DOOM: The Dark Ages Review - An Ageless Hellish Ride

Skip To...

Looking back at the history of DOOM, it is wild to see how much it’s evolved. From the days of watching the Slayer go slowly through 2D corridors to being able to wield a Shield Saw, it all has been a joy to watch. With this latest entry, id Software does what I thought would be impossible: it elevates the series even further. If you thought DOOM (2016) and Eternal were the pinnacle of the franchise, The Dark Ages will blow you away. It is the most polished entry that delivers top-notch gunplay, complex customization, and the gory demon-slaying antics we love.

Unleash the Slayer

Nothing goes harder in DOOM than hearing someone say, “Release the Slayer.” That phrase alone is enough to make any demon feel chills running down their spine and players. Our former DOOM Guy is basically a weapon that people use when the need arises. At first, this will move the story forward, as factions unleash the Slayer to do what he does best. Yet, as the plot progresses, it becomes more intricate and unfolds into an epic adventure from hell and back.

While I can’t talk much about the story past certain chapters, it is terrific, especially if you’re a hardcore fan. In a way, it works like a bridge between DOOM 64 and DOOM (2016). The narrative does a great job filling the gap between the old and new games, and those who’ve stuck with the Slayer for this will appreciate it. Sadly, newcomers might not feel that emotional attachment as they progress through the 22 chapters. But it’s still an excellent way to jump into the franchise.

However, the story’s presentation will make everyone’s jaw drop. While it isn’t the most ground-breaking narrative or something that will give you introspective moments or evoke feelings other than hype and rage, the way id Software crafted the story is breathtaking. All locales look amazing. The sheer scale of this medieval world is unmatched by anything we’ve seen in other DOOM entries or FPS games, for that matter. Going from a large battlefield to climbing an Atlan is the most epic thing you can experience in gaming, which is elevated further thanks to the gameplay, but more on that later.

Overall, the story will be fantastic for veterans. It feels like a fan-service-fueled ride that explains many things in the Slayer’s long battle against hell. Furthermore, it is an excellent way for new fans to get their Praetor’s boots wet. If you’re a newcomer, moving on to DOOM (2016) and Eternal after this is an excellent idea, and you’ll likely end up enjoying those even more once you see all the gameplay changes the series has gone through.

The Deadliest Arsenal On This Side of Hell

If killing fodder demons is more important than the story for you, buckle up because DOOM: The Dark Ages knocks it out of the hellish park. I’ve always loved the direction id Software took with the recent releases. DOOM (2016) and Eternal felt vastly different despite one being a sequel. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a prequel, and ironically, it makes the Slayer feel at its prime.

As soon as the game begins, you start with your trusty shotgun and the new Shield Saw. The Shield Saw is the big addition and one that makes this entry feel so original. At first, you can use it to block and charge against enemies. The latter is an excellent gap-closer and a dopamine-infused move once you see dozens of fodder demons exploding at once. However, it gets much better as you unlock upgrades. In combat, you can launch it to mow down enemies with its saw, parry attacks, and even add effects to your parries to summon lightning or a shoulder-mounted machine gun.

Parrying is another big thing in DOOM: The Dark Ages. This entry feels more like the classic DOOM. Enemy projectiles are way slower. Well, depending on your difficulty. But you get overwhelmed by so many attacks that your shield is the only thing that will protect you. These projectiles come in two forms: orange and green. The only ones you can parry are the green ones, also known as Hell Surges. Once you parry them, you can bounce them back to enemies and summon any of the abovementioned abilities. Melee Hell Surges can only be parried normally and won’t have other effects, but they stagger enemies.

When it comes to other weapons, DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn’t have a shortage of ways to kill demons. Almost every armament has two modes. For instance, the shotgun starts as the classic one that deals medium damage at short range and fires fast. However, you end up unlocking the Super Shotgun that can devastate an elite demon with one shot. That’s just one weapon, though. There are so many more, like one that shoots skull fragments, a rocket launcher, one that launches a chained ball to break armor, and one that fires plasma rounds at a ridiculous speed, capable of shocking foes.

On top of that, you have melee weapons, each one offering a distinct playstyle. Your fists are the first you’ll get, and they are the weakest yet fastest ones. As you progress, you’ll unlock a flail and a third one I don’t want to spoil. While useful, there’s a downside to melee attacks: they have limited charges. To refill said charges, you need to defeat enemies or parry their attacks. Yet, it works both ways. If you want more ammo, hitting demons with melee attacks drops ammo for almost all your guns. That way, DOOM: The Dark Ages creates an excellent loop, encouraging you to experiment with and use your whole arsenal.

