Doom 3 (PC)

By PETER ELEY

One of the most awaited games of recent years is almost due for release.

Doom 3, the swept-up, cutting edge version of probably the most controversial and important video game, has been rated R16 in New Zealand and should be in stores next month.

Doom became a byword among politicians of a certain age for everything wrong with society, but that didn't stop millions of people buying it, and its spin-off Quake.

It's been a long time between drinks as they say, 10 years since Doom 2 when our all-American hero blasted a series of monsters on Phobos.

Doom 3 is again set on Phobos, but reflects the huge advance in computer technology since 1994.

While the original had the field pretty much to itself, the first-person action scene is crowded these days with good games, so it will be interesting to see how Doom 3 stacks up.

A full review will appear next month.

Talking of first-person action games, the more I play Far Cry, the more I like it.

It has superb artificial intelligence to go with its stunning graphics, and has real depth.

Levels keep on unfolding, and the plot unfolds in a tantalising fashion, always keeping you coming back for more.

It is a real value-for-money title, and the good news is that a version for Xbox and PS2, Far Cry Instincts, will soon be released in New Zealand.

Another biggie due for release in the peak pre-Christmas games rush is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War.

Warhammer is the cult tabletop fantasy game which has a huge worldwide following.

Developers Relic Entertainment have decided not to try to clone the tabletop version into a PC game, but have used the settings and characters as the basis for a real-time strategy game.

But they have kept the scale of the game, and the hierarchy of units, two factors which have made it so popular.

The nature of Warhammer makes it ideal for online play, and this will be a strong feature of the upcoming PC game.

Id Software, R16

* Email Peter Eley