Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Doom 2D takes the frantic run-and-gun formula of the original Doom and translates it into a side-scrolling platformer. You’ll dash across narrow ledges, leap over pits of lava and face off against hordes of imps, cacodemons and hell knights in tight 2D arenas. Instead of navigating labyrinthine 3D corridors, your objective is straightforward: clear each level of demons, find keys, press switches and make your way to the exit in classic platform-shooter fashion.

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The weapon variety is surprisingly faithful. You start with your trusty pistol, then unlock the shotgun, chaingun and even the BFG 9000. Each gun retains its distinctive fire rate and damage profile, but the limited field of fire on a 2D plane means you’ll be constantly repositioning yourself to line up shots. Platforming hazards—moving platforms, crushers and bottomless pits—add another layer of tension, forcing you to juggle precise jumps with managing your health and ammo.

Controls are crisp and responsive, allowing for tight strafing and quick weapon swapping. A small reticle floats just above the player, giving you precise aiming without compromising the fast pace. While some levels feel a bit padded with repetitive enemy waves, level design generally ramps up well, culminating in challenging boss battles that test both your twitch reflexes and strategic use of power-ups.

Graphics

Visually, Doom 2D is a love letter to the original Doom. The developers have ripped sprites, textures and sound effects directly from classic WAD files, and you’ll instantly recognize the pixel art style of imps, barrels and health pickups. These assets are seamlessly integrated into a 2D plane, preserving the gritty, blood-splattered aesthetic that made Doom a legend.

Environments are richly detailed, from sterile UAC corridors to fiery hellscapes dripping with demonic ornamentation. The 2D backgrounds often feature subtle parallax scrolling, giving a sense of depth even within the 16-bit palette. Occasional graphical glitches—such as missing tile edges or misaligned textures—surface in a few levels, but they’re generally minor and don’t distract from the overall presentation.

Lighting effects, like muzzle flashes and flickering torches, help breathe life into each scene. Explosions rock the screen with satisfying sprite animations, and every gore splatter feels authentic. While it can’t replicate the full immersion of 3D, Doom 2D leverages its retro look to great effect, tapping into nostalgia while offering a fresh spin on familiar visuals.

Story

The narrative in Doom 2D is every bit as sparse as the original: you’re a lone space marine dropped into an alien-infested facility, hell-bent on ridding the world of demons. Cutscenes are minimal to nonexistent, and story beats are hinted at through level names and brief in-game text. If you’re expecting a deep plot, you won’t find it here—but that’s part of Doom’s charm.

Rather than focusing on lore, the game emphasizes pure action. You get a terse mission briefing at the start of each episode—“Find the red key, destroy the boss, get to the exit”—and the rest is left to your imagination. This streamlined approach keeps you glued to the screen; there’s neither time nor need for exposition when demons are lunging at you from all sides.

For players craving rich storytelling, Doom 2D may feel barebones. Yet fans of old-school shooters will appreciate the no-frills design. The absence of cutscenes means more gameplay momentum, and every hallway you clear feels like a hard-earned triumph. If narrative depth is secondary to fast-paced demon hunting, Doom 2D delivers exactly that.

Overall Experience

Doom 2D stands out as a creative homage rather than a mere imitation. It successfully merges the blood-soaked action of Doom with the precision demands of a platformer. The result is a hybrid that feels both familiar and refreshingly different, offering a new way to experience beloved assets and sound effects.

That said, Doom 2D isn’t without its quirks. Level design occasionally leans on extended enemy waves, and the lack of 3D depth can make navigation feel restrictive to players used to more open environments. Technical hiccups—such as sprite flicker or collision inconsistencies—crop up, but rarely enough to derail the fun.

Ultimately, Doom 2D is a treat for Doom aficionados and retro-platformer fans alike. If you crave tight controls, relentless demon slaughter and a pixel-perfect nod to a classic franchise, this game is well worth your time. For newcomers, it provides an accessible yet challenging entry point into the Doom universe—no 3D glasses required.

Retro Replay Score

6.9/10