Buy Doom

The 2016 version of Doom is best known for its single-player campaign, which was followed by the Snapmap feature that gave the game some legs. Despite being derided by some as a disappointment in the public betas, the multiplayer turned out to be fine in the end. Months later, the servers are still populated with both old and new players wanting a piece of the fast-paced fragging action. The first DLC pack, Unto the Evil, may not be campaign-related as many had hoped, but it does provide some meaty stuff for the multiplayer portion. Just don't expect to see all of it.

The pack seems to hit every possible angle when it comes to adding more content, and that is certainly evident in the customization department. The included armor pieces go for a robotic theme, with over 10 different styles for each part you can customize. Like the rest of the armor sets, the ones in Unto the Evil look gruesome but consistent with the offerings in the core game. Alongside that, you get a whole new set of colors that look a little less glossy than the actual glossy set and a host of new patterns for your armor and weapons. Like all of the other patterns, they're hard to see unless you're close up, but it's still cool to see the spread-out Wolfenstein and Quakecon logos being used. Then there are the taunts, which definitely go for a sillier theme this time around. As cool as a meditating hover may be, seeing your guy do the Charleston or Whip and Nae Nae is too good to pass up.

The new demon added to the roster is the Harvester, and he is both awesome to play and slightly annoying to play against. He has pretty fast movement compared to most other playable demons, but he also has a low health pool, so one or two decent players can take him out easily if they concentrate their fire on him. Then again, that might not occur since the Harvester comes packed with an electrical stream with the range to deliver sustained damage that can be nasty for anyone in its path. His charge ability is a spread attack that is similarly brutal, as it trades distance for a wider attack while being just as strong as the electrical stream. He's a good choice for those who aren't great at shooting but somehow have a knack for getting to that demon rune often.

Unto the Evil comes with two new weapons, and their usefulness is split down the middle. On the one hand, you have the Kinetic Mine, which is reminiscent of the mines in GoldenEye. You can stick this piece of equipment anywhere, and it only takes a second before it's active. Once an enemy passes by, the mine seeks out the player for a short distance before exploding. The damage isn't huge enough for a one-hit kill, and the fact that you can only throw one mine at a time means you can't pepper an area and make it an explosive deathtrap. Then again, it is wildly useful as a revenge weapon if you lose in a firefight, and the sneaky nature of its attack never gets old.

On the other hand, you have the EMG Mark V pistol, which is a standard single-shot pistol with the ability to charge for a more powerful shot. If the game were slower, this would be seen as a viable weapon even though there are certainly more appealing guns available. Given the game's fast nature, however, the regular shot is really slow, and the charge shot, while powerful, doesn't feel as impactful as the rest of the guns. It makes for a good complementary firearm to anything else, but unless you're already skilled in the game and want to challenge yourself, this is a poor choice for anyone who's starting out or at a below-average skill level for Doom's pace.

Finally, the DLC offers up three maps that vary in both theme and size. Ritual feels very much like many of the maps that take place in UAC facilities due to the metallic walls, but the snowy arctic theme gives it a rather distinct look. Offering is more suited for platforming, as there are several areas where you can fall into the lava if you aren't careful. Then there's Cataclysm, which uses both a UAC theme and a Hell theme but manages to tie it together with portals. It is the largest map of the trio, and while it is meant for the larger team-based modes like CTF, it still works well in the ever-popular Team Deathmatch. All three maps feature a good mix of verticality along with traditional horizontal spaces, and all of them do a good job of spreading out the power-ups in a manner that feels natural to seasoned shooter fans.

There is one issue with the maps: your playtime with them. If you choose to go with the DLC-specific playlist, you'll find that no one wants to play it. After waiting for 20 minutes, not one person could be found who wanted to play those maps. Go back to the main servers, and you'll find that the maps are in rotation, but unless everyone has the pack, you're rarely going to get a chance to play in them. Until you get more control over customizing the map rotation, consider the core maps to be the only set people really care about.

The answer to whether or not the Unto the Evil DLC is worth it depends on what you're looking for. If you're in it for the new maps, then you're better off waiting for the private match option since it can take a long time to see them under normal circumstances. If you want it for the customization, then the DLC has lots of satisfying options. If you want the weapons, then you'll be fine since both the Kinetic Mine and Harvester are great additions, while the pistol is only there if you want things to be tougher. At $15, the DLC is pretty expensive by itself, but if you want to add to the multiplayer experience, this isn't a bad pack.

Score: 7.0/10