Doom Eternal Offers Option to Make It More Like Original Game
id Software, the longstanding developers of the Doom franchise, are bringing back the "centered weapon" option in Doom Eternal. Those unfamiliar with the Doom franchise may not know exactly what that means or why it's awesome. Centered weapons in first-person games don't really exist anymore, as more developers aim for a more "realistic" perspective. But the centered weapon was there when id willed FPS games into existence and it's great to see them back in 2019 with the launch of Doom Eternal.
Centered weapons are exactly what they sound like. The weapon is shown at the bottom center of the player's screen, like it's held by some sort of third hand protruding from the player character's chest. It was retired in modern games for two reasons. First, from a more realistic perspective, it's good to show the weapon to the side where it'd be held as if a person was actually holding a weapon. More importantly, with the onset of multiplayer FPS games, it grew important to show both the player and their opponent where projectiles were being fired from so as to accurately depict bullet paths. A bullet firing from a person's chest while their weapon is held to the side is hilarious, but not great for gameplay.
Though centered weapons have gone all but extinct since 1997, with the onset of Duke Nukem 3D, Goldeneye 007, and Half-Life, those familiar with classic FPS games still hold an endearment for the feature. Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Doom 2, and Quake all featured centered weapons and are all beloved classics. And in single-player games, a centered weapon can feel especially crisp and accurate, too. There are a lot of reasons to want a centered weapon option.
That's why Bethesda announcing that id Software is bringing back the centered weapon for Doom Eternal is so awesome. Even if it's just a single-player-only option, it'll be nostalgic in all the right ways. It also fits very well with what id Software is trying to do with the modern Doom reboot, because these new games are heavily inspired by retro FPS gunplay and action. Generations of Doomguy approve of the centered weapon.
The centered weapon announcement comes as the latest in a string of retro-inspired Doom announcements. The original Doom and Doom 2 were brought to modern platforms in June earlier this year. Now Bethesda is also releasing Sigil, John Romero's free expansion and official/unofficial 5th chapter for the original Doom chapter for the rerelease. Buying these classic games also unlock exclusive classic Doomguy skins to use in Doom Eternal. It's a mix of celebrations for the holiday season and Doom's 26th Anniversary.
Doom Eternal releases in 2020 on Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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