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id Software’s much anticipated 'interactive horror film’ – the second sequel to the seminal Doom hits the shelves. Doomsday cometh...

Doom 3

"A masterpiece of the art form." – PC Gamer

Let’s face it, we’re all doomed...id Software's highly anticipated Doom 3 for the PC hits retail stores worldwide this month August. A sci-fi horror masterpiece, Doom 3’s dramatic storyline, pulse-pounding action, incredible graphics, and ground-breaking technology combine to draw you into the most frightening and gripping first-person gaming experience ever created.

"Doom 3 is done!” says Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software. "Doom 3 is a videogame experience unlike any before it. From the cinema quality visuals and the incredible 5.1 sound, to the terrifying atmosphere and hyper-realistic environments, the whole game screams 'interactive horror film!' Add in the most ferocious line up of demons Hell has ever brought to bear, and you have an experience so intense that you'll need to keep your heart medicine handy."

‘Interactive Horror Film’

Another clash of - armed to the teeth, naturally - man versus the pitiless, malevolent - and downright unpleasant looking - forces of darkness, this game looks set to be as influential as its noble forebears. As the game begins a massive invasion of demonic forces has already overrun a remote Martian research station – leaving destruction and horror in its wake – and the player to fight for their life, as one of only a very few survivors.

"Doom 3 is the most anticipated PC game of the year and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting its release," Ron Doonink, CEO of Activision Publishing. "Id is delivering the most compelling horror gaming experience to date, so get ready for Doom."

"This summer we're sending game fans on a first-class trip to Mars - with a layover in Hell," said Todd Hollenshead, CEO, id Software. "Doom 3 is coming to the PC and delivering the most atmospheric, terrifying and visually mind-blowing gaming experience ever conceived."

Built on id's revolutionary new 3D technology, Doom 3 is a terrifying battle with the forces of Hell. In Doom 3, your recent assignment to the Union Aerospace Corporation's Mars research facility seems simple enough, until it becomes clear that their discoveries and experiments have unlocked the gates to Hell itself: unleashing primordial non-Terrestrial monstrosities that like nothing more than to chew their way through tasty human-shaped morsels...

Now, in an epic clash the player must fight to understand who is to be trusted, who is to be targeted for death - and what must be done (if anything can be done - but this is an adventure game, of course something can be done…at a terrible price) to stop the nightmare reaching the Earth.

Returning Villains

Many of the villains from previous incarnations of Doom are present once again – old favourites to hack, shoot and slay. This means old friends like ‘The Revenant’ – ghoulish half corpse, half-machine animated cadaver from Doom II is back in action, looking sleeker than ever. The packs of ‘Lost Souls’ from the original game also make a return – disembodied hellish heads screaming at you through the dark. Except this time they’re in immeasurably greater form graphically – and in 5.1 stereo sound. Add to this monster mash that old body horror genre staple: zombies (here representing the last animated remains of the former garrison of the Mars base) and the regular (again, much-improved upon - see below) Doom menace of the ‘Imps’ – and in all its quiet a creature feature.

Game features include:

Multiplayer ‘Deathmatch’ LAN Mode

‘Cinema’ quality visuals

Hyper-realistic environments

Plot and scenario driven adventure: locate the survivors of the UAC's Mars research base and unravel the truth behind its descent into the abyss

Do battle with crazed freaks, cyber-organic mongrels, stampeding demonic hordes and undead Marines, utilising state of the art firepower

5.1 sound design

First-Person Shooter

First released over ten years ago, the original Doom (1993) became an instant phenomenon in PC gaming. Doom was a one-game revolution that is still widely regarded as the principle catalyst for the popularisation of the first-person action game genre we know today. Since its emergence, the Doom franchise has continued as one of the entire industry's best-selling series for PC.

Makers of Doom 3 id Software – named for Freud's primal part of the human psyche and one of the hottest game shops on Earth - has been rocking the gaming world from Mesquite, Texas since its beginnings back in 1991. As a renowned leader in the industry, id Software have forged such frenetic titles as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom – its sequel Doom II and now Doom 3. They’re also the team behind both the original Quake, and successor, Quake II.

With a reputation worldwide for intense graphics and mind-blowing action, id's games have helped redefine the modern video game, continually setting industry standards for technology and game play.

In keeping with tradition, id Software has amplified the world of adrenaline pumping 3-D gaming with the release of action titles, Quake III Arena, Quake III: Team Arena and oversaw the executive production of the Third Reich-meets-H.P. Lovecraft dungeon bash Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Built on id's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine, Doom 3 draws you into what the games designers – not to mention a fair few gamers - are obviously hoping will be the most frightening, gripping 3D gaming experience yet created.

Rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB in the US, the game is released with an 18 certificate in the UK - so this is one gore-fest. that's strictly not for the kiddies!

Follow this link for more information on the original Doom game - and it's creators.

Doom 3 is out now on PC and XBox. Both versions are released on Activision.

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