DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal were both among the best games of their respective years, so expectations from the upcoming DOOM: The Dark Ages are high, to say the very least. Based on everything we’ve seen of the game, however, it sure looks like it’s once again taking incredible shape as yet another unmissable rip-roaring FPS adventure.
Recently, we had the chance to view a behind-closed-doors presentation of the first-person-shooter (which Microsoft went on to showcase as part of its Xbox Developer_Direct show), before sitting in on a Q&A session with director Hugo Martin and executive producer Marty Stratton. Here, we’re going to go over the most significant details that we gathered on the game, from its story and combat to its new weapons, mechanics, larger levels, and more.
STORY DETAILS
As we’ve known for a while, DOOM: The Dark Ages is serving as a prequel to DOOM (2016). Players will once again step into the shoes of the legendary Doom Slayer, a supersoldier caught in the midst of a medieval war against the forces of hell. According to id Software, the game will be a great entry point for newcomer, given the fact that it takes place before both of the modern DOOM titles. Its story will, however, lead directly into DOOM (2016), which means veteran fans will also have plenty to chew on.
And what exactly is the narrative setup? id hasn’t revealed much, but has confirmed that the game will begin with the Doom Slayer imprisoned, with his powers “coveted by his enemies, but withheld from his allies”. Take from that what you will.
NEW APPROACH TO STORYTELLING
DOOM has never been too focused on storytelling, with narrative usually taking a backseat, even if there is never any shortage of compelling lore and backstory to dive into. With The Dark Ages, however, the series is changing its approach. Director Hugo Martin says about the game’s story, “It’s easier to access now, as we’ve taken the narrative out of the codex and into the cutscenes, featuring new characters, old allies, and powerful new villains.” He has also described the story as “big”, and a “summer blockbuster event with everything on the line”. In the aforementioned Q&A, the devs also revealed that the game has more cutscenes than either of its predecessors (but did not provide any specifics).
STAND AND FIGHT
Let’s get to the meat and potatoes here, because this is DOOM after all- what’s the combat looking like? Well, it’s looking aggressive- which isn’t surprising for the series, but it is going about it a different way. As id Software describes it, DOOM (2016)’s core loop encouraged players to “run and gun”, while DOOM Eternal switched it up to “jump and shoot”. With DOOM: The Dark Ages, that mantra is changing to “stand and fight”, with id likening this game’s Doom Slayer to an iron tank. Martin describes it as “a grounded combat system with an emphasis on power over the acrobatics of DOOM Eternal“.
SHIELD SAW
At the heart of DOOM: The Dark Ages’ new approach to combat will be a number of new tools and mechanics, chief among them being the Shield Saw. Players will be able to block, parry, and deflect incoming attacks, while the shield can also be thrown as a weapon, cutting distant enemies with the saws on its perimeter. Every action taken with the Shield Saw will be with a single button, all being contextual. According to the devs, that’s part of a wider initiative to remove some of the excessive input and controls-related complexity of DOOM: Eternal.
MELEE OPTIONS
The Shield Saw is ultimately a defensive tool. In keeping with the game’s more aggressive nature, however, players will also be encouraged to “stand and fight” by using multiple new melee weapons. The three new melee options available to players will include an iron flail, an electric gauntlet, and a spiked mace. Like with the shield, there will be one single button dedicated to all melee actions, with actions being contextual.
WEAPONS
The weapons are obviously always VIPs in any DOOM game, and The Dark Ages isn’t turning its back on that tradition by any means. In addition to its new melee options and the Shield Saw, id says the game will also feature “some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons” to ever come from the studio. Director Hugo Martin says The Dark Ages’ roster of weapons will be filled with “mean” and “ancient” tools of destruction that are “built to butcher, impale, and shred the minions of hell with.”
“Only in DOOM. That’s the mission statement for the design of these never-before-seen, insanely fun to use tools of mayhem,” he says.
