Xbox Hardware & Games

The latest sequel in the respected first-person-shooter franchise casts the player as a grunt marine on a Mars rescue mission just as nasty creatures arrive, leaving you to frag your way to the secret of a bleak, oh-so-grisly mystery that is apparently unleashing the forces of hell itself. As developed by id Software and successfully ported from PC exclusively to Xbox by Vicarious Visions, the game play lacks any profound dramatic innovations this time, but new wrinkles ratchet up the tension, like when you must holster your weapon in order to wield a weak flashlight in the dark unknown, a deliberate inconvenience that heightens your vulnerability just when the going gets dicey. Although the in-game PDA system that provides necessary information can be cumbersome, the controls are intuitive, you have the freedom to save your game anywhere, and two-player co-op is possible over Xbox Live, along with online features.

With Doom 3, more than most games, the technical presentation is key. The widescreen, progressive-scan graphics are absolutely jaw-dropping, some of the best ever on this console. They realistically manipulate light and shadow and impart a cinematic clarity to the many winding corridors that await you. Dolby Digital 5.1 audio creates a creepy sonic environment for perhaps the most immersive atmosphere I've experienced in any game. And, if you want more, Doom 3 is also available in a collector's edition that includes Doom 1 and Doom 2, plus extras.