Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Final Doom on PlayStation faithfully reproduces the run-and-gun intensity of its PC counterpart by delivering 30 brutal, maze-like levels drawn from the original Final Doom and the Master Levels for Doom II. From the moment you grab your default shotgun, you’re thrust into a gauntlet of demons, traps, and secret areas designed to test your reflexes and map-reading skills. The pacing is relentless, with little downtime between waves of Cacodemons, Barons of Hell, and impaling Lost Souls.

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Controls on the PlayStation adapt the keyboard-and-mouse blueprint to a DualShock pad. Movement relies on the D-pad or analog stick, while strafing and weapon switching use shoulder buttons and face buttons respectively. Some players may find strafing less fluid than on PC, but once you master the layout—double-tapping for running, quick weapon toggling, and crouch-jumping for secret paths—the experience becomes surprisingly intuitive.

Level design remains the star here. Each episode—TNT Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment—ups the ante with intricate layouts, hidden keys, and deadly ambushes. The challenge curve is steep: early levels acquaint you with basic weaponry and enemy behaviors, but by episode two you’ll need pixel-perfect timing and well-timed rocket jumps to survive. For those seeking a hardcore shooter outing, the difficulty and design depth offer countless hours of replayability.

Graphics

On PlayStation hardware, Final Doom’s 2.5D engine shows its age but retains a certain charm. Sprites and texture detail have been downsampled to fit the console’s memory constraints, resulting in blurrier walls and occasional texture pop-in. Despite this, the eerie lighting and color palette still convey a hellish atmosphere—bloody reds and sickly greens dominate the corridors, giving each chamber a claustrophobic feel.

Frame rates hover around 20–25 FPS during standard play, dipping further when a swarm of monsters descends. While not silky smooth, the performance is generally consistent enough to keep the action legible. Occasional screen tearing and slowdown are trade-offs for preserving large, complex arenas and multiple on-screen enemies—an acceptable compromise for the era’s console limitations.

Cutscenes are minimal, limited to simple title cards for each episode. There’s no voice acting or animated intros, which underscores Final Doom’s arcade-style roots. Although purists might lament the lack of high-resolution art or dynamic lighting effects found in later titles, the raw, utilitarian visuals serve the gameplay’s pure focus on shooting and exploration.

Story

True to Doom tradition, Final Doom offers minimal narrative beyond a brief text intro. You assume the role of the lone Marine once more, tasked with eradicating demonic forces tearing through human outposts and subterranean complexes. The plot exists purely to frame the carnage, with no cutscene payoff or character development to speak of.

Each episode gives just enough context to justify the mayhem: TNT Evilution presents a renegade Colonel leading a demonic uprising, while The Plutonia Experiment hints at a catastrophic portal experiment gone horribly wrong. These scraps of lore appear between levels in short text blurbs, fostering player imagination rather than spoon-feeding details.

For fans of narrative-rich experiences, Final Doom’s storyline may feel skeletal. However, the minimalist approach fits the game’s arcade roots—story is a backdrop to frenetic action, and the mystery of the demonic invasion fuels the tension in every hallway and secret chamber.

Overall Experience

Final Doom on PlayStation stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of fast-paced, no-frills first-person shooters. It’s a raw, challenging port that captures the essence of its PC origin, delivering punishing level design and an unrelenting enemy roster. While some graphical downgrades and control quirks are unavoidable, the core gameplay honed by the id Software engine remains intact.

For PlayStation owners craving extended Doom content without PC access, this compilation of 30 levels offers tremendous value. The inclusion of two distinct episodes ensures varied environments and escalating difficulty, while hidden secrets peppered throughout encourage thorough exploration. Replay purposes abound as players chase faster completion times and uncover every hidden area.

In summary, Final Doom on PlayStation is not a casual shooter—it demands patience, precision, and perseverance. But for those dedicated to conquering its labyrinthine maps and demonic hordes, it delivers one of the most intense Doom experiences available on console. Whether you’re a Doom veteran or a newcomer curious about the franchise’s classic era, this port provides a uniquely brutal slice of shooting history.

Retro Replay Score

7.6/10