Game:

Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994)

Duration: 11:00

1,018 views

15

Generally seen as an improvement, and for the most part this is correct; it definitely looks better for a start.

The new engine (Southpaw Engine) was developed specifically for the GBA - as such, general performance is much improved with less slowdown, even during heavier skirmishes. All the original PC maps, including the secret Wolfenstein levels, have been included (although the two larger maps, "Industrial Zone" and "The Chasm" have been split for memory reasons), and the music is closer to the original sound (although two tracks are removed, again for memory reasons).

Sadly, it's still plagued by control problems -- weapon switching is still an utter horror to contend with during a heated fight, and for some utterly incredible reason, turning speed is almost unmanageable unless you press the 'walk' button.

Yes, the 'walk' button - unlike every other console port in existence, running is the default here, which affects turning speed. This can make aiming in a very specific direction a total bastard, which can in turn severely hinder gameplay.

Better than the original? Content-wise, it's hard to say 'no'. Almost everything is here, including the hated Arch-Vile, so there's little to complain about. It also includes Multiplayer support, which is always a good thing to have.

Definitely worth a look, but much like the predecessor, vastly inferior to the original. But then that's to be expected.

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