CHANGED GLORY KILLS
Yes, obviously Glory Kills are coming back in DOOM: The Dark Ages, but they’re taking a different form. id Software is clearly heavily focused on ramping up the tempo of the action, and in The Dark Ages, that will be reflected in the new, un-synced Glory Kills. Rather than each Glory Kill having an unskippable animation that takes you out of the action, The Dark Ages will feature completely seamless Glory Kills that you can trigger from any direction, allowing you to unleash a string of them in quick succession (should the opportunity arise).
ATLAN MECH AND CYBERNETIC DRAGON SECTIONS
DOOM: The Dark Ages’ reveal trailer last year showed glimpses of the Doom Slayer controlling a cybernetic dragon in gameplay sections, and now we have more info on that. The shooter will not only allow players to pilot a fire-breathing cybernetic dragon wielding a gatling gun, but also building-sized Atlan mechs. And these won’t just be one-off set-piece sections either. Says Hugo Martin, “Neither of these are one-and-done features. They have a full suite of abilities and even minibosses. The spectacle is epic, the power fantasy is unlike anything we’ve made at id, and the combat systems behind these features are deep and tons of fun.”
EXPLORATION
DOOM: The Dark Ages is also placing a much greater emphasis on exploration. Still very much a level-based game (executive producer Marty Stratton explicitly stated during the Q&A that it’s not open world), the shooter is still at least a semi-open world game. That means players can expect larger levels with a host of exploration and optional content to engage with. Director Hugo Martin says, “Explore what is the largest play space ever in a DOOM game., discovering secret caves and dungeon-like mines in search of vital resources. You control the pace of the game- where you go, who you fight, and the objectives you pursue. It’s a DOOM sandbox full of war and riches.”
PROGRESSION
Exploration in DOOM: The Dark Ages will yield plenty of collectibles (and toys are confirmed to be returning), but in the Q&A, Martin also stated that the rewards for exploration would now be more deeply tied to progression and upgrades. Specifics on what progression mechanics will entail are scarce, but id has said that through exploration, players will constantly be unlocking new abilities and powers. The game’s recent presentation also showed brief glimpses of skill trees where players will be upgrading their tools by spending Runes- including the Shield Saw and (presumably) their melee weapons.
LOCATIONS
The full extent of details on the locations that players will explore in DOOM: The Dark Ages are obviously yet to be revealed, but id has already offered some enticing teases. The developer says players will visit “the far reaches of the DOOM universe”, which will include “mysterious worlds from the Slayer’s past, dark forests, dungeons, ancient hellscapes, battlefields, and worlds beyond.”
id SOFTWARE’S LARGEST GAME YET
Given the fact that this is going to be a semi-open world experience, it should come as no surprise that id Software is touting this as its biggest and most ambitious game to date. That means it will also be the longest. Exactly how much longer than DOOM Eternal (which was a 15-25 hour experience) it is going to be hasn’t been confirmed, but you can expect it to be notably longer. Executive producer Marty Stratton said during the Q&A, “It kinda depends on how you’re playing, like any game. But it’s the biggest game, the biggest campaign we’ve ever made by a good bit. If you’re exploring those levels, there’s just tons.”
NEW DIFFICULTY OPTIONS
For those who found DOOM Eternal a bit too difficult (and there were plenty out there who did), id Software will attempt to make The Dark Ages more accessible with some new features. Multiple difficulty options are obviously returning, but this time, players will also be able to customize their gameplay experience exactly how they want, with a number of difficulty sliders included. These sliders will let you tweak your damage output, how much damage you take, how aggressive enemies are, what the speed of the game is, how freely you get resources, the timing windows for parries, and more.
MUSIC
The heavy metal music of DOOM is a big part of the experience, but with acclaimed composer Mick Gordon and id Software having parted ways (apparently under acrimonious circumstances) after having worked together for DOOM (2016) and Eternal, The Dark Ages will see new talent stepping forward. id Software has revealed that the game’s music will be composed by video game music production company Finishing Move, which has worked on titles such as Borderlands 3, The Callisto Protocol, Halo Wars 2, Grounded, and more.
LAUNCH DETAILS
And when exactly can we get our hands on DOOM: The Dark Ages? It’s not too far away. The first-person shooter launches on May 15, and it will be available day and date for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5. Like all first-party Microsoft titles, it will also be available via Game Pass at launch.
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