Doom: The Dark Ages Review

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First-person shooters are one of the most conservative genres in the gaming industry. However, the Doom series, which set the standard for the genre over 30 years ago, has always been open to change and innovation. Games like Doom 64, Doom 3, and the mobile Doom RPG confirm this dynamic evolution. Each of these projects introduced unique elements and mechanics that expanded the boundaries of the genre, while maintaining the recognizable atmosphere and gameplay characteristic of Doom. These changes not only refreshed the series, but also influenced the development of first-person shooters as a whole.

In 2016, the Doom series returned to its roots with the release of a new game that largely drew on the ideas and gameplay mechanics of the original installments. However, after this, id Software began experimenting again. In 2020, Doom Eternal was released, in which the developers essentially reimagined the mechanics of demon battles. The protagonist gained the ability to fly across arenas using ramps and new deadly tools, such as a shoulder-mounted cannon capable of freezing enemies in its path. These innovations made the gameplay more dynamic and exciting, strengthening the Doom series' position in the world of video games.

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Doom: The Dark Ages is a unique reimagining of classic gameplay, brought to you by id Software. In this game, the Doom Slayer, also known as Doomguy from previous installments, battles demons in a captivating world that blends medieval fantasy and high-tech elements. Players will encounter hostile creatures, including colossal robots, dragons with mechanical wings, Lovecraftian monsters, and zombies. One of the key gameplay changes in The Dark Ages is the introduction of a shield, which opens up new tactical possibilities and changes the perception of the first-person shooter genre. This game promises an engaging experience, combining dynamic gunplay with elements of strategy and exploration.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a sequel to Doom 64 and a prequel to the game released in 2016. In 2020, the old and new parts of the series were united through additional levels in the Doom 64 remaster. In this game, the main character, Doomguy, returns to Hell to finally defeat the demons. However, he quickly realizes that the demons will not stop. As a result, he decides to remain in Hell and continue the fight against evil on its territory. This exciting plot development adds depth and tension to the known Doom universe, expanding the possibilities for players and introducing new elements to the gameplay mechanics.

After this, Doomguy's years-long, and perhaps even centuries-long, struggle with demons begins. Then comes the abrupt transition—the character awakens on the UAC Corporation's Martian base at the beginning of the 2016 Doom game. He rises from a stone sarcophagus in which he has been trapped for an unknown number of years and returns to what he does best—destroying the demons who have decided to take over Mars.

Question: Where was Doomguy between the events of Doom 64 and Doom 2016? The answer is that after the conclusion of Doom 64, he discovered a portal to another dimension and found himself on the planet Argent D'Nur. This marked the beginning of his new journey. Local warriors, seeing Doomguy's boundless rage and desire to destroy demons, their enemies, decided to harness his power. Before sending him into battle, the warriors of Argent D'Nur turned to the powerful race of Maker for support, who agreed to grant Doomguy supernatural powers and immortality. From this interaction emerged a great hero known as the Doom Slayer, whose strength and determination became legendary in the world of Argent D'Nur.

After this event, the events of Doom: The Dark Ages begin. The planet Argent D'Nur is attacked by armies of demons, led by the hellish prince Azrak, who seeks to find the source of incredible power. However, the locals can count on the aid of the Doom Slayer, whose power and combat skills have long been the stuff of demon legend.

The hero initially falls under the control of the Macer race, who, realizing his immense power, decide to use a special artifact to contain it. When the situation becomes critical, and the warriors of Argent D'Nur are unable to cope with the advancing demon armies, the Macers send the hero to help. However, the Slayer will soon be able to free himself from his magical shackles and free himself from his control. At that moment, all who stand in his way will be in trouble: not the Macers, not the demons, not Azrak, not even the ancient gods created in the image of Lovecraftian monsters. The hero's release portends chaos and destruction for all his enemies.

The plot of Doom: The Dark Ages includes characters such as King Novik, who leads the people of Argent D'Nur, his daughter Tira, and a mysterious witch who assists Azrak. However, memorizing them isn't necessary, as in this game, as in other Doom titles, the plot quickly fades into the background. The gameplay remains the primary focus, captivating players from the very beginning until the end credits. This game offers intense action and thrilling combat, making it appealing to fans of the genre.

The difference between the games Doom: The Dark Ages and Doom Eternal is immediately noticeable. The new game has the ability to jump, but the main character still feels like a massive and ponderous character, which creates the impression that he cannot leave the ground. This feature affects the overall gameplay and the perception of combat dynamics.

