Doom: The Dark Ages Review – A Bold New Take on the Classic Shooter

Doom: The Dark Ages delivers a fresh twist on the classic shooter with new combat, deep lore, and brutal, satisfying gameplay.

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One of the primary reasons I keep returning to Doom is that it has always been about reinventing itself. Every release offers something different, from the traditional run-and-gun gameplay to Doom Eternal’s explosive combat. Doom: Compared to Eternal, the Dark Ages felt significantly different from what I had anticipated.

At first, I was honestly a bit disappointed. The movement felt slower, there was no double jump or airdash, and the fights were pure chaos with enemies coming from everywhere. It didn’t click right away.

But after a few hours into the 20+ hour campaign, my opinion started to change. I unlocked more weapons, learned new ways to fight, and began to understand what the game was doing differently. By the end, I was grinning like the Doom Slayer himself, slicing through demons and enjoying every second.

While Doom Eternal was a perfect follow-up to Doom (2016), this one feels like a bold new step. It’s darker, heavier, and set before the events of Doom (2016). The story dives into the history of the Sentinels and the powerful Maykrs, giving more background to the Slayer’s world. Even though the Slayer is still as badass as ever, this game gives more depth to the universe.

The campaign took me through some incredible locations—from sci-fi castles that look straight out of the medieval ages to creepy, Lovecraft-style realms. There are also puzzles and moments that add a bit of horror, which was a nice surprise. It’s not just non-stop action—there’s atmosphere too.

Doom: The Dark Ages surprised me. It’s slower, yes, but once you settle in, it’s a fantastic ride. It keeps the heart of Doom alive while showing us a whole new side of its world—and that’s what makes it worth playing.

The Most Powerful Doom Story So Far

Doom: The Dark Ages really surprised me. It takes a fresh turn from the usual solo fight against Hell and brings a more story-driven experience. This time, it’s not just the Doom Slayer against demons—humans are involved too. The story feels deeper, and there’s a cool mystery about the Maykrs and their true role in the war. Doom games were never big on story, but this one definitely pulled me in more than any other.

The Slayer Feels Different (In a Good Way)

One of the biggest changes I noticed was the new shield. It changes how you fight. Instead of always dodging, I could now block or deflect enemy attacks. If I timed it right, I could reflect green attacks back at enemies which did serious damage and even stunned them. Even on higher difficulties, the parry timing was fair, and I could tweak the settings to match how I like to play.

The shield also lets you do a charging bash attack. It’s kind of like the Super Shotgun’s grapple from Doom Eternal, but faster and more versatile. It works with any weapon and has a short cooldown, so I used it a lot to quickly rush into enemies.

Combat seemed new and exciting with the smash for offensive and shield for defense. Slayer felt strong like a tank with speed even without the double jumps and fast dashes. Every motion carried weight and it felt fantastic to land powerful blows.

Fast Yet Powerful: The Slayer Moves Like a Tank

The Slayer remains highly mobile but also feels like a heavily armored tank in Doom: The Dark Ages.

Shield Power and Utility

The shield isn’t just for defense—it gets even cooler later. You unlock a move where you can throw it like Captain America, and it can slice through enemies instantly. It’s super useful when things get hectic. Against bigger enemies, the shield works like a buzzsaw, keeping them stunned for a few seconds. I found it really helpful against tough ones like the Arachnotron, since their bullets can’t be blocked. Throwing the shield stops them from firing giving me a chance to rush in and blast them with the Super Shotgun.

Combat Variety and Enemy Weaknesses

One of the key features of Doom: The Dark Ages is how each enemy has its own weakness, making combat more strategic. This game makes things simpler than Doom Eternal where you have to swap between different weapons to take advantage of weaknesses. To cope with various enemies, you don’t have to switch between guns all the time. This simplified method allows you to concentrate on the action without requiring lightning-fast reflexes and makes the game accessible without compromising enjoyment.

