by bringing another of its back catalogue to PlayStation VR.