Whilst my love of Doom 2016 was immediate, Eternal needed longer. A replay and adjusted expectations did it the world of good. It took some time, but I eventually figured out those bloody Marauders! Through all of this I realised that id Software weren’t trying to make a sequel to 2016; they wanted to make a game that stood on its own.
Mind opened, and with some more Doom games played, I was ready for whatever new direction they’d want to take the third modern game. Which it turns out means going back in time! Both story and play wise.
With the Eternal DLC ending conclusively, The Dark Ages takes us back to a time when the Makyrs kept the Slayer on a tight leash. He terrifies everyone, good and bad. Thing is, he’s straining against that leash! He just wants to rip and tear!
That leash is further strained when the Doom Slayer is pointed at the forces of Prince Ahzrak. This Prince of Hell wishes to lay claim to the throne and become the one they all fear. He quickly comes to realise why he isn’t the more he faces the Doom Slayer, but he has help, which leads to some of the games more interesting design and aesthetic choices. But that’s spoiler territory so you’ll have to find out yourself!
It’s no shock to know you’ll be ripping and tearing. But as with Eternal, you’ll be doing it differently again. In 2016 I did laps, whilst in Eternal I flew. In The Dark Ages I stood my ground, helped by a very cool new shield. It has blades, and it pairs lovely with his fur cape. Feeling like a deadly Captain America, it can be used offensively and defensively, mowing down lesser enemies and stunning others as you use it to advance. Many enemies require you to get up close where you can parry and then use a selection of melee weapons. More than a gimmick, the shield is a core gameplay mechanic that you’ll need to figure out fully if you’re going to progress.
Shield aside, the gameplay is very much inspired by the original two games. Pattern recognition, dodging fire, and not relying on particular weapons for particular situations. The quick switching and situational weapons of the first two modern Dooms aren’t a core part of gameplay in this entry. You could stick with one weapon, but you’d be missing out. There is literally a gun that crushes skulls and use them as projectiles! Ridiculous! I do still love the super shotgun though.
My enjoyment of the game is unquestionable. Turns out I just love me some Doom. And this time enough to not only play it a second time, but to also bump up the difficulty. I wasn’t crazy enough to expect another improvement upon Eternal. Realistically I knew I’d find bits I really enjoyed and if it got near Eternal I’d be very happy. So I enjoyed the challenge, tried to learn the mechanics, and swore a lot as I got stuck on bosses until I’d figured them out. With all that in mind, I’m happy with the third entry in this new trilogy. But before I praise it some more, there are parts that didn’t hit the mark.
An obvious one first. It’s not Mick Gordon. I’m not going to judge Finishing Move for getting involved; the aftermath of Eternal was a mess music wise. I just haven’t heard anything that I’ll still be listening to in five years’ time like I do with The Only Thing They Fear Is You. This new soundtrack suits the game for sure, and I often bopped along. It’s just a shame it follows along from something truly outstanding.
There are two major additions to the gameplay, and unfortunately neither of them add more than a distraction. You’d think a dragon and a mech would be awesome additions. Aesthetically they’re both amazing, with the Atlan Mech in answering a question from Eternal. I love the destruction you can cause as you stomp along. You can can even see the normal size enemies firing in vain at you. It’s amusing to squash them underfoot. But the play is simple, dodging attacks to charge up bigger attacks of your own. These sections feel like they’re there purely to change up the pace. Entertaining enough at least.
When it comes to the dragon…I really wanted to love Serrat. A giant cyborg dragon is just cool. He’s some kind of alpha who only responds to the Slayer. But these sections are the worst by some margin. What initially feels really cool is soon replaced by frustration. You can’t land where you like or target what you like. The whole thing is a tarted-up rails shooter. An illusion of control that doesn’t hold up for long. You fly A to B, lock onto an enemy, dodge a couple of times, then attack. If the Atlan feels like a break, Serrat feels like filler.
Both form part of a game that leans much more into story this time around. 2016 and Eternal used diegetic storytelling. He heard pieces, or things were explained to him, with a lot of being environmental. The Dark Ages takes a very different approach, with more obvious cutscenes and storytelling without the Slayer in sight. As it’s set much earlier the Slayer is feared but in no way trusted to be a saviour yet. As a big fan of the heavy metal lore dumps the previous games gave us, I’m not sure I’d want more of this new style. But it’s enjoyable and makes a change at least.
When it comes to difficulty there are all manner or toggles and sliders at your disposal. You want to change parry windows, or damage taken, or otherwise tweak a difficulty level? You can! Very handy for creating the game you want, which I’m all for. I imagine it will be really useful for speed runs and custom situations too.
The Dark Ages is the first Doom I’ve immediately played twice in a row. I felt committed, engaged…and sometimes infuriated. It’s a more story-driven game, but in trying to give us more it sometimes stretches itself too thin. Give the Slayer more to do by all means, but make it mean something. Your mileage may vary, and you may just think it’s fun. But I know id can do better. When it’s focused on the Slayer, The Dark Ages once again successfully mixes up the formula and gives us an entertaining new way to rip and tear.
| Played On | PS5 |
| Time Spent | 40 hours across two plays |
| Pros | + The heavy thudding movement is pleasing + Shield looks cool whilst adding new layers + A fur cape + Thoughtful accessibility options |
| Cons | – Disappointing filler sections – They did their best with the music |
| Overall | Another entertaining entry. But if you can’t give other areas the same focus as the Slayer, don’t. |
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