The game does not feature a double jump, and energy ramps that propel the Slayer into the air are extremely rare. These ramps are typically used to reach hidden secrets rather than in combat. Also missing from this installment is the dash, a familiar feature from the previous game that allowed for quick escape from the environment. This change in gameplay mechanics impacts combat strategy and exploration, placing emphasis on other aspects of gameplay.

In Doom Eternal, the core gameplay element is dynamic movement around the arena and the ability to quickly rotate the camera 360 degrees to shoot enemies from different angles. In contrast, in The Dark Ages, the player's attention is focused on the horizon, reminiscent of the original installments of the series, where the camera could only rotate horizontally, without the ability to change the vertical angle. This creates a unique gaming experience, emphasizing strategy and planning, which distinguishes The Dark Ages from more modern shooters.

In the new game, camera control gives players a wide range of options, but battles primarily take place on a single plane. Even flying enemies often hover close to the ground, making it unnecessary to look up to spot them. This approach creates a more comfortable combat environment and allows you to focus on strategy and tactics without being distracted by changing perspectives.

The Doom Slayer in the new game has truly become more massive and stable, resembling a tank than the familiar fighter from Doom Eternal. Despite this, The Dark Ages has not lost its dynamism. Although the hero no longer hovers above the arena, his movement speed on the ground remains high. Players can still expect fast and exciting gameplay, which makes the game engaging and tense.

The Dark Ages settings include a slider that adjusts the overall game speed. By increasing it to maximum, all objects in the game, including the hero, will move faster. Regular demons will move quickly around, while stronger enemies will attack the hero more actively using projectiles. The projectiles themselves will also move faster, adding a dynamic element to the gameplay.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a fast-paced game where reaction speed and adaptability are key. Players must make lightning-fast decisions in a constantly changing battlefield. Every moment demands attention and quick reactions, making the gameplay tense and exciting. In this game, as in other parts of the Doom series, it is not only strategy that is important, but also the ability to instantly react to threats, which creates a unique gaming experience.

The updated gameplay focuses on the use of the shield, which is becoming a key element in modern shooters. Previously, it was difficult to imagine that parrying projectiles would become an important game mechanic, but we are seeing this trend in action. Projectiles fired by enemies are now larger and more visible, allowing players to easily identify and effectively parry them. This new mechanic not only adds depth to the gameplay but also requires greater concentration and reflexes, making the game more engaging.

Red projectiles are common but dangerous attacks that are best dodged or protected with a shield. Green projectiles can be successfully parried with the same shield, sending them back towards opponents. This causes confusion in enemies and can result in armor or health loss. Over time and through skill upgrades, the player can unlock additional effects for successful parries, such as a lightning storm or a localized earthquake, which damage demons. Skillful use of these mechanics will significantly increase the chances of victory in battles.

Shortly after the start of the game, the Doom Slayer manages to modify his shield by attaching a chainsaw to it. By launching the saw and throwing the shield at an enemy, even a less powerful one, you can briefly disorient them. While the saw rips through their flesh, you can easily finish them off with a shot. The shield also serves as an excellent tool for quickly closing the distance to an enemy: after locking on to a target with a single button press, the player raises the shield and quickly flies toward the enemy, destroying everything in their path. This move has a short cooldown, making it particularly effective in combat.

The final move in the game is a replacement for the Meat Hook, which could previously be equipped to the Super Shotgun in Doom Eternal. Like the shield, this hook allowed the player to rush into the thick of combat and continue the fight by shooting. However, it's worth noting that the hook was only available on the Super Shotgun, while the shield in The Dark Ages is always equipped, opening up new gameplay and combat tactics. The mechanics associated with these elements enrich the gameplay and make it more dynamic and interesting.

Keeping a close distance with the Doom Slayer is crucial thanks to the availability of three melee weapons, each with unique characteristics. These weapons are not only effective for finishing off enemies but also help loot health packs and ammo from imps, significantly increasing your chances of survival. Proper use of melee weapons allows you to maximize damage and increase your effectiveness in clashes with opponents.

Despite the variety of new mechanics that have enriched the basic gameplay, constant battles with demons can become monotonous. Recognizing this, id Software expanded on the familiar gameplay by adding episodes in which the Doom Slayer controls either a powerful combat robot or a dragon. These elements not only add variety to the gameplay experience but also add strategic depth, allowing players to experience new sensations and tactics in battle.

In the former, you slowly explore a vast battlefield, occasionally engaging in hand-to-hand combat with powerful titans and firing powerful artillery at them. In the latter, you fly above the battlefield, periodically shooting down demonic ships. Both options offer a satisfying experience, offering a break from the usual combat without becoming too intrusive or annoying. These gameplay elements add variety and maintain interest in the game, allowing players to enjoy the dynamics of combat.

id Software prides itself on the scale of battles not only in episodes with robots and dragons. In The Dark Ages, familiar battles unfold in vast locations that significantly exceed the standard sizes for this series. These aren't just long corridors, but well-designed spaces that immerse players in large-scale battles and strategy.

