Who doesn’t love DOOM? From its over-the-top violence and gore, cartoonish gameplay, and genuine, honest charm, DOOM is full of heart. As a result, DOOM has accumulated many defining and iconic traits associated with the franchise over its 28 year-long run, one of which are its difficulties. Charmingly, yet aptly named, a great degree of difference is present between all difficulties - and in no entry moreso than Eternal. In this article, we’ll walk you through all the stages of difficulty in DOOM: Eternal - so that you can choose which is best for you!

I’m Too Young to Die

Too afraid to get scratched up?

The easiest difficulty! To be frank, I’m Too Young to Die is probably only good if you’re a complete beginner when it comes to first-person shooters, as the game is NOTHING like it is on harder difficulties. Demon movements are slower, their movement patterns less complicated, and they deal less damage compared to Hurt Me Plenty, much less Ultra-Violence or Nightmare. However, if you’re a casual or seasoned FPS player, starting on Hurt Me Plenty or even Ultra-Violence may be better for you; I’m Too Young to Die serves no challenge, except for FPS newbies.

Hurt Me Plenty

Plenty of hurt available in this difficulty!

The “normal” difficulty in DOOM: Eternal. This is the difficulty that I recommend you start the game on; it’s worth starting out Eternal on a difficulty that is at least one level higher than I’m Too Young to Die.

Starting on Hurt Me Plenty offers, well, plenty of advantages compared to I’m Too Young to Die; by starting out on this difficulty, you get accustomed to an elementary version of Eternal’s combat loop. To experience DOOM: Eternal at its best, I recommend that you play through as much of the game as you want on Hurt Me Plenty for your first run, then move up to Ultra-Violence as soon as the game starts to feel a little easier.

Ultra-Violence

Amped to get ultra-violent?

The “hard” difficulty in DOOM: Eternal. Definitely harder than Hurt Me Plenty, but here’s the thing: you can basically play Eternal the same way on Ultra-Violence, the same way you play on Hurt Me Plenty. Demons deal more damage, but their movement and accuracy doesn’t change by much - not as much as it does going from Ultra-Violence to Nightmare.

Ultra-Violence, in my opinion, is a transitionary difficulty - helping you get more and more accustomed to Eternal’s combat loop in order to get you ready for Nightmare. Hugo Martin, the game’s director, has stated that “the game was meant to be played on Nightmare”; Ultra-Violence pushes you toward this ultimate goal by beginning to punish mistakes, something that you won’t find in the lower difficulties.

Nightmare

Eternal on Nightmare's the stuff of nightmares!

The “very hard” difficulty in DOOM: Eternal. As Hugo Martin has said, “the game is best on Nightmare”, and honestly it’s a pretty accurate statement; Nightmare is harder than any of the preceding difficulties for two reasons. One, demons deal more damage, and two, their movement patterns become faster and more unpredictable. 

However, the increased difficulty of Nightmare incentivizes better movement, better use of your weapons, and just overall better gameplay. If you find that you’re pretty good with Ultra-Violence, give Nightmare a shot! Rather than simply finding it frustrating, I think you’ll actually find it more refreshing - Eternal becomes an almost completely different game as you advance through the various difficulties, and you’ll have to adjust your gameplay and strategies accordingly.

Ultra-Nightmare

The last stage, last stretch, in Ultra-Nightmare. Are you ready to face the challenge?

Ah, Ultra-Nightmare. This is, by far, the most unforgiving mode that the DOOM franchise has to offer; Ultra Nightmare is the game on Nightmare, except you only have one life. That’s right, you don’t even have access to the sparse Extra Lives peppered throughout the game that would otherwise give you a fighting chance to stay alive once your health is completely depleted. 

Ultra-Nightmare is for the absolute best of the best. Any slip-up, any aspect not sufficiently covered in Eternal’s combat loop, and you’re done for. I only recommend Ultra-Nightmare if you have little to no difficulty in Nightmare; if you find that you die too often in Nightmare, stick to that mode and practice, again and again, to perfect your reflexes and understanding of DOOM: Eternal’s combat.

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