I played through DOOM: Eternal on a One X. I played through the game on normal/"Hurt Me Plenty."

If you enjoyed Doom (2016), you will enjoy this. It is the same demon slaying gore-fest with a few new mechanics. The Doomguy has the glory kills on weakened enemies, the chainsaw for refilling ammo, and the new flame-belcher for forcing enemies to drop armor. Your ammo supply feels much more limited, which is both a positive and a negative. It forces you to use your full arsenal, but it limits your ability to use your favorites. In the heat of combat, it is crucial to use your abilities on cooldown. Your flame-belcher recharges and your chainsaw refills up to one charge, allowing you to kill basic enemies with frequency. These interplay well, but if you get caught up in franticness of battle you are quickly reminded that you forgot to rotate your abilities on CD (See above photo and its lack of ammo). That being said when you get in the groove, you're there.

However, fuck the Marauder. Like, I almost set my controller down and decided not to continue my romp through Hell. It wasn't overly challenging in a skill based way. It was just frustrating. The enemy design is okay in theory. It's just a lot of mechanics layerd over top of an already hectic combat. Too close: insta-shotgun. Too far: spirit dogs and axe blade projectiles. In the sweet spot: marauder's eyes glow green and you fire. In my experience, shooting at him after the eye flash seldom staggered him unless it was the super shotgun or a rocket. The Marauder seemed to only take damage on the first attack with the super shotgun. Then, I would immediately get shotgunned or melee attacked. If I dash out of the way, the Marauder would dash too and either way I was not in that sweet-spot to continue the offensive. The battles were very "sit and wait" for that precise opening, which doesn't feel like Doom. There was one encounter that I attempted for an hour, maybe. I lowered the difficulty and still had trouble. The general combat arenas were then way too easy, so I turned it back up.

The platforming is fine. I enjoyed most of it. Some of it was aggravating. Overall, some of the later levels require some precise jumps that can be difficult in a first person game. The environments are better than DOOM (2016). The level designs are solid. Using the fast travel mechanic, which is unlocked when you reach the end of the level, to allow the collection of missed collectibles is an excellent method of valuing the players time. Certain areas are gated once you progress through parts of the level, the fast travel allows you to head back and solve puzzles after defeating its hellish inhabitants. Although, I found myself mentally blocking out the "green light hints" on occasion and becoming mildly confused with which way to go. There are roughly, completely guessing on memory here, 12 missions? They are long enough to play one as a meal and feel full. But, you will want to gorge yourself. And depending on how quickly you make it through the levels, the game may seem shorter than you would expect leaving your plate empty.

I am also at a loss for words with regards to the season pass/battle pass. I don't quit understand the point. Having never played multiplayer, I cannot comment on its greatness or part in it. My impression was to grind single player levels to get costumes and rewards that would only be flaunted through multiplayer. The multiplayer premise seems okay, but it's not something that grabs my interest. A 2v1, Demons vs Doomguy, mode in which demon players can also summon lesser grunts.

This is a good game, with one enemy type being more frustrating than challenging. Rip and tear, friends.