A Brutal New Chapter in the DOOM Legacy
Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest chapter in id Software’s long-running demon-slaying franchise, dares to rewrite the rules. Acting as a prequel to 2016’s DOOM, it trades the acrobatic finesse of Doom Eternal for a weightier, more grounded approach. Gone are the air-dashes and double jumps. The Slayer now plants his feet firmly on the bloodstained ground, ready to meet his foes head-on in a medieval-inspired world that blends ancient castles with infernal tech.
This isn’t just a change in pacing—it’s a complete shift in tone and combat philosophy. Where Doom Eternal was a ballet of bullets and mobility, The Dark Ages is a slugfest. You’re not dancing around the battlefield anymore; you’re wading through it, smashing demonic skulls with pure brute force.
Combat Redefined: Blunt Force Trauma and Parry Mastery
Enter the Shield Saw
The star of The Dark Ages’ mechanical overhaul is the Shield Saw, a multi-functional tool that feels like a direct rebuttal to Doom Eternal’s complexity. Always held in the Slayer’s left hand, it allows for defence, parries, and even brutal ranged attacks. Throw it through hordes of imps, parry glowing green projectiles back at enemies, or upgrade it to vaporise weaker foes in a single toss.
This streamlined tool replaces several systems from Eternal, such as the chainsaw, flamethrower, and grenade launcher. Combat becomes simpler yet more satisfying. Mastering the shield’s parry mechanic—where a well-timed block leaves enemies wide open—is not only critical, it’s endlessly rewarding.
The Doom Slayer returns in triumphant form in DOOM: The Dark Ages, courtesy of Microsoft.
A Streamlined but Effective Arsenal
The Slayer’s familiar weapons return: super shotguns, rocket launchers, and energy cannons, each with unique interactions tied to the shield. Want to blast enemies off their feet after a successful parry? You can. The upgrade system encourages experimentation and customisation, letting you tailor your tools to fit your combat preferences.
While the pace is slower than previous games, the arenas are still dense with danger. Enemies lob slow-moving projectiles across the screen, turning combat into a chaotic ballet of timing and positioning. It feels like a return to the classic Doom roots, with modern polish.
New Toys, Mixed Results
Mechs and Dragons, but Do They Fit?
id Software tries to break up the core combat loop with segments involving the Atlan, a giant mech, and a cyber-dragon you can ride. The Atlan sections—mostly involving slow, punch-heavy sequences—are fun at first but grow stale quickly. Meanwhile, the dragon flights are visually impressive but lack depth.
These additions are bold swings, but they feel disconnected from the rest of the experience. They’re passable, not essential—and most players will be eager to return to the main grind of slaying demons on foot.
Boss Battles Miss the Mark
One area where The Dark Ages stumbles is in its boss design. Many of the so-called “Leaders” are simply beefed-up versions of existing enemies, often made temporarily invincible until their minions are cleared. While a few standout boss fights offer spectacle, overall, this element lacks the creativity and challenge seen in Doom Eternal.
Visuals, Atmosphere and Accessibility
A Grim Aesthetic Shift
The Dark Ages embraces a darker, more medieval aesthetic than its predecessors. You’ll traverse through crumbling fortresses, hell-scarred villages, and techno-demonic ruins. The colour palette is moodier than Eternal’s neon hellscapes, but the visual identity still feels uniquely DOOM. Enemies are redesigned to match the medieval tone, from knight-like Hell Knights to gothic Imps.
Despite the visual shift, performance remains rock solid. Even amidst large-scale battles, the game runs smoothly with no noticeable bugs or frame drops.
Customisation and Accessibility
A highlight of The Dark Ages is its robust accessibility settings. Players can adjust game speed, parry windows, enemy aggression, and more. This means you can make the game as tight and brutal or as relaxed and tactical as you like. It’s a commendable step toward inclusive design without compromising the game’s core identity.
Storytelling and World-Building
The Origins of the Slayer
For the first time in the modern DOOM saga, there’s a real attempt to tell a story—and it works. The Dark Ages explores the origin story of the Doom Slayer, offering a narrative that’s both engaging and coherent. It’s far easier to follow than Doom Eternal’s dense lore dumps, with cutscenes that actually compel you to watch rather than skip.
There’s intrigue in seeing how the Slayer came to be a mythic figure, and the game does a solid job introducing new characters and factions, including the Cosmic Realm, which hints at even broader lore possibilities.
Final Verdict
Doom: The Dark Ages is not simply Doom Eternal with a new skin. It’s a thoughtful reinvention that slows down the action without neutering it. The addition of the Shield Saw and parry mechanics injects fresh strategy into each fight, while the heavier combat and medieval setting help it stand apart in a crowded FPS landscape.
Not every experiment works—bosses disappoint, and mech segments are underwhelming—but at its best, The Dark Ages captures the violent joy that defines DOOM. It’s less frantic, more deliberate, and still completely badass.
Rating: 8.5/10 – A worthy prequel that redefines DOOM’s combat without losing its soul. If you’re ready to trade speed for strength, The Dark Ages will not disappoint.
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