Id Software rarely lets fans down with its tight first-person shooter experiences, and Doom Eternal continues this trend by returning to classic demon-slaying action. The player is so busy staying alive while massacring hordes of hellish beasts, numerous nonsensical details about the world tend to fly over their head.
The ten details listed below about the game simply do not add up. Then again, no one plays Doom for a coherent, hard science fiction narrative. If one wants a logical story, then a game about a mythical protagonist saving the world from demons probably is not the place to look.
10 How The Timeline Fits Together
While initially believed to be a complete reboot of the series, the 2020 title heavily implies connections to Doom 64, which is already a sequel to Doom and Doom II. As cool as this is, the timing doesn’t exactly work out, and it is weird how so many of the bosses from the earlier games simply show up again.
By the end of Doom Eternal, the Doom Slayer has faced off against the Cyberdemon and the Icon of Sin twice. Additionally, this would also make it the second time Earth has been invaded by demons. One would think the planet would be better prepared this time around.
9 The Chainsaw
Players use the Chainsaw to refill ammo. It has up to three uses before running out of fuel, but it automatically regenerates enough fuel to use once.
While players are endlessly thankful for this assistance in combat, it does not make sense for a weapon to spew ammunition from dismembered corpses. It really helps get players out of a bind, however, so one should be careful when questioning a good thing. Perhaps it is imbued with some mystical magic.
8 Glory Kills
When an enemy takes enough damage, they stagger and start flashing blue. The player can then go in for a Glory Kill, a special melee execution that rewards health. As awesome as this is, it makes the player wonder how these brutal takedowns elicit health from demons.
As a gameplay mechanic designed to throw players into the action it is the chef’s kiss, but logically, a few things are amiss. Whatever the case, it is just important to know that such a tactic does not work in real life.
7 Commander Keen Skull
On top of a bookshelf in the Doom Slayer’s room in the Fortress of Doom sits a skull reminiscent of a classic Id Software character, Commander Keen. While a solid Easter egg acknowledging the developer’s storied history, it makes one question why it is there in the first place.
Nothing else in the game implies the old side-scrolling adventure game is cannon to the Doom universe. If they do take place in the same timeline, can one expect more connections in the future? Is this article thinking way too deeply and hard about a simple Easter egg? Probably.
6 The Marauder’s Green Eyes
All enemies have weak points. To the game’s credit, most of these make sense within the world, like the Arachrotron’s mounted gun on its head or the Mancubus’ arm cannons. The Marauder has no traditional weak point, but its eyes flash green before attacking, letting the player know when they can counter.
Why, exactly, does it do this? If only it didn’t, then it would be the perfect beast capable of taking down even the most talented Doom Slayer. Of course, the monster is hard enough as is, so taking away this one vulnerability for the sake of logic would be a death sentence for most players.
5 Flame Belch
The Flame Belch is useful for filling up on armor, as every enemy caught in its path spews forth pickups while they are enflamed. What type of chemical reaction occurs between fire and demon flesh to spawn these helpful items?
Does it hurt the demons when the green bits of armor comes flying out of them? According to the Codex, the monsters spend every waking moment in extreme torment, so the extra pain is the least of their worries.
4 Where Are The Doom Slayer’s Weapons
Unlike many modern FPS games, the Doom Slayer keeps his arsenal with him at all times. Just where on his body are all the weapons? His suit of armor doesn’t seem to have any pockets, and he lacks visible holsters. There aren’t a plethora of guns available in the game, but they are all hefty firearms.
Perhaps he called up JRPG protagonists and asked them how they fit ninety-nine of every item in their pockets, and ended up using their strategy.
3 Lemmy Is God?
The UAC Spokesperson, the hologram who spouts UAC propaganda, randomly mutters “Lemmy is God.” This is of course referring to legendary bassist and Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.
What does the musician have to do with any of the goings-on in the UAC or Hell? Perhaps the hologram was speaking frankly and the iconic musician really is God in the Doom universe. This would make for an exciting sequel.
2 Daisy
Daisy is the Doom Slayer’s rabbit who plays a prominent role in the franchise’s premier entry. The pet falls prey to the demons, fueling the protagonist’s blood lust towards his enemies.
Such a silly idea would seem like a relic from the past, but Doom Eternal references the rabbit on numerous occasions, with a painting hanging in the main character’s room. The same area also contain a cage and rabbit food. Perhaps the next game will see the Doom Slayer fight to save Daisy from Hell.
1 Bookshelf
A bookshelf in the Doom Slayer’s room contains fictional titles, most of which are puns on classic novels or references to the franchise’s history or other first-person shooters. Its placement is weird for two reasons. Firstly, why does the protagonist care about such reading materials when all he wants to do is rip and tear.
Secondly, how do these books even exist in the first place? Where did he find them if not on Earth? Is there a planet elsewhere in the cosmos much like ours only with every piece of fiction being a dumb play on words or pop culture reference?
