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If you didn't grow up with them, there's a tendency for some folks to feel a certain sense of pressure when it comes to playing classic games. And not just classic as in old, but classic as in genre-defining games that have shaped the industry and inspired millions. This is especially true when it comes to newer gaming enthusiasts, and the older the game, the more intimidating it ends up being.

So when it's a game that is so popular, so universally well-known, and beloved that people try to play it on smart fridges and pregnancy tests? Yeah, there's bound to be a little bit of nerves, as if you not enjoying DOOM (the 1993 original) is like failing some kind of test at being a "real gamer." It's dumb, but it also happens more often than you might think. Well, less of a worry for DOOM, perhaps, because yeah! It actually is, still, really good.

DOOM was one of the pioneers for a 3D first-person shooter back in the 90s, but it clearly drew a lot of inspiration from arcade titles too, because boy, is this one a fast-paced, rip-roaring good time. You move across the map as if you were wearing roller skates. You can blast enemies with a shotgun from 4,000 miles away, or you can get up-close-and-personal with a chainsaw and send the demons back to where they belong.

It's extremely over the top and violent (for its time) and pumped up with bucketfuls of adrenaline that are just almost impossible to resist. A lot of fears about trying out old games will usually fall into two camps; either the game is too hard/abstract/unpolished, or the game's graphics are poor. Well, DOOM looks just fine as it is, and it must be said how impressive this game must have been back in 1993 when it was being passed around on floppy disks, utilizing 3D backgrounds with 2D enemies to deliver a pretty impressive overall package. It still functions perfectly fine today.

And for gameplay? DOOM understands the FPS on a fundamental level, in ways that even many of its followers didn't. And that's because it's exceedingly simple in execution. You get the gun, you run around, and you shoot stuff before it can shoot you. Levels are quick, for the most part, and level design, particularly in the game's first half, is pretty impressive for how well it flows.

One of the cooler things about DOOM is how packed to the brim with secrets it is, and that makes finding things, power-ups, or secret weapons part of the added bonus of exploring the levels. And while many of them are, let's say, very well hidden, the game puts enough in most levels that you're bound to stumble upon one at least by accident, if nothing else. And a fair amount of levels will actually direct your attention towards the rewards, if not the methods for obtaining them, which helps to pique the player's curiosity.

With all 4 of its chapters, DOOM is still a relatively short game, and as you're wrapping up the final one, you'll probably start to think it's for the best, as its level design prowess doesn't exactly carry through the entire game. You'll definitely find yourself fighting less and wandering around more, looking for the last key you need to progress or trying to find the exit. And as the game tends to get more difficult as it goes on—though there are, graciously, a lot of difficulty options to try for every kind of player—you'll find yourself encountering a lot more suddenly spawning enemy hordes or disorienting flashing lights or, once you've mopped up all that, long and meandering hallways.

Episode 4 in general is a noticeable decrease in quality, and there's a reason why it's usually considered more of an add-on than a proper conclusion. It should also be said that, while DOOM's simplicity is largely influenced by its lack of 3-dimensional aiming, it does feel a bit janky to shoot enemies that are either far above or below your crosshairs. This is especially pronounced when you're flanked by high-up enemies who only have a small window to attack you out of; you could easily find yourself wondering where all this damage is coming from while an Imp hurls fireballs at you, seemingly, with their ankles.

That's nothing a couple of shotgun shells can't solve, though, and DOOM's unnatural-by-modern-standards aiming and FPS philosophy as a whole is something you can easily find yourself getting used to after a few levels. It does feel very natural very easily, and that comes down to its simplicity and its fun factor. Especially in its first half, you are always on the move, weaving in and out of fire, dodging enemies while you send those Martian demons back to Hades, where they belong. It can be truly exhilarating; you may even complete a level only to find yourself with a death grip on your mouse. Such is DOOM's prowess. It's a classic for many reasons, and whether you were there when it reached PCs back in the 90s or you're just trying it out for the first time today, you'll probably agree; it's one hell of a game.

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