Doom Board Game 2016? Second Verse Same as the First?

At the end of July, Fantasy Flight Games announced that they would be revisiting an old license and gave the world the first peek at components from DOOM. This is not the first time Fantasy Flight Games has released a Doom game as they released a game based on the video game franchise back in 2004. The game was successful enough to garner an expansion, creatively titled Doom The Board Game - Expansion Set.

(Such Wow. Much Creativity.)

It is interesting to see the parallels between the development and release of Doom (2004) and Doom (2016). Doom (2004) was released concurrent with the release of Doom 3 in 2004 and the components and look of the demons in the board game were based of the style and design of the video game. Now, in 2016, we have a new Doom game and, in turn, a new Doom board game, both of which are reboots of the 2004 Doom. Additionally, the components and demons in the Doom Board Game (2016) are based off of Doom (2016).

(You can't kill demons. Just reboot them.)

Both games employ a similar game structure: a group of players operating as marines play cooperatively as a team trying to stop the dungeon mast.....errr.....the other player who is in control of the hordes of demons the marines are trying to destroy. Additionally, both games seem to operate on a scenario-based style of play. In Doom (2004) you would pick a scenario that would dictate how to set up the board as well as victory conditions for the marines as well as the DM....'invader player'. Doom (2016) calls these 'operations' which have several missions. This reminds me of Zombicide or Mice and Mystics in that you have a more campaign style of play vs. the scenarios of Doom (2004). [though 2004 scenarios also have a high degree of continuity between scenarios and can be played concurrently for a larger story]

The main developer of Doom (2016) is Jonathan Ying, who is known for his creative and devlopement work on the Star Wars Imperial Assault franchise. (Imperial Assault in large part a reskinning of Fantasy Flight's Descent: Journeys in the Dark, which is in large part a reskinning of Doom (2004)....wait a minute....)

I think the most interesting to see is whether or not there are any differences between Doom (2016) and Doom (2004). On the surface it seems both games are very similar and I would like to think that as more news is released about this game it will be more than a re-skinning of an old game. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, though I would like to think there will be different mechanics or new gameplay that sets this game apart from Doom (2004) other than updated graphics. 

Despite that, Doom (2004) is still a highly sought after game even twelve years later, with prices for the base set often meeting or exceeding the $79.95 price point of Doom (2016). Even the expansion usually nets $50+ on the second hand market. If nothing else, it gives us another chance to destroy the legions of Hell on the tabletop and I always welcome the opportunity to do so.

Fantasy Flight's Announcement

Doom (2016) Game Page @ FFG

Doom (2004) Game Page @ BGG