DOOM + DOOM II

Start this on a bike before you try to jog through it, because DOOM + DOOM II asks you to turn, aim, and shoot while monsters are moving toward you. I think the old levels can make a workout go by quickly, but the aiming takes more attention than you might want to give it while running.

Gameplay

The nice thing about these games is that they get to the point. You move through a level, find a key or a switch, and try not to let an imp or a pinky get too close, and there isn’t a long story scene waiting to take you out of the action. I’d take that over a game that makes me stop moving to watch people talk for ten minutes.

The level design still asks you to pay attention, though, and that can be a good distraction or a reason to slow down. You’ll be checking doors, looking for keys, and sometimes wondering whether that wall you walked past is hiding something, which is a bit like trying to remember where you left your water bottle while the room is full of demons. I enjoy that the levels let you poke around, but I wouldn’t try to find every secret while also keeping up a brisk pace.

The weapons are a big part of why the action stays fun. The shotgun feels useful without making every fight feel solved, and the super shotgun in DOOM II has that satisfying, very direct answer to a problem. Then you meet something that makes you reconsider how close you want to stand. I think that keeps the combat lively without needing a bunch of complicated systems.

There are stretches where you’re mostly moving through corridors, and I don’t know that every one of those is equally interesting, but they’re usually short enough that I’d keep going. The enemies also make you change what you’re doing, because an imp and a larger demon don’t ask for the same kind of response. I’d probably play on a lower difficulty when exercising, since losing a fight because I was trying to hold a steady pace sounds like a pretty boring way to spend a level.

Aiming is the part that keeps me from calling this a perfect workout distraction. I like how immediate the shooting feels, but if a group of enemies comes at you from different directions, you have to turn and react instead of just holding a button and letting the game do the rest. Still, there’s very little waiting around. You mostly know what you’re here to do.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The bike is where I’d start, especially if you want to get absorbed in the fights without worrying about your footfalls. Full controller support makes it practical to play from the bike, and you can keep both hands on the controls while you steer around a room full of monsters. I’d lower the difficulty and ease off the pace when a fight gets crowded. No need to turn a workout into a small emergency.

On a treadmill, the movement and aiming can get out of sync with your body pretty quickly. You’re looking around with a stick, moving forward with another one, and trying to keep your actual legs doing something regular at the same time, so I’d stick to a walk or an easy jog rather than trying to run hard. When you need to turn around quickly, that thumb movement is doing a lot while the rest of you is bouncing along.

I’d also avoid making secret hunting the goal of the workout. There are hidden areas and little bits of exploration that I’d enjoy when I’m sitting down, but stopping to scan every wall is not what I want from a treadmill session. Follow the level forward, pick up what’s easy to reach, and let the hidden door stay hidden if you’re already moving along. It’ll probably still be there later.

I don’t know how much aiming precision you’ll have when your hands are moving with your stride, and that’s the reason I wouldn’t choose this for a fast run. The game expects you to face threats and fire at them, and sometimes that means turning quickly, not just pointing vaguely in their direction. If you’re cycling or walking, that seems manageable. If you’re sprinting, I’d save it for another time.

Controller support is a real plus here, but it doesn’t make the combat low effort. I’d use a comfortable pace and give yourself permission to pause between levels if you want to reset, rather than trying to treat every fight like a race. The game is still fun when you take it a little easier.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

You don’t need a new gaming computer for this, but the minimum requirements do call for a dedicated graphics card rather than relying on integrated graphics. I’d check the graphics card first, since the required card is old enough that plenty of modest computers should be fine. This isn’t where I’d spend the workout budget.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

DOOM + DOOM II is an easy game to recommend for bike rides and steady treadmill walks, especially if you want action without long breaks for story scenes. I’d skip it for a hard run, but if you can keep a comfortable pace while aiming, it’s a good way to put some demons between you and the clock.

Overall Score: 2.67 out of 3