Media outlets around the world were recently invited to preview DOOM Eternal, the direct follow-up to 2016’s wildly awesome DOOM from id Software. DOOM, of course, garnered a wealth of critical and commercial success, walking away with several nods for game of the year when it released. DOOM Eternal might, based on previews, be able to iterate on that success.

It’s hard for a direct sequel to straddle the line between polish and reinvention, especially when its predecessor is so universally adored. For DOOM Eternal arrives after its delay, then, there comes a need for the game to improve upon a formula that doesn’t truly need that much improvement. Easier said than done, right? The challenge, then, comes from making sure the new game delivers the same great thrills as 2016’s DOOM while singing in its own, clear voice. That might explain the relatively white color palette as compared to DOOM’s hell-soaked orange and red.

Fortunately for id Software and fans, the previews that went out earlier today seem to indicate that DOOM Eternal might actually be able to live up to the hype generated by its incredible older sibling once it drops. Almost all previews are coming up favorable, and that should have fans absolutely psyched for what’s to come. This is, after all, one of the most anticipated video games of 2020.

Eurogamer -  John Linneman

Polygon - Christopher Grant

Overall, I’m excited about this one. There’s progression in all areas without taking anything away from what made Doom 2016 so special. In fact, it’s both surprising and gratifying to see id push the structure of the game forward as much as it has here.

Screen Rant - Leo Faierman

The evolution of Doom, and how Doom Eternal seeks to surprise players while staying fundamentally true to the spirit of franchise, is felt another way in this latest outing: locomotion. While Doom (2016) correctly identified speed as a core tenet of the franchise, Doom Eternal layers additional mechanics on top of that formula, including some light puzzle elements in between the game’s combat arenas.

Shack News - Ozzie Mejia

Doom didn’t just perform or sell well in 2016—it showed players and critics that there was a way to carry the sensibilities of an ancient classic into the modern gaming era, all while feeling fresh. Some (but not too much) fan-service silliness in between the guts and gore gave it some charm, but the rock-solid combat and map-crawling scavenger hunts made it unexpectedly satisfying, feeling like a proper and respectful successor to the franchise. DOOM Eternal looks to double-down on that with an expanded combat vocabulary, gorgeous environments, and increased challenge…and many, many more dismembered demons.

VentureBeat - Dean Takahashi

Bethesda and id disappointed a lot of Doom fans when Doom Eternal was delayed, but the game on display last week looks to be a significantly polished product. The environments look crisp, the action is intense, and the PC version appears to have no lag issues with dozens of enemies on-screen at a time. The scenery may look different, but this is very much Doom.

Based on these previews, it sounds like DOOM Eternal offers bigger maps, even faster gameplay, more finely tuned difficulty and uber crips graphics. That, if it all holds true for the full release of the game, sets this sequel up to be an absurdly good outing. It’ll be hard to much the stunning success of DOOM, but DOOM Eternal might surpass the affair entirely.

This sequel to Doom 2016 is light on story and heavy on action, allowing you to shoot lots of demons without having to suffer through a ton of story or cutscenes. You can adjust just how fast you want the combat to flow.

Sure, the delayed release date was a major bummer for DOOM fans. And these fans are hungry, with some even looking for other games to play thanks to Eternal’s delay. Have no fear, the wait is almost over, and these previews should serve as a nice morsel to stem the tide.

Next: DOOM Eternal Trailer Reveals New Enemies & Crucible Sword

DOOM Eternal is set to hit the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in March 2020. No word on the Nintendo Switch edition’s launch date yet.