One last thing to mention is that this arsenal is highly customizable. You’ll obtain currency to upgrade every weapon as you explore the game’s huge areas and intricate levels. Some upgrades add a few passive effects, while others drastically change how a weapon works. Once you reach a specific chapter, you’ll also unlock Shield Runes, adding abilities that trigger once you parry, such as the lightning strike I mentioned. While all guns were great, I ended up using only a few because I preferred how some of them handled compared to others. Still, it is great to see so many options for combat that will become vital as you raise the game’s difficulty in subsequent runs.

The Greatest Infernal Roster

Naturally, you’ll need enemies to help you test these weapons, and DOOM: The Dark Ages is overflowing with them. Many familiar weapons return to this entry. You have your fodder demons, Cacodemons, Hellguards, and so on. However, there are a few new ones that also appear, such as large melee-focused enemies and a few annoying ones that explode once they charge at you.

I was impressed by the large variety of foes throughout the campaign. It all begins with the usual demon hordes that you can mow down in seconds, but the difficulty curve rises a lot once you reach the later chapters. There are even some enemies that have passive effects that affect the battleground. For instance, some elite demons will summon reinforcements until you kill them. Others are invulnerable, and the only way to weaken them is by killing as many demons as possible. Also, all of them have different mechanics that will put your arsenal to the test.

Take fodder demons, for example. Some wield metal shields that you can only break once you do enough damage, and then throw your shield at them. However, some have plasma shields that will only explode with a specific weapon. Armored demons are a whole different thing. You can only break that protection with a melee hit or some of your heavy-hitting guns. So, a normal fight usually has you cycling between all weapons and mixing melee blows in between. It gets even better as all types of enemies appear in the same area, thus becoming a pandemonium for the Slayer, albeit an engaging one.

A Medieval Spectacle

By now, you might be wondering, “Weren’t there mechas and dragons in DOOM: The Dark Ages?” I wanted to leave the best for last. There are certainly the abovementioned two. You have the Atlan, the Slayer’s destructive mecha, and his Dragon. Both of these are great to use, and the only complaint I want to get out of the way is that they deserve more screen time. However, whenever they appear, they steal the show.

The Atlan uses melee attacks only. You have your normal blows only, a gap-closer punch, and whenever you fill a bar, you can execute one of two finishers. In some chapters, you’ll also get a ranged weapon with infinite bullets that can get empowered after executing a perfect dodge. While I loved the spectacle, the Mecha levels were way too short and could’ve had more variety. Then again, the focus of DOOM is always its gunplay, so that part is great.

On the other hand, the Dragon levels felt better as they combined the actual DOOM playstyle with the new Dragon antics. Your winged companion has a mounted turret you can use to shoot at enemies. Like the Atlan, you charge this by executing perfect dodges. Also, you can land on certain areas of the map, defeat a few enemies on foot, and then return to the skies. My only gripe about the Dragon is its controls. In some cases, they were smooth and worked perfectly. However, I experienced a few camera glitches when aiming at some foes.

Last but not least, DOOM: The Dark Ages brings the largest areas of the series, and they are surprisingly great. Initially, I was skeptical. “DOOM doesn’t need an open world of sorts.” id Software nailed it. The maps, while huge, never feel empty or make exploring tedious. There are so many secrets, puzzles, and traversal challenges. To make it more interesting, many enemies are trying to stop you as you explore, making everything even more engaging. My only complaint is that this approach led to quite a few bugs. Some forced me to reload my entire save more than once. But looking at all the great things in the game, they were only minor inconveniences.

The Pinnacle of Demon-Slaying

While the previous modern DOOM games already set the bar high, The Dark Ages raised it even higher. It has the best and most satisfying gunplay of the franchise, a great story for fans, stunning visuals that never affect performance, and hours of visceral fun for everyone to enjoy. There were a few bugs here and there, and I would’ve loved to see more of the Atlan and Dragon, but the game’s core concepts are top-notch and deliver a terrific experience.

The surprising thing is how, despite being a prequel and the third game in the “modern” timeline, DOOM: The Dark Ages feels so different than its predecessors or successors if we look at it chronologically. I don’t know how id Software will top this if we get another DOOM game, but if history has taught us anything, it is that the series can always evolve, and even if it shares the name, it will always bring a new gameplay style that will hook a lot of players in this alluring hellish landscapes.

DOOM: The Dark Ages (PS5 Reviewed)

9.5 Superb!

DOOM: The Dark Ages does the impossible and raises the bar of an already outstanding franchise. It brings top-notch gunplay, stunning visuals, and excellent exploration mechanics, all in a gorgeous, hellish package.