DOOM: The Dark Ages Review

The DOOM franchise has been the pinnacle of the first-person shooter genre, notorious for its relentless pace, high-octane combat, and the adrenaline it pumps into your veins. From humble pixelated origins to its current modernized self, DOOM has found a way to reinvent itself without losing its core, and this current title does not differ.

DOOM: The Dark Ages, released and developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks continues to evolve in a much similar trajectory; as the eighth main entry in the franchise and the third instalment in the modern rebooted series following DOOM Eternal, it's a new chapter that dives into a much darker more, a more medieval version of hell itself. Don't let the shift in the setting fool you; it still has the very essence of DOOM.

As the title suggests, DOOM: The Dark Ages takes us back to an earlier time in the DOOM universe, a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal if you'd like to call it, showing how the Doom Slayer joined the battle against the forces of Hell with the Night Sentinels, an elite force of warriors. 

DOOM games haven't been very sophisticated narratively in the past, but newer entries have started building much more background and lore; this title follows that trend, bringing more dialogue, cut scenes, and storytelling.

Despite their decision to shift towards stronger storytelling, the game still primarily leans into action. While this story approach is new and a welcome change for fans of the lore, it won't be an appealing highlight for everyone. I can picture a lot of the community opting out during the story segments, waiting to get back into the action. 

Some of the scenes tend to feel dry, although there are a few standout moments, the story doesn't necessarily leave a mark. If you are someone who is thoroughly invested in the DOOM universe, you probably enjoy how the game builds on the Slayer's legend and fleshes out the world. But if you're someone who's never really cared about the original lore, the story probably won't change your mind or help you get into the world.

As mentioned before, DOOM: The Dark Ages keeps the fundamentals the same as those of its predecessors. You move through a series of stages, battling waves of demons whilst exploring the world to find secrets and upgrades. If DOOM (2016) and Eternal's more exploration-oriented design, which featured more open map sections and platforming, wasn't your cup of tea, it's something that you might not enjoy in this title either.

But for those who did have a blast, DOOM: The Dark Ages amps up the experience and makes it more fun and rewarding than ever. The movement in this title is just fluid, satisfying, and lovely, helping create a natural loop of exploration, combat, and reward. 

There were concerns that the bigger levels and longer playtime may make the DOOM: The Dark Ages feel stretched out and drag on the repetitiveness, but the developers did a fantastic job of keeping everything tight and focused regardless of the bigger levels. Even optional objectives and collectibles feel tight and concise without hogging the playtime.

The various levels feature hidden paths, simple puzzles, and secrets filled with upgrades, weapon skins, and even collectible toys. It's a great balance, as most hidden items feel rewarding to find without being too obvious or too difficult. DOOM: The Dark Ages gives you this feeling of discovery that feels nostalgic in the sense that it is reminiscent of older generation console games.

On to DOOM's magnum opus - its combat, and DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn't miss. You unlock various weapons as you progress through the game, each weapon with its own feel and unique upgrade options, which can be unlocked via game currency, ruins, or collectibles, giving you a lot of options and allowing you more freedom to explore. The weapons feel different from one another, with each offering you multiple ability options for you to choose what best fits your style of play.

Melee attacks also play a larger role this time and thematically so. They are not just there to finish off weekend enemies; they're also useful for getting extra ammo and rewards, and best of all, they feel just as satisfying as the gun play. The upstream of new weapons keeps the title fresh, but you're never overwhelmed with too many options at once.

Another neat feature is how defeating powerful, elite enemies gives you permanent stat boosts, such as increased health or armor. The encounters are intense, as you'd expect. Still, they're worth the effort, especially when the movement of the enemies' attacks is well telegraphed to make them feel fair rather than frustrating.

On top of all of that, there are challenge missions tied to specific objectives within each stage, as well as mastery missions that are linked to each of the weapons. These give you even more goals to accomplish, making the gameplay feel very rewarding.

A complaint I had with previous DOOM games was that the level design felt a bit linear. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a great improvement on that. The levels are huge and more detailed, allowing you to explore deeper and giving you ample opportunities to uncover secrets. Running through these areas often feels exciting, mainly because of the moment-to-moment combat that always keeps you on your toes.

That being said, the level design doesn't make or break the game; it's the combat that makes everything feel exciting, not necessarily the puzzles or the exploration activities. The environment is varied and plentiful, often giving you a sense of awe, and the rewards hidden throughout the world make it worth taking your time to venture out and explore.

How DOOM: The Dark Ages progresses fits nicely into that setup. The upgrades that you encounter feel impactful, whether it's boosting your health, upgrading your weapon, or unlocking new abilities. Though it isn't groundbreaking or complex, it's satisfying. And it's always worth it to go off the main path to see what you might just end up finding.

In the topic of new additions, DOOM: The Dark Ages introduces the shield saw, a new tool that adds both offense and defence; this weapon can be wielded alongside a one-handed gun and has a variety of uses. You can throw it at enemies, break through defenses, or activate switches that unlock new paths. You can even use it to zip across gaps by locking to an enemy and warping to them.

This weapon also introduces a new mechanic—parrying. When enemies glow green, the game lets you block their attacks at the right moment to stun them or reflect projectiles. It makes the fights feel more like an action game than a traditional shooter, and I mean that in the best way possible. Parrying adds strategy and nuance to battles, giving you a new layer to master.

DOOM: The Dark Ages features too many large set pieces where the Doom Slayer rides dragons and mechs. These moments look cool and are fun in short bursts, but they're also the weakest part of the game. Both of these segments revolve around timing parries and mashing basic attacks; while the visuals and sound effects make them enjoyable, they lack the variety, depth, and polish that you find in the rest of the game.

It's good to know that DOOM: The Dark Ages is a game that's welcoming to players of different skill levels; you are given multiple difficulty settings, and it even lets you adjust how forgiving the parry timing is. This allows someone new to the franchise to start easily so that they can have a blast and then ramp up the challenge later. This makes the game approachable but still rewarding for someone unfamiliar with first-person shooters.

Visually, DOOM: The Dark Ages looks amazing; there's a mix of medieval and sci-fi elements that gives the game a unique style that blends a dark environment with hellish creatures and ancient ruins well. Each of the levels is filled to the brim with eye-catching detail, and the cut scenes show off top-notch animation and cinematography.

The sound design is just as great, every gun sounds menacing, and every explosion feels rattling to the core. The music kicks in at the right moment to keep your heart in sync with what you're about to experience. The soundtrack blends heavy metal with moody ambience that perfectly matches how a game like this is supposed to feel, whether you are tearing through. Demons are exploring a quest inside an eerie corridor. The sound does a great job of setting the tone.

Although the game delivers in almost every way, it's not perfect. I love the exploration, but it does sometimes time to take a backseat to the combat. The progression is great, but there's always room for more nuance and complexity. And if you prefer DOOM's classic minimalist storytelling, the increased focus on the narrative might not be appealing.

That said, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a bold and thrilling addition to the franchise that I loved playing. It brings in mechanics I've seen from other games and implements them to a tee without losing what makes DOOM great. It looks amazing, sounds wonderful, and, most importantly, plays like a DOOM game is supposed to. 

It's a top-tier shooter that respects its humble roots while keeping up with the times. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, DOOM: The Dark Ages offers an intense and unforgettable experience. It may be set in the past, but it's a huge leap forward for the franchise.