The father of all first-person shooters, Doom, is arguably the most important video game of all time. It developed mechanics and standards on which through various references and Easter eggs.
But, who is Doomguy? Who is the man behind the armor? Who is the man who solely saved the Earth from hell? Here are things fans of the series should know about this gun-toating crusader.
Doomguy Is A Descendant Of BJ Blazkowicz
According to Id Software co-founders Hall and Romero, Wolfenstein protagonist William "BJ" Blazkowicz was the Doom Slayer's great grandfather. Not only that, but Commander Keen himself also fathered The Slayer, which basically confirmed three generations of badassery battling Nazis, Aliens, and Demons.
A bunch of Easter eggs were found in Doom 2016 and Eternal such as Keen's skull, further strengthening the theory that all of Id's games share a common timeline. Fans are eager for a Doom/Wolfenstein crossover—what if the Nazis ended up in hell, rebuilt the Reich, and continued the war? A Doomguy and Blazkowicz co-op would be insane.
Goes By Different Names (According To The Novels And The Movie)
Not even Dwayne Johnson's electrifying performance was able to lift the video game curse. The 2005 film's protagonist John "Reaper" Grimm mirrored Doomguy at the end where he was given a serum and proceeded to "rip.. and.. tear" his way to victory. The story, however, was not well received by fans and critics.
The original novels referred to Doom guy as Flynn Taggart, and the first two novels were a blast according to most, while the final two had some significant changes that didn't fly well with diehard fans. In the Doom 3 Novels, Doomguy's name was revealed as John Kane.
He is A One-Man Army
The Slayer's arsenal includes the Super Shotgun, The Crucible, and the iconic BFG, all of which make short work of demons. Unlike humans, The Slayer is capable of absorbing Argent Energy and powerups that increase his effectiveness on the field. He can jump and boost his way through most enemies and slice them up with his saw.
During the Hell Invasion, The Slayer singlehandedly saved the earth from total destruction without breaking a sweat, and, at one point in Doom Eternal, even blew a massive hole in the surface of Mars. His will is unbreakable, as shown in his lack of emotion during intense scenarios.
Has Appeared In Multiple Universes
Doomguy has cameos in other titles like Quake and Animal Crossing developers love the Doomguy x Isabelle crossovers.
Wherever he goes, The Slayer's abilities are unmatched, and he has proven himself to be an all-around badass and a durable combatant.
Doomguy And The Slayer Are The Same Person...
A few years ago, there had been some confusion regarding the real identity of Doomguy. It turns out that The Slayer, Doom Marine, Doomguy, and Hell Walker are all the same person. The novels and films are non-canon, and Romero from id Software stated that Doomguy doesn't have a specific personality and is meant to represent the player. In other words, Doomguy is the player.
...Despite Having Different Models
In the first two games, Doomguy was known to fire his pistol from the left hand. This changed in the later titles and stirred up confusion among fans as a result.
Another mystery is Doom 3's Doomguy, and newbies find it hard to believe that he is the Doom Slayer because of the black hair and young look. Casual fans should keep in mind, however, that the Doom games have to be played in a specific order to understand the story. The Doom timeline is as follows and should be played starting: Doom 3, 1, 2, then 2016 and Eternal.
Was "Incarcerated" On Mars After Disobeying Orders
Once upon a time, Doomguy was just a US Marine serving on Earth. During a mission, his senior officer instructed him to open fire on innocent civilians. Doomguy, being the righteous badass that he is, decided that enough is enough and proceeded to end the officer's life.
He was then relocated to serve on Mars where he worked with the Union Aerospace Corporation, the same company that gave him armor and weapons. Despite encountering troublesome anomalies, the UAC continued their research until something went horribly wrong—a la Half-Life—and opened a portal to hell. Doomguy was tasked to defend the base as Hell's forced overwhelmed Mars, Phobos, and Deimos. The rest, as they say, is history.
Gifted Near-Immortal Status By The Seraphim
The Doom Slayer is a ruthless killer. He doesn't need rest or food after getting blessed by the Seraphim, and slaying demons is just like a stroll in the park for him. Once he puts on the Praetor suit, he's unbeatable. Couple that with some energy shields and powerups, and he becomes godlike.
According to the Manual, powerups, when used by normal humans, are known to drive them mad. The fact is, Doomguy is the chosen one. The Slayer's main weakness shows when he is overwhelmed by melee attacks, but this happens rarely since his combat IQ is rated as second-to-none.
"Glory Kills" Are A Testament To His Evolving Superhuman Abilities
Doomguy gets stronger in every game, as he's implanted with new abilities and weapons. Among the recent additions to 2016 and Eternal are the "glory kills." Similar to Manhunt's executions and Mortal Kombat's fatalities, these glory kills can only be performed on weakened foes, and every frame is meaty and pulpy. Players can never get enough of the bloodbath, and it's a sadistically satisfying way to send these demons back to hell.
Everyone Fears Him
He is 6 ft. 180 lbs of muscle ready to "rip... and... tear!" anyone's throats out, be they human or demon. You couldn't stop him with a million guns, and he could eat a bunch of hell priests for breakfast. Doomguy just keeps coming.
As shown on the Doom Eternal moment when the invasion begins, humans literally fear for their lives as he walks past them. Demons have prophesized the coming of the Doom Slayer, and they try to drown him in blood, but to no avail. Much like Thanos, he is inevitable.