Danny O’Dwyer started out as a video game journalist and documentary producer who made a name for himself after gaining recognition during his work as host of the website GameSpot. Because of his interest in telling the stories of developers and designers, O’Dwyer eventually left to successfully crowdfund the media company Noclip through the platform Patreon. His most recent endeavor focuses on the development of DOOM and the history of the company that created the franchise, Id Software.

Video game documentaries have graced the likes of streaming services like Netflix, but there’s something special about looking at video content that’s a direct result of support from enthusiastic space marines who were interested in how their digital version of Hell came to be.

Learning about the development of DOOM certainly puts things in perspective for a gamer. It may take 40 hours to fight like hell and blast demons in the face, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that it took years of (probably literal) blood, sweat, and tears to create a great playing experience. There’s something satisfying about dropping down from a platform and squishing a demon’s head with your feet all while an intense guitar riff matches the tempo at which you mow down skeletal abominations with your shotgun; knowing how hard it was to make will help you appreciate it all the more.

The three parts to the documentary have each segment focusing on different parts of development, including interviews with artists and producers, discussion about failed projects, and how the idea of DOOM 2016 came to be. Together, they offer a fascinating look into the revival of one of gaming’s classic franchises. 

Did you grow up fighting off demons in Hell? What did you think of the documentary? Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook!

Images: Noclip