Doom Beta Death Match Impressions Part 3

Finally the biggest most badass weapon in the beta is the gauss cannon, a 4 shot power weapon that spawns every few minutes. Unfortunately this gun is overpowered, the weapon functions in a hit scan manner, and does a large amounts of splash damage. The gauss gun does incredibly high damage and can often one shot an enemy marine with full health (even when a shot is indirect). The gauss cannon is the ideal weapon for killing the soon to be discussed demon. The gauss canon is too easy to use, the weapon should either not do splash damage or have its projectile speed decreased (allowing it to be dodged).

Doom (2016) also three available power ups (one in the alpha, two in the beta). These power ups are cloaking(alpha only), quad damage (alpha and beta) and haste (beta only). Personally I have some issues with the balance of these power ups. I think the cloaking in the alpha made your character too invisible while moving. Quad damage improves any weapon you use it with, it is however much more useful with the vortex rifle and super shotgun. A vortex rifle when combined with quad damage can kill a demon with a single charged shot to the head.. Haste boast movement speed, but arguably works best with the super shotgun, allowing you to rapidly close in on targets. Both the vortex rifle and super shotgun are op enough without power ups . The power ups are timed once picked up. I strongly dislike that after an enemy is killed they drop the power up they were carrying, allowing another to use the item, which further depletes the power up timer. I personally think powerups should be one use until they respawn, as this promotes tactics and map control.

Lastly the demon in the Doom alpha/ beta is poorly balanced. The only demon available in the alpha and beta(s) is the revenant, a skeletal giant with two high powered rockets and jet pack. The revenant's rockets do massive splash damage and can kill a full health marine in one shot. The demon also has 300 health (3x that of marine without armor pickups). The revenant 's jet packs can be disabled by shooting them , but this does not do much stop the monster. The revenant is fast, tough and simply OP. I have killed an team nearly twice over in 60 seconds using the revenant, which should not be possible in an arena shooter. The revenant and other demon power ups should not be in standard deathmatch modes. Lastly like all other power ups in Doom (2016) the demon power up (demon rune) is dropped by a slain demon allowing another player to pick it up. This is a broken mechanic, as a player (and team) can work hazardously to kill a demon only to have another enemy pick up the rune and ascend!

Doom (2016) is simply not an arena , it is not balanced enough, nor does it have the pillars of old school arena shooters. The game has perks, unequal starts due to loadouts and no strong emphasis for weapon and map control. The games full final multiplayer will feature more weapons, demons and powerups than discussed (plus an expensive season pass lol). Many have voiced their opinion of Doom's multiplayer, I personally think the game is poorly balanced and has conflicting design choices. The game has temporary perks that give you an advantage from spawn just like the loadouts, arenas shooters are all about equal starts. While much feedback was given during the games alpha and beta(demo) phases , the main criticisms of the mp's design appear to have hit a deaf ear .

Please discuss your opinion of the doom beta, will you be buying for the mp ? Will you play the mp as a staple shooter? Did you think the game was balanced ? How does it compare to other multiplayer shooters that you play currently of have played in the past ? Thanks for the read (and hopefully comments).