In the pantheon of video games that are considered “legendary,” there are few as influential as Doom. The 1993 first-person shooter was not the first game of its type, but it’s easily the most iconic. It established itself in the popular zeitgeist for its premise, gore, art, and even its music. In a time when gaming music wasn’t quite the priority that it is today, it was a trend setter. It’s fitting then that the soundtrack is being inducted into the National Recording Registry.
The Music of Doom Sets it Apart
Something that set the soundtrack of Doom apart from other games was its emphasis on rock. This in itself was unique for how the game was set up. The premise is straight-up horror. A space marine has to single-handedly fight his way through a demonic invasion on the moons of Mars. A gate to hell has been opened, and monsters and the undead are pouring through. The soundtrack fights against this. Drawing influence from hard rock bands, the soundtrack isn’t ominous or scary; it’s propulsive.
Evidence of what it would be like with a more terrifying score can be seen in different ports of the game. The Atari Jaguar version doesn’t have in-level music. It’s creepier without it. But then compare it with the PlayStation version that has a completely different soundtrack, intentionally made to be creepy. It’s a vastly different experience. So, for how it energizes the player and defines the intended experience, it’s the original rocking score that’s being inducted.
The Man Behind the Music
Bobby Prince composed the original score for Doom, having worked on developer id Software’s previous titles, including the Commander Keen games and Wolfenstein 3D. Even if it were just Doom alone in his list of works, that would be enough to make him a legend in the field. The art of game music has evolved considerably since 1993. Still, Doom is a soundtrack you can go back to, and it still feels fresh and exciting. The MIDI instrumentation sounds dated (because it is), but it still does everything it needs to in order to make its game stand out decades later.
Congratulations to everyone behind Doom, including Bobby Prince, for this incredible achievement. The National Recording Registry lists and preserves pieces of audio that are deemed significant on a cultural, historical, or aesthetic level. It’s a remarkable accomplishment to be a part of this list, especially considering the only other games in there are the theme from Super Mario Bros. and one of the Minecraft soundtracks. Keep on rocking, guys!
