When I heard Doom was coming to the iPhone I was very apprehensive.  Control schemes for iPhone games have really been hit or miss.  Sure games like Bejeweled using touch controls or racing games that use tilt controls make sense.  However, the virtual d-pad and analog sticks haven’t worked well for me. 

After two times through Doom Resurrection, I will say that I am quite pleased.  There are a few issues that bother me, but for the most part the game is quite good.

The major change for this game is the controls that Carmack decided to go with.  While Doom is well known as one of the forefathers of first-person shooters, this iPhone release of the game has been changed to an on-rails shooter (a la House of the Dead).  I know most people will frown upon this, but once you try the game out, you will realize this was a very wise choice.  You aim using the accelerometer and pick-up items by tapping the screen.  The aiming is really good and is recalibrated at the beginning of each level, which helps if you change positions while playing. 

I did have issues with certain items being close to the edge of the screen and causing me to reload or shoot inadvertently.  Not a huge issue, but annoying enough.  The evade system is basically used for dodging fireballs and things of that nature, works pretty well.  The only bad control choice is when a minion of Hell grabs you and you have to shake the phone to get them off of you.  I almost dropped the phone a couple of times and waste more ammo than I can recall when my fleshy mitts covered the edge of the screen with the “fire” button.  I really could have just gone with jamming on the evade button a couple of times instead of the shake control.  Still not a huge problem overall, just annoying.

Graphically and story-wise, the game is pretty much Doom 3 remade for a handheld.   The graphics and sounds are straight out of Doom 3.  While the graphics may be lower resolution, on the iPhone they look really good.  I saw a few issues of tearing and cut-in when the character goes around corners, but nothing game breaking.  When you throw on a set of decent headphones, the sound is pretty creepy.  There is very little music (Aside from menus) and voice acting is nonexistent, save for the very beginning of the game, but you can’t expect to have everything in an iPhone release.

My two main issues with the game are the lack of replay value and the price point.  I’ve beaten the game 2 times and now have nothing more to do really.  Sure I can go back and try to beat my scores in the “Free Play” mode, but there is only so many times you can replay through Hell and at $9.99, that pretty steep for just 2 times through.  If you are a true Doom fan (Like me) this may not seem like a big deal, but for the casual player, you will surely be disappointed.

Overall the game is one of the best looking and sounding games on the iPhone to date.  The change in controls (Other than the shake control) really didn’t change my perception of the series and the sounds are definitely a highlight.  The story is your typical Doom fare, so don’t expect too much.  However, with a lack of replay value and a pretty steep price at $9.99, most nonfans may want to wait and see if there is a price drop in the near future.  I’d give this one a solid 3.5 out of 5.