Doom: The Dark Ages – The First Preview

Following the resounding success of 2016's Doom and its 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, id Software's latest entry, Doom: The Dark Ages, doesn't aim to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it refines the high-octane, skill-based first-person shooter experience, delivering a medieval-themed prequel that intensifies the visceral combat against Hell's legions.

This new Doom eschews Eternal's platforming elements, focusing on intense, strafe-heavy combat emphasizing raw power. While the iconic arsenal returns – including the skull-crushing, enemy-skull-recycling weapon showcased in the reveal trailer – The Dark Ages significantly elevates the importance of melee combat. Three melee weapons take center stage: the electrified gauntlet (with charge capabilities), the flail, and the Shield Saw (throwable and usable for blocking, parrying, and deflecting). As game director Hugo Martin stated, "You're gonna stand and fight."

Martin cites three key influences: the original Doom, Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Zack Snyder's 300. This inspiration is evident in the game's design.

The signature Glory Kill system has been overhauled. Fatalities are now context-sensitive, adapting to your position relative to the enemy, a crucial adjustment given the constant swarms of foes. Combat encounters, mirroring 300 and the original Doom, feature significantly expanded arenas, allowing for strategic maneuvering. Level progression is non-linear, offering players freedom to tackle objectives and explore at their own pace. Level design has been adjusted to maintain a target playtime of approximately one hour per level.

Addressing criticism of Doom Eternal's Codex-based storytelling, The Dark Ages integrates narrative through cutscenes, promising a sprawling story described as a "summer blockbuster event." The narrative will explore the far reaches of the Doom universe, focusing on the Slayer's power and the threats it attracts.

Control simplification is a key focus. The development team aims for intuitive controls to avoid overwhelming players during intense moments. Melee weapons are equipped individually, streamlining combat. The game's economy is simplified to a single currency (gold), and secrets provide tangible gameplay upgrades rather than solely lore-based rewards.

Difficulty is highly customizable, with sliders allowing players to fine-tune aspects like game speed and enemy aggression.

The giant Atlan mech and cybernetic dragon sequences from the reveal trailer are not isolated events but feature unique abilities and mini-bosses. Importantly, The Dark Ages will not include a multiplayer mode, allowing the team to concentrate solely on the single-player campaign.

Martin's decision to shift away from Eternal's direction and return to the core principles of the original Doom is a key element of The Dark Ages' design. His goal was to create a distinct experience while retaining the empowering feeling of classic Doom. This focus on a refined, classic Doom experience has generated considerable excitement, with the May 15th release date highly anticipated.