When a game like DOOM 3 comes along, it's usually a big deal. Whispers begin when the title is officially announced, growing into an audible buzz once the first previews begin to roll in. By the time it's about to hit store shelves, gamers are eager to play and retailers are eager to capitalize on their fervor. As has been the case with many other high profile Xbox games, DOOM fans will have a chance to own a Limited Collector's Edition that offers them more than just a game. Is it worth the extra money, though, or is it just another attempt to pry a few extra dollars from the hands of gamers?

Well, we're happy to report that the Limited Collector's Edition is definitely worth the extra 10 dollars, thanks largely to the inclusion of Ultimate DOOM (the 1995 collection that added a level and revamped the original's graphics) and the underrated DOOM II. The game somehow feels just as fresh as it ever did, and the controls on the Xbox are surprisingly responsive. You'll have a great time playing the game, especially once you get a buddy to help you play through it cooperatively. Alas, it's only splitscreen, but it's still a lot of fun.


In addition to the excellent games, there are plenty of other features to make getting the Collector's Edition a worthwhile endeavor. You'll have an entire episode of the G4 series "Icons" about the whole DOOM franchise, complete with tons of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. It's a great history of the series, although it doesn't delve as deeply as I would have liked, especially in regards to the now infamous Carmack/Romero breakup. Of course, that's G4's fault, so it's hard to fault Activision or id. There is also a special feature showing off some early concept art and sketches of creatures that made it into the game, as well as images of some that didn't.

It would have been easy for the developers to simply toss a few interviews onto the disc, add some video footage of the game, and call it a day. However, with the addition of the two previous games in the series, they've managed to craft something that actually brings something new to the Limited Edition table: more gaming. Fans of the series should jump at the chance to pick up this excellent collection of some of the best first-person shooters of all-time.