Summary
The recent announcement ofDoom: The Dark Ageshas grabbed the attention of many fans of the longstanding franchise, with the IP finally getting a new release after four years of waiting. While the past two installments of the rebooted franchise have each offered their own unique themes and gameplay elements, this upcoming project seems massively ambitious in its unusual setting.
Doom: The Dark Ageshas taken huge inspiration from Medieval iconography, telling the story of the Doom Slayer’s time fighting for the Sentinel warriors of Argent D’Nur against the forces of Hell. Acting as a prequel before the events of 2016’sDoom,The Dark Agesis in a unique position to offer elements of combat and exploration that the franchise has never seen before, and the combat of the project in particular is already shaping up to be one of its most unique pull-factors.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Combat is Up Close and Personal On a Larger Scale
Much ofDoom: The Dark Ages' story will seemingly explore the world of Argent D’Nur during a time that has not yet been fully explored in the IP, placing a much deeper focus on the society and social make-up of the land prior to its complete collapse under Hell’s forces.The Doom Slayer quickly became a feared hero of the Sentinels, the defending warriors of Argent D’Nur, who share a lot of the same imagery and weaponry as Medieval knights.
This inspiration was made more than clear within the reveal trailer forThe Dark Ages, which showed the Doom Slayer using a range of new weaponry such as a flail, a chainsaw/shield hybrid, and a crossbow-style nail gun. It is true thatmelee weapons have played a large role in modernDoomtitles, especially withinEternal, but it seems thatThe Dark Agesis aiming to take this to the next level, with more melee weapons being set for announcement in the near future.
Focusing on melee weapons has also seen the introduction of a brand-new mechanic forThe Dark Ages: the ability to dual wield certain weapons. Players will be able to equip a variety of classicDoomfirepower options alongside the new chainsaw shield, offering a new blend of offensive and defensive combat that will likely lean intothe “tankier” role that the Doom Slayer will undertake inDoom: The Dark Ages.
Players Will Be Able To Test Out Doom: The Dark Ages New Combat on More Demons Than Ever
The Dark Agesalso aims to set itself apart from past entries via its new exploration mechanics, with theplayer also being able to ride a cyborg dragon aroundDoom: The Dark Ages' world. The trailer for the title shows this dragon raining fire down on hordes of Hellspawn, meaning that mounted aerial combat will be another notch toThe Dark Agesfresh combat approach. In this same line of thinking, it has also been confirmed thatThe Dark Ageswill finally allow players to pilot the massive titan mechs that could be seen in past titles, known as Atlans. These huge suits of armor were used to fight monstrously large Titan demons, offering a scale of combat that has not been seen in the franchise for some time.
Aside from these new features, Id Software has already been vocal about itscore combat principles forThe Dark Ages, which include having a level of enemy density that exceeds anything the rebooted IP has ever seen before. With the exploration-related freedom that players will be given, it seems that fans should expect an overwhelming amount of demons in their path, with the studio also commenting on how combat arenas will be much wider in the upcoming game. With its bold range of new weaponry and massive scale, it is clear thatDoom: The Dark Agescombat is aiming to stand firmly outside the shadow of its successful predecessors.
WHERE TO PLAY
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELLDOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.REIGN IN HELLAs the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.STAND AND FIGHTExperience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMSIn his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id’s largest and most expansive levels to date.
