Grey Gamers Zone: Doom 3

Doom 3 is the long awaited sequel to ground-breaking 1993 computer game Doom (Doom 2 being more of a continuation of the original rather than a sequel) and was released to critical acclaim in 2004. The original Doom was lauded by many as the original FPS (First Person Shooter) and spawned clones such as Duke Nukem, Quake and Half-life. Expectations were high for Doom 3, but could it deliver the impact of its predecessor?

Required Specs: Unfortunately you need a PC with the specifications of Deep Thought to run it. Or was it Deep Throat? I forget. However after one or two upgrades to the old Babbage machine involving elastic bands and paperclips I decided to give it a go. But be warned: this game is not for the faint hearted!

Plot: The action takes place in an underground military installation on Planet Mars. Something has gone horribly wrong in one of the experimental labs resulting in a portal to Hell itself having been opened. As the sole surving marine, your aim is simple; to reach safety.

Action: I was plunged into a hellish world of dark gloomy surroundings where, with no warning, nightmarish disease-ridden beings lurched out at me from all quarters. Danger lurked round every corner. I found myself constantly struggling with failing equipment and lack of communication from my superiors. I quickly become aware of a constant sense of impending disaster and icy fingers of fear and panic clutched at my very soul...a voice inside my head seemed to repeat over and over again; THERE IS NO WAY OUT OF HERE!

Yes readers, just another working day at the NHS. After that I went home and played Doom 3 until my tea was ready. It was quite good but a bit scarey. (The game I mean, not my tea.)

Doom 3 available at Amazon UK for £8.99

A PC that will play it at a reasonable frame rate: probably about £699

Tour of the Nuclear Medicine department; 37p (students £40)

Next week: have we found any more pictures of Gabrielle Drake yet?