Doom: The Dark Ages Unveiled: First Look

Following the triumphant return of Doom in 2016 and the critically acclaimed Doom Eternal in 2020, id Software is setting its sights on a new horizon with Doom: The Dark Ages. This prequel shifts the series' focus from the verticality and platforming of Eternal to a more grounded, medieval-inspired setting that emphasizes high-speed, high-skill-ceiling combat. While the iconic firearms remain a staple of the Doom experience, including the innovative Skull Crusher that uses enemy skulls as ammunition, The Dark Ages places a significant emphasis on melee combat. Players will wield three distinct melee weapons: an electrified gauntlet, a flail, and the standout Shield Saw, which can be thrown, used to block, parry, or deflect attacks. As game director Hugo Martin emphasized after a demo, "You’re gonna stand and fight."

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. The game's combat arenas, inspired by 300, are larger and filled with hordes of enemies, allowing players to tackle objectives in any order and explore levels freely. Martin noted that levels have been slightly shortened to maintain an optimal playtime of about an hour each.

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 high stakes as the Slayer's power becomes a coveted prize.

To enhance player experience, the development team has simplified the control scheme, making it more intuitive and less complex than Eternal's. Melee weapons will be equipped one at a time, and the game's economy has been streamlined to a single currency, gold. Hidden secrets and treasures will now focus on enhancing skill progression, offering tangible gameplay benefits rather than lore exploration.

Players can customize their difficulty experience with new sliders that allow adjustments to game speed, enemy aggression, and more, providing a tailored challenge. The reveal trailer showcased two notable gameplay sequences: piloting a 30-story demon mech called the Atlan and riding a cybernetic dragon. These sequences are not one-offs and come with their own set of abilities and minibosses to conquer. Notably, The Dark Ages will not include a multiplayer mode, as the team's focus is on delivering the best single-player campaign possible.

For fans like myself, who were transformed by the original Doom in 1993, Hugo 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 for Doom: The Dark Ages is at an all-time high.