After id Software's brilliant revival of Doom in 2016 and its even more refined 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, the bar for the franchise was set incredibly high. With Doom: The Dark Ages, the team at id Software isn't aiming to soar even higher; instead, they're firmly grounding the series in a medieval-tinged prequel that brings the high-speed, high-skill-ceiling first-person shooter experience closer to the hordes of Hell's minions.
Doom: The Dark Ages shifts away from the platforming elements of Doom Eternal, focusing instead on strafe-heavy gameplay with a strong emphasis on power. The iconic weapons of the series are still present, including the new Skull Crusher showcased in the reveal trailer. This unique weapon uses the skulls of defeated enemies as ammunition, firing them back at foes in smaller, faster pieces. However, the game also highlights the importance of melee combat, featuring three key melee weapons: the electrified gauntlet, which can be charged for powerful attacks; the flail; and the standout Shield Saw, which can be thrown or used to block, parry, or deflect attacks. As game director Hugo Martin emphasized after my demo, "You’re gonna stand and fight."
Martin draws inspiration from three seminal works for Doom: The Dark Ages: the original Doom, Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, and Zack Snyder’s 2006 film, 300, which itself is based on Miller's work. This influence is evident in the game's new approach to the Glory Kill system, which is now unsynced, allowing for dynamic fatalities from any angle on the battlefield. This change accommodates the increased number of enemies surrounding the player, reminiscent of the combat bowls in 300 and the original Doom. Players can tackle objectives in any order and explore levels freely, which have been slightly shortened to maintain an optimal playtime of about an hour per level.
Addressing feedback from Doom Eternal, The Dark Ages shifts away from relying on the Codex for storytelling, opting instead for cutscenes to unfold the narrative. id Software promises a grand story that will explore the far reaches of the Doom universe, described as "a summer blockbuster event with everything on the line," where the Slayer's power is highly coveted by enemies.
Martin also highlighted the team's focus on simplifying the control scheme, acknowledging that Doom Eternal's complexity might have been overwhelming. In The Dark Ages, melee weapons will be used like equipment, allowing for easier management. The game's economy has been streamlined to a single currency (gold), and hidden secrets will now offer gameplay-altering rewards rather than lore exploration, enhancing skill progression.
Players will have the ability to customize the difficulty with sliders, adjusting aspects like game speed and enemy aggression to tailor their experience. The reveal trailer also showcased two standout gameplay sequences: piloting a massive 30-story demon mech called the Atlan and riding a cybernetic dragon. These sequences are not mere one-offs but come with their own set of abilities and challenges, including miniboss battles. Notably, Doom: The Dark Ages will not include a multiplayer mode, as the team's focus is solely on crafting the best single-player campaign possible.
For someone like me, 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 maintaining 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." This approach has me eagerly anticipating the release of Doom: The Dark Ages on May 15.