The game's spacious locations offer the protagonist the opportunity to complete various tasks in any order. These tasks primarily revolve around defeating demons or destroying their fortifications. However, freedom of movement and the ability to make independent decisions significantly diversify the familiar gameplay, adding new dynamics and interest. In such areas, players can explore the surrounding world, discover hidden elements, and be creative in their approaches to completing tasks.

Large locations are the primary source of secrets and hidden rooms. Hidden sections of levels still contain collectible monster figurines and pages from the in-game codex, but these are not the only discoveries. Exploring these environments opens up a wealth of opportunities for players, including unique items and side quests that will enrich the experience and deepen their understanding of the game world.

When exploring locations, it's important to find gold, rubies, and crystals—key resources for upgrading the Doom Slayer's weapons and abilities. While the leveling system isn't particularly complex, it does offer some interesting upgrades. For example, after upgrading, the shotgun will fire a three-round burst, and the rocket, which previously dealt damage to the hero, will begin healing him. These upgrades significantly impact gameplay and allow you to tailor your playstyle to your preferences.

Secrets in Doom are fairly simple and don't require complex thinking. Most often, finding them comes down to carefully exploring locations and discovering hidden paths leading to hidden rooms. However, the question arises: does Doom need such puzzles that distract the player from intense battles with demons? Perhaps a more focused attention on action and combat dynamics makes the game more engaging than searching for hidden elements.

When exploring locations and studying the environment, it becomes obvious that visually Doom: The Dark Ages is inferior to the level of impressions created by Doom Eternal.

The new game boasts impressive technical execution, thanks to id Software's robust engine. However, the overall visual design is somewhat disappointing. Gray medieval fortresses give way to equally gray castles, and gloomy forests give way to even more gloomy groves. This monotony in palette creates a feeling of lack of variety and may reduce players' interest in the game's environments.

Later, the Doom Slayer finds himself in Hell, where the setting follows traditional expectations: lava rivers add some variety. However, in the second half of the game, fate twice leads the hero to visually interesting locations, but even these cannot redeem the overall, almost unremarkable design of the game world. Despite some striking moments, the overall artistic concept remains weak, which makes it difficult to immerse yourself in the game's atmosphere.

Most likely, this is due to the increased scale of the game and the significant number of enemies per level. It can be assumed that the developers focused system resources on optimizing gameplay, paying less attention to the visual design of backgrounds and environmental details. This decision may have been made to improve the gameplay experience and ensure more dynamic interactions with enemies. Despite all these arguments, it's worth noting that The Dark Ages is significantly inferior in visual appeal to Doom Eternal. In the latter, players follow the Doom Slayer through a variety of locations: from a burning Earth to snowy landscapes, majestic ancient temples, futuristic laboratories, and finally, into the world of godlike creatures, the Macers, which can be described as a cybernetic paradise. Doom Eternal's vibrant and detailed locations create a unique atmosphere that immerses you in a thrilling adventure.

Resource optimization cannot explain the lack of a distinctive sound in the music. Composer Mick Gordon, who created the modern musical score for Doom, did not participate in the development of Doom Eternal due to a conflict with id Software. Instead, the soundtrack for the new game was composed by Finishing Move Inc., a band known for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Borderlands 3, and The Callisto Protocol. However, they failed to achieve the same level of success as Gordon's music. The music in Doom feels like background noise, uninspiring. During intense battle sequences, individual guitar riffs can be discerned, but it's difficult to distinguish between tracks. The sound is formulaic metal, lacking originality and creativity. Ultimately, the musical accompaniment does not add atmosphere to the game and does not enhance the experience of the gameplay.

It is not a disaster and not a reason to skip the game, but it causes sadness and disappointment.

Doom: The Dark Ages, despite shortcomings in visual design and musical accompaniment, remains true to the spirit of the Doom series. It remains an excellent shooter with outstanding gameplay that offers a variety of mechanics and engaging elements. While the absence of Mick Gordon's soundtrack makes it difficult to fully immerse yourself in the dynamic and intense gameplay, the game still retains its appeal thanks to a variety of interesting ideas and mechanics that make it unique.

The Doom series continues to evolve, and id Software's current developments demonstrate a clear understanding of the direction in which the game should be taken. It's clear that the next installment will once again shake up the familiar gameplay formula, although the details of this update remain unclear. This creates additional interest in future new products, and fans eagerly await new announcements.

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