Doom, Command & Conquer revived for iPhone
I love the '90s. And I love these classic games from the '90s. But do I love them on my iPhone? To be honest, not as much as one might think.
Welcome to today's episode of Recycling Old PC Games for Fun and Profit. Our first contestant: Doom Classic, the first-person shooter that spawned a thousand imitators, several hundred ports, and one horrendous movie.
Next up: Command & Conquer Red Alert, the real-time strategy classic responsible for a massive drop in global productivity.
In my youth I was a tremendous fan of both games, so it stands to reason that I'd welcome them to my iPhone. However, neither is getting a permanent home.
Let's start with Doom. While id Software's official port offers a pixel-perfect recreation, the game is 16 years old--and it shows.
Indeed, juxtaposed with Doom Resurrection, a made-for-iPhone game with 21st century graphics, Doom Classic looks positively ancient. It plays that way, too: You can't even jump.
Part of this is personal bias: I don't think FPS games work well on small screens, especially when touch controls are involved. For me, Doom Classic feels cramped, confined, and seriously out of date.
Command & Conquer Red Alert may look a little dated as well, but it delivers a much better gameplay experience overall.
EA did a great job adapting the controls to the iPhone's touch screen, and in-game tutorials make learning them a snap.
Red Alert also features an in-game store, which is good and bad: A mere 99 cents buys you half a dozen new skirmish maps--but the main game ($9.99) comes with only two. You also get only 10 single-player missions, which most players will breeze through in a jiffy.
As for multiplayer, it's "coming soon" as part of a free update. Alas, it's limited to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; so you can't challenge other players online.
Consequently, I think most RTS fans will be happier with Robocalypse, which offers modern graphics, Internet multiplayer, and a 99 cent price tag.
Of course, if nostalgia is what you're after, Red Alert definitely delivers, as does Doom. I just think there are plenty of modern, made-for-iPhone games that play better than the classics.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Other PC/console classics enjoying the mobile life: