Doom: The Dark Ages Unveiled in First Preview

After id Software's stellar revival of Doom in 2016 and its even more refined 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, it's clear that the franchise has reached new heights. However, with Doom: The Dark Ages, the series takes a different approach, firmly rooting itself in a medieval-themed prequel that focuses on grounded, high-speed, and high-skill-ceiling first-person shooter gameplay. This new installment shifts away from Doom Eternal's platforming elements, instead emphasizing intense, strafe-heavy combat with a strong focus on power.

While retaining the signature great guns of the Doom series, The Dark Ages introduces the Skull Crusher, a standout weapon from the reveal trailer. This unique firearm uses the skulls of fallen enemies as ammunition, launching them as high-velocity projectiles at remaining foes. Yet, the game places a significant emphasis on melee combat, featuring three primary melee weapons: an electrified gauntlet that can be charged, a flail, and the Shield Saw, which can be thrown, used to block, parry, or deflect attacks. As game director Hugo Martin emphasized after my demo, "You’re gonna stand and fight."

Martin revealed that 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, which itself is based on a graphic novel by Miller. This influence is evident in the revamped Glory Kill system, which is now unsynced, allowing for dynamic finishing moves from any angle on the battlefield. This change accommodates the game's design, where players will be constantly surrounded by enemies in combat arenas that have been significantly expanded. Players can tackle objectives in any order and explore levels freely, which Martin notes have been slightly shortened to maintain an optimal playtime of about an hour per level.

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 everything on the line," as the Slayer's power becomes a coveted prize among enemies.

Martin also highlighted the team's efforts to simplify the control scheme, acknowledging that Doom Eternal's controls were overly complex. The new game aims for intuitive controls, with melee weapons equipped one at a time like equipment. The game's economy has been streamlined to a single currency, gold, and hidden secrets will now focus on enhancing skill progression, offering tangible gameplay rewards rather than lore exploration.

Players can customize the game's difficulty with sliders that adjust various elements such as game speed and enemy aggression, allowing for a tailored challenge. Additionally, standout gameplay sequences from the reveal trailer, including the 30-story demon mech, the Atlan, and cybernetic dragonback riding, will be more than one-off events, featuring full suites of abilities and miniboss battles. Notably, The Dark Ages will not include a multiplayer mode, as the development team's focus is on crafting the best possible single-player campaign.

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 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.