"Doom 3" is a breakthrough. Unquestionably, this is the best looking, most visually impressive game, on PC or console, to date.

It's essentially a retelling of the original game: The Union Aerospace Corp. has been experimenting with a top-secret teleportation project. In the process, they literally open a gateway into hell, threatening to destroy the very fabric of the universe. As the onslaught of demons and monsters are unleashed upon the Mars-based colony, a lone unnamed space marine is all that stands between the evil legions and an invasion of cataclysmic proportions.

The story line is decidedly unoriginal. However, the game quickly gets you started on one of the most intense gaming experiences you can find.

"With all the lights off and the sound cranked up, this is probably the scariest game I've played ... but for some reason I couldn't stop playing," said Travis Chang, 23, a student at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "It's intense."

Jonathan Pereirra, 20, said the "Doom" graphics are awesome. "I play a lot of games, but none has ever look this real," he said.

Most of the narrative is told through cut scenes and the rest you'll learn from your trusty PDA, a new addition for the series. The PDA allows you to receive e-mail, audio/video messages, codes and other useful information. Some of this is meant to help you understand the story (so you can know exactly why mayhem broke out), while other information is meant to help you advance through the game.

But forget about the story. The true stars of "Doom 3" are the amazing graphics.

Using practically every graphic technique available, the game's sinister, gritty corridors serve only to emphasize the nerve-shredding level of darkness. For best effect, play the game at night with a good set of earphones and the lights off.

To enjoy the full graphic splendor, your computer needs to be in top form, with a quality video card and some hefty system requirements.

"I had to spend a lot of money upgrading my PC for 'Doom 3,' " said Kelsie Fujii, 22, a Leeward Community College student. "But with graphics that good, it was worth it."

The flashlight will probably be used more than any of the weapons in the game, and you'll constantly be switching back and forth with them because apparently, although it's the year 2145, they haven't thought of attaching lights to their guns. This obviously was done to enhance the feeling of suspense, and make no mistake about it, "Doom 3" is terrifying.

Whether it's a monster springing from a shadowy corner, an abruptly collapsing ceiling, or a demon spawning from thin air directly in front of you, the game is paced deliberately to scare the daylights out of you.

This game features large amounts of violence and gore, as well as disturbing images not recommended for those younger than 17.

The audio is equally excellent, and often because of the lack of light in this game, you will need to rely on your ears for sounds of enemy movement.

"Doom 3" is not without faults, because while the graphics engine may be ground-breaking, the game play isn't quite as revolutionary.

If you take away all the technical merits like the physics, lighting, and graphics, you're left with a straightforward, mindless and rather repetitive shooter. Once you decipher enemy patterns and how to beat them, there's not much interest left. But even with that said, "Doom 3" remains loads of fun. Id Software has been very vocal about trying to make the most compelling single-player game, because its inclusion of multiplayer seemed like an afterthought.

Featuring the most basic versus modes and an initial limit of only four players online, the multiplayer aspect lacks the substance most PC first-person shooters have, ultimately stifling the replay value.

Let's hope future downloadable content and mods will be offered.