Enemy Variety

The enemies in Doom: The Dark Ages include familiar faces like Imps, Hell Knights, Mancubi, Arachnotrons, and the Cyberdemon. Some enemies have been updated to fit the new setting, such as the Pinkie, now a mount with a demon archer riding it, and a new version of the Cacodemon from the Cosmic Realm. Variety is added with the return of the Vagary mini-boss from Doom 3 and even game’s iconic monsters have new tactics to test your mettle.

A Massive Increase in On-Screen Enemies

In Doom: The Dark Ages, the number of enemies on-screen has been greatly increased compared to Doom and Doom Eternal. The battlefield appears to be a full-scale conflict with Hell’s hordes. This caused me some annoyance in the beginning because adversaries would appear behind me, but after some practice, I discovered how to use the shield bash to disengage and maintain control of the battle.

Melee System and Ammo Changes

One big change in The Dark Ages is that the classic Chainsaw is replaced with a new melee system. Now, when you fight enemies up close you get ammo back. This system pushes you to play more aggressively, which works well for the game. I still miss the Chainsaw’s instant kills, but this new style feels right. Also, since you get more ammo from melee attacks, you don’t have to keep looking for it all the time.

Classic Weapons with a Twist

The weapons in The Dark Ages stay true to the series with some old favorites, like the combat shotgun, plasma rifle, and even a sniper-like steel ball launcher. The new Skullcrusher Pulverizer is a standout, offering a chaingun-style weapon with a massive spread that shreds through hordes of enemies. It’s perfect for the game’s large enemy count.

Weapon Variety and Hotswapping

The ability to hotswap between sister guns that use the same type of ammunition is one special feature. For instance, you can switch between the Pulverizer and the Ravager which concentrates its fire on a single target, or between a rocket launcher and a grenade launcher. Although it’s not as important as in Doom Eternal, this concept provides variation to the fight and makes it enjoyable to try out new weapons on the spot.

Doom: The Dark Ages Weapons: Fun and Effective Throughout

One of the best things about Doom: The Dark Ages is that every weapon stays useful until the end. I really liked using the Super Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, and Steelshot, but even the basic guns were great after some upgrades. For example- when I need armor, I use my combat shotgun—it burns enemies and makes them drop armor. When I need health, I switch to the Ravager, which makes enemies drop health. And if there are many enemies, I throw my shield, shoot it, and the bullets bounce off and hit others too.

Upgrade System Keeps Combat Fresh

The game never lets the combat get boring. As you progress, you unlock new weapons, shield abilities, melee attacks, and upgrades. These upgrades keep you interested and motivated to explore. I’d often find enough gold to buy upgrades making old weapons feel fresh again. This sense of progression was one of the most rewarding aspects of the game.

Explore Huge, Detailed Levels

The Dark Ages has great exploration. From collected tales to upgrade resources, there are many surprises to uncover in the expansive levels. The bigger stages are enormous battlegrounds with many secret passageways and formidable foes, while the lesser ones are still substantial by Doom standards. Because of the wide areas, every level feels like a brand-new adventure.

Mecha and Dragon Battles Add Variety

To mix things up, The Dark Ages includes some fun but simple mecha battles and flying sections where you control the Doom Slayer’s dragon. While these sections aren’t as deep as the regular combat, they add a nice change of pace and give you cool moments in the cutscenes.

Heavy Metal Soundtrack Powers Up the Action

And of course, the soundtrack is incredible. It’s another powerful heavy metal score that gets you pumped during battles. I found myself revisiting levels just to enjoy the music, turning down the other sounds to listen without distraction.

Conclusion

Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t just more of the same; it’s a fresh take on the iconic shooter. It feels heavier and more grounded, but still full of energy and excitement. The new shield is a great addition, offering both offensive and defensive options. When paired with the classic Doom weapons, it creates tons of fun ways to take down the hordes of demons. With a powerful heavy metal soundtrack and excellent weapon, level, and enemy design, Id has once again hit the mark, delivering an unforgettable experience.