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DOOM Eternal producer explains how they studied all things DOOM to figure out the core elements of the series
The return of DOOM in 2016 was widely praised by gamers and critics alike. The series looked all-new and had some enhancements, but it managed to maintain the feeling of classic DOOM games. This didn't come about by accident.
In an interview with IGN, DOOM Eternal Executive Producer Marty Stratton detailed the work that went into bringing DOOM back for new audiences. The team made sure to figure out just what made DOOM's original titles work in the first place.
"I think, when you see brands, and they struggle a little bit... Like, some of the new Star Wars films, a lot of the fans aren't happy, it's because I don't think that they're cooking with the same ingredients, and the real fans can pick up on that, and that means they won't go with you... on the journey that you're trying to take them on.
Once you can figure that out, like, 'Why do people like Star Wars?' Why does someone look at the new Corvette C8 and just have the reaction, 'God, that's gorgeous?' I can tell you, for a fact, that the work that went into that was tremendous. If you understand what makes something tick, it's that, 'Oh my god, that is just awesome!' That means we really got you, regardless of whatever it is.
A lot of time was spent working to figure out, 'What are the core elements of the DOOM brand?' Not just DOOM the game, or [DOOM] 1, or 2, or 3, or 64, but the DOOM brand as a whole. The metal element, the sense of irreverence, power, all these different things. Figuring out what those ingredients are so, that way, everything we do... make sure that it utilizes those core principles, and then the fans will accept it and go along with you."