Game Review: Batman DooM

Like First person Shooters? download Batman DooM right now. This is the type of game that causes reviewers to go overboard with analogies and such. Example: This game will smack you in the face, then ask if your sister is home. It's the sort of game that will make you question everything you thought was true in life, while at the same consoling you in a time of need.

It's the type of game that'll burn your house down, give you a place to stay, have sex with that weird goth chick you met a few weeks ago, and then pour lye on the back of your hand for fun. It's the highly intelligent, wickedly charming, slightly insane alter ego you created to deal with this depressingly twisted existence.

In short, it's all that AND a bag of Frito's.

Batman DooM is a total conversion of Doom 2. That means it has been reworked into a completely(almost) new game by a dedicated group of Doom players. It just so happens said Doom players are also into Batman, the greatest "detective" of all time. Since when does cosplaying as a fling rodent make you a detective? It's not like he's Dick Tracy, with some Inspector Gadget mixed in.

He's got a few interesting props, but overall Batman's more like Carrot Top with a deep voice. And he's got an affinity for dark caves and young boys(Dick Grayson, Jason Todd...). In that sense, he's the Wacko Jacko of the DC Universe(Post Pepsi Ad/burning hair incident, pre Lisa Marie). But I digress...

This total conversion features breakable doors, bad guys in helicopters, and a plethora of enemies to beat down with extreme prejudice. More often than not it's the other way around. This is not an easy game. If you are new to first person shooters, I suggest you look elsewhere. Maybe buy South Park or something. Throwing yellow snowballs at people is fun no matter who you are.

Levels are mission based now. No more of that find the switch to advance mess. Batman's trusty batarangs are at your disposal, as well as other nifty tools. The only thing missing is platform shoes for our caped crusader. The Dark Knight appears to be Mighty Mouse in stature when up against common street thugs. You often have to jump and shoot weapons to hit enemies behind chairs and other obstacles.

Gotham's pint-sized savior has a lot on his plate when it comes to drama. He has to thwart Penguin, Joker, Scarecrow, Bane and even Waylon Jones(Killer Croc). My knowledge of Batman doesn't extend far beyond movies, and Fox's early nineties cartoon, Batman: The Animated Series. While comic aficionados would probably like to do battle with a character like Hush, I'm happy to see Croc among the more famous Batman villains.

How does the game play? It plays like Doom 2, but with less demons and more street thugs. Doom has been ported to phones, portable media players like iPod, handheld gaming systems like PSP, calculators, etc. The Doom engine has aged well over the years. I suggest all FPS fans check this mod out. There is really no reason to over look this game if you are into masked heroes who where rubber suits.

Batman DooM: http://www.doomworld.com/batman/main.shtml