Since its release back in 1993, the original Doom has gone on to become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed first-person shooters of all time. Fittingly, Doom was also listed as one of the most controversial games ever by Yahoo! Games, although it’s pretty tame compared with some of the games we’ve seen since.

Doom Resurrection’s plot is very similar to its predecessor's: scientists on Mars unwittingly open some portals to Hell, infesting the base with monsters, beasts and zombies, which proceed to devour the staff, leaving one marine - you - to sort out the entire mess and save the world from the spawn of Satan.

On rails format

While the original Doom allowed you to explore an immersive and at times scary 3D world, Doom Resurrection is slightly different. Firstly, the game uses an on-rails format, meaning navigation throughout the game is predetermined along a set path, giving you no control over the character’s route through the game. This does, unfortunately, give the game a slightly restricted feel - basically, your responsibilities involve aiming, firing, and occasionally ducking projectiles.

Escalation Studio’s gamble in making Doom Resurrection an on-rails shooter will certainly polarise opinions. Conversely, we found it both useful and annoying. In one sense it makes the game more about being quick off the mark and accurate with your weapon than exploration, which is certainly entertaining. However, the fact that you can’t move off the predetermined path, even to evade an attack, is seriously irritating, particularly if you’re used to the freedom of earlier Doom games.

Strong shooting mechanism

Because the game is focused on marksmanship and speed, control over the shooting mechanism is of paramount importance. Fortunately, Doom Resurrection does not disappoint on this front. The game’s accelerometer-controlled reticule, used to target enemies, is superbly tuned without being overly sensitive. The fire button, which is located on the right hand side of the screen, works well too, being perfectly placed for controlled firing. 

Overall, the lack of mobility does give Doom Resurrection a slightly unnatural, more arcade-like feel, which may leave some Doom fans feeling a little disenfranchised.

While there is a useful Time Crisis style duck-and-cover mechanic for use against certain tougher adversaries, it does become increasingly infuriating that you cannot use it all the time. As we said, the predetermined story aspect does have its merits but in the grand scheme of things, it just doesn’t cut the mustard and did leave us feeling a little frustrated with the overall restrictive nature of the game.

Impressive graphics

Visually, Doom Resurrection - possibly on account of its on-rails format - is extremely impressive, looking more like a high-quality cut scene throughout, rather than the usual PS1 style graphics usually associated with the iPhone gaming experience. This is one of the biggest pros of the game.   

Like previous Doom Outings, the game includes four difficulty levels ranging from Recruit to Nightmare, while the action is spread over eight chapters - we completed the game, on recruit, in four hours. Additionally, at the end of each level you are graded on a scale of A to F based on the number of head shots you made, your time, items picked up, and how many secrets you uncovered.

Doom Resurrection is, at times, quite formulaic, which sadly is down to the fact that you cannot move independently and are forced to take a route predetermined by the game’s developers. In spite of our reservations though, Doom Resurrection is a thoroughly entertaining game, and worth every penny of its £2.99 price tag.