Alright, I started playing DTDA today, put in about 3.5 hours, just enough to play the first mission. I'm liking it so far, I think I like it more then Doom 2016, & Doom Eternal!
(Accessibility)
The thing I was most impressed with, is the fact that it has deep configuration in Accessibility options. This is beneficial for me, since I have a left hand functionality disability, and I don't want the game overly fast paste, like most Doom players do. A+
(Gameplay)
In this menu, you can setup your gameplay options, how you want the game to play out. Once again, were all different, so its really nice to see options, for just about anyone. A+
(UI)
The UI settings are equal to Gameplay, as their are plenty of options to configure, from adjusting your HUD, to many other aspects as well. A+
(Audio)
The audio config is decent, but IMO, lacking options that other games have. Where is the bitrate/sample rate, EAX/THX controls? But yet, they provide a slayer pain grunt control, who needs that? You better have your Pulse Audio, or Pipewire to config! C+
(Controls)
This is where you setup your mouse & controller. You got your typical on/off options for both, as well as sensitivity configs. While overall decent, its missing a few important things I was looking for, but its not the end of the world. B+
(Inputs)
This is where you setup your keybindings, they decided to separate them from controls, making it even more confusing, since half the icons don't make sense to me at the top. Putting that matter aside, this is a very well constructed config, they provide many options to rebind your keys, and mouse buttons. A+
(Video configuration)
A+
Unlike most games, which have half, or 3/4 less video options available to config, I was really impressed with the video config options available here, in DTDA! They really wanted this to be playable on many machines, pretty much 2020 & beyond, as thats the range of the Nvidia RTX technology, as its required now.
They didn't stop there however, not only do they support Nvidia DLSS, but also AMD FSR as well, and provide many specific adjustments within them. You have all your usual game specific technologies to adjust. But they also include a few new ones I've never seen before in games, "Present From Compute."
PFC roughly translated, basically diverts all your computers CPU & GPU to power the game, background tasks are suspended, so you can get the most out of your computer. Because my computer dates to the pandemic years 2021, it needs a little help.
While I do have most of my GPU options set to MAX in there, a couple of them, I brought down to a tier or more down. To secure smooth FPS beyond 35FPS current settings, so I don't sustain nausea and puke, I have to run DLSS at ULTRA Performance. With that on, I am able to secure between 60FPS to 74FPS on average.
I have a Intel 10870H 8-Core 16-thread CPU, with an Nvidia 3080 16GB GPU, and 32GB of DDR4 RAM, & this is the best balance of Quality graphics & FPS I am going to get! Here is the minimum & recommended requirements...
As you can see, 10th generation, (like my machine) or Zen 2, is bare minimum! My machine meets the CPU requirement, and thank goodness I can clock it up to 3.5GHZ to 4GHZ easily, without too much worry. I was a smart cookie to get 32GB of RAM, which earns me the recommended requirement.
See that, RTX required for GPU, 8GB VRAM minimum, 10GB VRAM recommended, glad this smart cookie got a 3080 with 16GB VRAM lol. When you push them shaders, your gonna need it! And apparently, you need a wicked fast NVME drive, to process them 1440P or 4K, at 60FPS or more, glad I got one of those too!
So to summarize the requirements, you better have a high performance machine from the 10th generation, or newer, or just forget about buying this game, as Bethesda/Microsoft don't care about your outdated 9th generation or older machines. If you got GTX, they say, close the door on your way out. RTX only club members, can join the fight to put demons in the ground. lol
(Preliminary conclusion)
As I only have 3.5 hours into the game, I am not able to provide a conclusive opinion on the entire game. But with 3.5 hours into it, completing the first level, I do have some ideas. It appears to have removed all the things I hated in Doom 2016 & Doom Eternal, and provided more of the things I enjoy.
While I do understand, that this was not the Doom many people wanted, I've played the classic Doom games, so I know how it all started, this is going back to the roots a little bit. And while I understand other Doomers, didn't like the new pairing mechanic, I however don't mind it. If you have the tutorial on, the game shows you how to do it!
The graphics for a Doom game, are best I've seen! The atmosphere soundscape is unbelievable horrifying, you'll think your in a horror film. The music is the usual classic style, heavy metal, while you shred your enemies using the shredder weapon, just as you shred your heavy metal on the guitar.
I also feel, that the game has had a gameplay improvement, over that of the last 2 games, which helps to make the game more fun. I also noticed improvements to character design, the IMP has never been so big and terrifying. All the enemies do new things now, so pay attention to your surroundings, and check those corners!
I'm playing on the easiest difficulty in the game, & even difficulty specific options can be set, for those like me with disabilities, can even have a chance at playing this game. Its not all or nothing, its whats works best for you. With 3.5 hours in game, 1-mission completed, (finding secrets) I am enjoying the game so far.
