THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAD MANUAL

The controls are surprisingly responsive and smooth too, making for an old-school experience that feels very much inline with modern mechanics and flow. Better still, the gradual way this is implemented means that before the change is noticed players will have already adapted to it. The difficulty also increases naturally as one progresses through the levels. The available difficulty options are honestly appreciated, as it allows anyone to enjoy the game at a challenge level suited to them – and not just exclusive to people with the reflexes of The Flash. There are nine different locations to play through, each with multiple difficulty levels and goals to achieve. The gameplay is pretty simple in Kingdom of the Dead. The result seems to jump off the screen, and instead of feeling cheap or lazy like a lot of other Doom-style clones tend to it instead looks dramatic, stylish and utterly terrifying while also still holding on to that old-school Cathode-ray Tube (CRT) monitor magic. Kingdom of the Dead sports a black and white hand-drawn, ink-and-paper art style with splashes of colour to accentuate key aspects during the game such as blood. While the story is not the main focus, it does a great job of tying the gameplay, supernatural elements, and art style into a genuinely creepy package from start to finish. As Chamberlain, the player’s primary goal is to defeat Death and his armies. The player assumes the role of Agent Chamberlain, a mysterious figure working for a secret government program known only as GATEKEEPER. There is a story, but like the more simple games of times past, it is more of a backdrop to the game rather than the driving force behind it. It is clear Kingdom of the Dead heavily takes inspiration from the original Doom. It is a game that does not shy away from taking gamers back to basics. A 90s style first-person shooter relying more on reflexes over technical prowess.

With the original Doom games in mind, this is where Kingdom of the Dead comes into play. While this is generally a positive development, it also means a lot of the simplicity that made the Doom games special and accessible have been overlooked in favour of newer gameplay. Over the years, gaming systems have evolved, and games have naturally followed suit.

Outside of combat, a large part of the game was dedicated to navigating the maze-like levels in order to find all the weapons and hidden areas while constantly fighting for your life. A big part of the gameplay was rapidly switching between different weapons to cater to unique circumstances in order to make it out of each level alive. The original Doom was a first-person shooter giving players a selection of eight weapons to collect, each holding equal importance. Kingdom of the Dead embraces this original formula and brings it to modern audiences in a rather unique package.

THE KINGDOM OF THE DEAD MANUAL

Much of the franchise’s original appeal was the simplicity of the games, which originally told their story through the manual rather than in the games themselves. From selling over 10 million copies, spawning sequels running all the way from the 90s through to today, along with multiple books, comics, board games, and film adaptions fans worldwide have always loved Doom.

Very few games have had both the longevity and success seen by the Doom franchise.

The kingdom of the dead