When the original DOOM was released on personal computers in 1993, it revolutionized the then-fledgling video game industry virtually overnight. While it may not have been the first game of its kind, DOOM is arguably responsible for popularizing the first-person shooter genre (along with Wolfenstein 3D, another game created by developer id Software). Modern blockbuster franchises like Call Of Duty and Halo are wholly indebted to the success of DOOM—a fact that younger gamers might find hard to believe.

And with commercial success comes sequels: A year later id Software would release DOOM II: Hell On Earth—more of a level pack and multiplayer expansion than bona fide sequel—and 2004 would see the release of DOOM 3, a game that exchanged the action hero campiness and unrealistic gore of previous entries for dense atmospherics and a legitimate sense of terror. 

It’s been 12 years since DOOM 3 was released, and the next game in the series is, finally, just around the corner. The fourth installment in the DOOM saga—which was co-developed with Bethesda Software of Elder Scrolls and Fallout fame, and is simply entitled DOOM—is a complete reboot of the franchise and aims to be something of a composite of every DOOM game that preceded it—but it’s also intent on evolving the series and the FPS genre at large. Below is a list of the 5 ways in which the new DOOM looks to propel the beloved franchise into the future.

Weapon Mods

The confirmed list of weapons for DOOM appear to be a mix of more conventional firearms like the pistol and super shotgun, and over-the-top series staples like the chainsaw and BFG9000. Players will also have the ability to make their own in-game modifications to weapons, adding to what is already looking to be an extremely diverse arsenal. The developer gives an example of pairing a rocket launcher with a remote detonator, which will allow the player to manually trigger a rocket’s blast. 

Speed Conquers All

This iteration’s Doom Marine (referred to by fans as simply “Doomguy”) is designed to be lean and swift, offering a stark contrast to the often bulky gameplay mechanics of competing first-person shooters. The player will be able to sprint and double-jump, giving them an edge against comparatively slow enemy demons. These mechanics have been coined “push-forward combat” by the game’s developers, who have ensured that players won’t get very far if they choose to take their sweet time.

Regenerative health—a gameplay element ubiquitous in today’s FPS landscape—has been done away with in favor of med packs scattered throughout the campaign maps, another aspect of the new DOOM that harks back to the genre’s mid-90s golden era. 

Glory Kills

A unique spin on FPS melee combat, Glory Kills are the DOOM equivalent to Mortal Kombat Fatalities. The new system allows a player to target a vulnerable enemy and kill them in one fell swoop. In meticulous Bethesda fashion, a glory kill will vary depending on which part of the enemy’s body you target—for example, target a wounded enemy’s leg and the Doom Marine will perform a unique Glory Kill involving that appendage.

And the bigger they come, the harder they fall: In a Glory Kill performed against iconic doom baddie Mancubus, the Doom Marine removes the monster’s heart from its body and shoves it down its throat—causing the Mancubus to belch loudly and then combust. It’s at once comedic and brutal, as only the DOOM franchise is capable of being.

Brand New Engine

Developer id Software has always been on the cutting edge of gaming tech. The studio has developed some of the industry’s most impressive game engines over the years, and the new id Tech 6 engine—which DOOM will be the first title to boast—looks to be no different. Without relying on technological parlance, here’s really all you need to know: it’s faster and more powerful than any FPS engine that has come before it.

Refined Multiplayer

It could be argued that modern first-person shooters are only as memorable as their multiplayer modes—single-player campaigns for shooters typically average at about 15 hours in length, but a well-designed multiplayer mode can keep a gamer’s attention for an eternity.

While the first two DOOM games may have been early progenitors of both LAN and online multiplayer, that throne was usurped at the turn of the millennium by games with more fluid and accessible multiplayer functionality, like Halo or id’s own Quake series. But that’s about to change. For the multiplayer portion of DOOM, id Software teamed up with Certain Affinity—the same studio that co-developed the stellar multiplayer modes for Call Of Duty: Ghosts and Halo 4. In addition to a variety of game modes, both new and old, the title’s multiplayer mode will feature painstakingly involved character customization and a map creation tool named the “SnapMap”—two massive assets considering FPS diehards are one of gaming’s most imaginative and mod-savvy contingents.

DOOM seems intent on reestablishing the series as the preeminent force in online multiplayer gaming, and everything we’ve seen so far suggests that it has a pretty good shot.