Now that the game is out, discussions on Doom vs Doom Eternal are popping up wherever we look! The follow-up to 2016's best first-person shooter is nothing to scoff at, but it did make heaps of changes that might not sit well with some. How to decide which game is better, then? The idea we had was to compare and contrast the two Doom Slayer blockbuster shooters in general terms!

Here, we'll go over a wide variety of gameplay features of both of these games and, perhaps, help you decide which suits you better. The important thing to keep in mind is that both Doom and Doom Eternal are incredible games. They're awesome, simple as that. The choice on which feels better to play, however, sits squarely on each and every one of us.

The simple truth is that, since Doom Eternal introduces as many changes as it did, there's an argument to be made for both of these games. Some will prefer one, while others will embrace the other. We'd like to show you that each of these opinions does, in fact, have merit. After all, personal preference is what it's all about, right?

So there's a point to doing a Doom vs Doom Eternal comparison?

Here's the thing: in most video game sequels, the tried-and-true adage is to go bigger and to go better. With Doom Eternal, this is mostly the case, but the game is also a fair bit different from its predecessor. Not worse in any way, mind you! Just different! It's easy to be a fan of both games, honestly. In more ways than one, Doom Eternal is simply a distillment of the series 2016 reboot. If we look at things from this perspective, Doom 2016 does look a tiny bit confused about what it is, simply because Eternal went all-in far as gameplay direction is concerned. These are, however, the growing pains of a fresh franchise. A reboot, sure, but Doom was practically irrelevant for quite a while, aside from its meme value. No more!

The best way of putting it, we think, would be to say that Doom Eternal is a sidegrade. In most game franchises, the only real reason you'd want to play previous offerings is for the story. Gameplay often only gets better and more polished. With Doom, gameplay loop nuances are pretty darn substantial! Then there's the general visual style and story, sure, but also the approach to environmental storytelling. There's a lot to consider here, and it's hard to conclude which option is objectively better!

Well, okay, we think neither is. Both Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal are incredible games and you really should go through both of them. That said, a comparison should be done!

What aspects of Doom and Doom Eternal should we compare?

No graphics comparisons here. Doom Eternal straight-up looks better, it's a simple fact. Doom still looks great, of course, but Eternal is newer and more advanced and, therefore, more appealing. The games' visual styles differ quite a lot, though, and that's something that we will cover.

Gameplay, too, is a crucial pillar of our Doom vs Doom Eternal comparison. The changes from one game to the other are staggering, though they might seem rather simple and shallow at first. Trust us: they're not. Chances are that you'll play Eternal quite a bit differently than you played 2016, honestly!

To kick things off, though, we'll cover gear and weaponry first. The differences may, again, seem subtle. In truth, this couldn't be more wrong. From the get-go, Eternal makes a point of streamlining everything it could, and then giving you more options than ever before. There's no more handgun with infinite ammo to rely on, for example. Instead, you kick things off with a combat shotgun, and should you ever run out of ammo (you will), you need to use the auto-replenishing chainsaw to farm low-end demons for it. On a similar note, the Chainsaw is bound to a specific key, and it gets a completely over-the-top sidegrade late in the game with the Crucible. By the end, you'll be juggling between three types of finishers alongside your regular arsenal of blasters. It's easier than it sounds, we promise.

On top of all these finishers and weapons, you also get two types of grenades and a flamethrower. Each has a unique effect you'll sometimes absolutely have to rely on when push comes to shove. Even further still, we should also mention that the weaponry is way more powerful than it was before. Whether you'd like to modify your combat shotgun into an automatic flak cannon or use the Ballista to cleave dozens of enemies in two, Eternal lets you. In comparison, Doom 2016 is way more down-to-earth and perhaps even believable.

It's also important to point out that throughout the whole game, the Doom Slayer is more agile in Eternal, with the addition of double-jumps, dashes, wall-climbs, and swinging. These new layers change the rhythm of the combat, taking the same basic philosophy of quick movement and aggressive play to greater heights.

Doom Eternal's Arcade Visual Style

2016's Doom was often dark and foreboding. You should immediately know that our predictions about Doom Eternal were true, on the other hand. Eternal is far, far closer to the original Doom titles than its predecessor was. Whether through demon designs or the game's aggressively arcade HUD and pickups, Eternal is very much in touch with the franchise's legacy. 2016's Doom, on the other hand, now feels like a step between DOOM 3 and this new generation of Doom games: still great, but slower and more grounded. Yeah, no, we're serious - Doom is slow and perhaps even sluggish compared to Eternal.

This is because, right off the bat, Slayer has access to double-jump and twin-dash abilities. On top of that, he gets the Super Shotgun with the meat-hook attachment, and the levels are built to make use of all of these abilities. Whether you enjoy this or not is up to you. We did! At the same time, Doom 2016's approach still has merit. It remains a very enjoyable and punchy game, it's just that Eternal quickly becomes almost overwhelmingly aggressive. Few other games compare!

We've mentioned Eternal's arcadey style a few times now, and it's something that really should be driven home. No longer will you collect weapons lying on the floor, and no longer will armor shards and various pickups be realistically scattered around the level. In Eternal, it's Quake-o-clock! Pickups are large, oversized, and almost annoyingly colorful, and it's the sort of thing that can really easily take you out of it. If you're looking for a modern retro game, Eternal is as good as it gets.

What was that about the gameplay loop, again?

It's overwhelming. Doom Eternal is not an easy game, even on the easiest difficulty. Don't think you can absent-mindedly punch and explode your way through its delightful story mode. Here, you'll get pummeled into submission unless you embrace the game's surprisingly delicate gameplay loop. Devs from id Software described called this the 'Doom Dance', and they really leaned on it with Eternal. We suggested this before, but you really need to use every single tool in your arsenal while playing Eternal. In Doom, you could rely on a few favorite weapons - especially the Super Shotgun - but this is no longer the case!

Hard-cap ammunition limitations mean you'll have to rotate between weapons every encounter. Specific enemy weaknesses will force you to dance around them at all times, and use specific tools to disable their abilities. When you finally burn through all of your ammo, you'll have to use the level to your advantage to find a demon to farm ammo with. When you get into the groove of things, the Doom Dance is glorious. Thing is, you could sidestep this in Doom 2016. In Eternal? No chance.

It's really fun when you learn the moves, but it won't be for everyone, we think. Doom is far more accessible and easy-to-get-into still. It only makes sense, too. If you haven't played 2016 yet, and you're preparing to jump into Eternal, do yourself a favor and start from the beginning. If there ever was a game franchise that's consistently awesome and amazing, though each game still has an identity of its own, it's the modern Doom. Don't miss out on it!

Hey, if you're looking for a good way to get through the COVID Crisis, play Doom! Check out our deals:

• Doom 2016 - £13.99
• Doom Eternal - £45.99