Doom first appeared in 1993 on the PC (this version is actually a souped-up conversion of Ultimate Doom) and soon took over the world, causing controversy for what were then high levels of pixellated blood, gore and violence. The storyline melds science fiction and horror, following an unidentified marine posted to the Martian moons where a bunch of scientists have been experimenting with portals and instantaneous travel. Of course said experiment goes awry and denizens of hell are unleashed while Mars’s other moon, Deimos, disappears entirely (it ends up encircling Hell itself) and it’s our marine’s job to put down all the pesky demons and get back to Earth alive.

This back-story is not actually explained in the Xbox Live version, whether this is because everyone who plays the game will already be familiar with it or just that it’s not needed. Doom never actually needed a storyline to make it anymore enticing to gamers but the lack just seems to impress upon a new generation that it’s all about needlessly killing zombified hordes and demons… oh, wait, it is.

In terms of graphics, Doom is a port of the beloved PC version in all its pixellated glory and still looks amazing. Now optimised for high definition, the Xbox Live Arcade version features all the three original episodes, along with the fourth, bonus episode ‘Thy Flesh Consumed’. All the classic denizens have returned from the flaming skulls to the cacodemons and even the spiders but the highlight of the game has to be the four-player co-op mode.

Doom makes use of four-way splitscreen that allows friends to play using system link or else connect to Xbox Live and play either deathmatches or co-op games. As with other Xbox 360 titles, friends can be invited to a match and there is a search function to find games currently in progress. The maps are all expansive and based on the main levels of the game however some of them are a little too labyrinthine and the map doesn’t identify secret passages or players' identities so it’s quite a challenge to work out locations.

For those gamers who never played Doom in its heyday, the Xbox Live version may be a shock, especially if used to playing modern FPSes like Halo or Prey. There's no jumping or aiming in this game; you can only run and shoot at the centre of the screen. Demons often sneak up on you but with no way of looking around, the level of concentration is high. In later levels, survival is tough with wave after wave of creatures who are hellbent (pun intended) on killing you. Staying in one place for any length of time means death and so strafing is recommended.

Each level has its own unique layout to the map, some of which are insanely complicated. Pentagrams and demon heads decorate the walls while corpses are stung up crucifixion-style, reinforcing the game's demonic elements. The walls are textured with brains or intestines as well as the more run of the mill areas containing computers and control centres.

Through the course of each level there are secret areas to find, switches to activate and different coloured keys which unlock new portions of the map. Weapons-wise you start with a simple pistol but can soon collect shotguns, rifles, rocket launchers, plasma guns and the infamous BFG9000 (or Big F**king Gun as it is affectionately known). It's possible to carry up to six at one time but when you die, you lose all the precious weaponry although it doesn't take too long to restock.

The controls are intuitive and simplistic with those small details, such as the marine looking around or grinning gleefully when you pick up a new weapon, present and correct. Doom is good value at 800 points and well worth the purchase. The four episodes, numerous achievements and the co-op mode give high replay value for both retro gamers and newcomers.