After id Software's brilliant revival of Doom in 2016 and its even more refined 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, the franchise finds itself firmly rooted with its latest installment, Doom: The Dark Ages. This medieval-tinged prequel shifts away from the platforming elements of its predecessor, focusing instead on grounded, high-speed, and high-skill-ceiling first-person shooter gameplay that brings players closer to the hordes of Hell’s minions.
Doom: The Dark Ages maintains the series' signature intense combat, featuring the iconic arsenal of weapons, including the standout Skull Crusher from the reveal trailer. This unique weapon uses the skulls of fallen enemies as ammunition, firing them back at remaining foes in smaller, faster chunks. However, the game also emphasizes melee combat, spotlighting three key weapons: the electrified gauntlet, which can be charged for powerful strikes; the flail; and the Shield Saw, which can be thrown or used to block, parry, or deflect attacks. As game director Hugo Martin emphasized after a demo, "You’re gonna stand and fight."
Martin revealed that The Dark Ages draws inspiration from three seminal works: the original Doom, Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Zack Snyder’s 300. This influence is evident in the revamped Glory Kill system, which now allows for unsynced fatalities that can be executed from any angle, adapting to the player's position on the battlefield. This change accommodates the game's design, where players will be surrounded by enemies in expanded combat arenas, reminiscent of 300 and the original Doom. Players can tackle objectives in any order and explore levels freely, which Martin notes have been slightly shortened to maintain an optimal playtime of about an hour per level.
Addressing feedback from Doom Eternal, The Dark Ages will present its story through cutscenes rather than requiring players to delve into the Codex. The narrative promises to take players to the far reaches of the Doom universe, described as a "summer blockbuster event with everything on the line," as the Slayer's power becomes a coveted prize among enemies.
Martin also highlighted efforts to simplify the control scheme, acknowledging that Doom Eternal's controls were overly complex. In The Dark Ages, melee weapons will be equipped one at a time, enhancing the intuitive feel of gameplay. The game's economy has been streamlined to a single currency, gold, and hidden secrets will now focus on tangible, gameplay-altering rewards rather than lore exploration.
Players can customize their experience with difficulty sliders, adjusting elements like game speed and enemy aggression to tailor the challenge to their preference.
The reveal trailer showcased two standout sequences: piloting a 30-story demon mech called the Atlan and riding a cybernetic dragon. These are not one-off events but come with their own set of abilities and minibosses to battle. Notably, there will be no multiplayer mode in The Dark Ages, as the development team focused entirely on crafting the best single-player campaign possible.
For fans like myself, who experienced the transformative impact of the original Doom in 1993, Martin's shift back to the foundational design principles of the classic game while still evolving the power fantasy is incredibly exciting. As Martin stated, "It’s just gotta be different [from Eternal]. Especially if I loved the game. [If] I wanna play a Doom game, I wanna feel strong, but I’m OK with changing what that power fantasy is, especially if that change brings it closer to classic Doom." With the release date set for May 15, anticipation is at an all-time high.
