Immersive Exploration: 'Doom: The Dark Ages' Unveiled in Exclusive Preview

Doom: The Dark Ages – A Return to Roots

Following the critically acclaimed Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal (2020), id Software is shifting gears with Doom: The Dark Ages, a prequel that returns to the franchise's core gameplay mechanics. While Doom Eternal incorporated platforming elements, The Dark Ages emphasizes intense, close-quarters combat with a focus on powerful melee weapons.

The game retains the signature arsenal of powerful firearms, including the new Skull Crusher, a weapon that uses the skulls of defeated enemies as ammunition. However, The Dark Ages significantly elevates the importance of melee combat, featuring the electrified gauntlet, a flail, and the Shield Saw, a versatile weapon capable of blocking, parrying, and deflecting attacks. Game director Hugo Martin described the combat as "stand and fight."

Martin cites the original Doom, Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Zack Snyder's 300 as key inspirations. This influence is evident in the game's design, featuring large-scale combat encounters reminiscent of the iconic films and the original game's arena-style battles. The Glory Kill system has been enhanced for these larger encounters, allowing for unsynced finishing moves from any angle. Level design prioritizes freedom, allowing players to tackle objectives in any order and explore freely, with levels designed to be approximately one hour in length.

Addressing criticism of Doom Eternal's Codex-based storytelling, The Dark Ages will feature cutscenes to deliver its narrative, promising a "summer blockbuster event" scale story within the Doom universe. The developers have also simplified the control scheme, aiming for more intuitive gameplay, and streamlined the in-game economy to a single currency (gold). Secrets and hidden treasures will reward players with tangible gameplay improvements rather than lore details. A customizable difficulty system allows players to fine-tune the challenge to their preference.

Notable gameplay sequences, such as the giant Atlan mech and cybernetic dragonback riding, will feature as more than just single encounters, each offering unique abilities and mini-boss battles. The game will not include a multiplayer mode, allowing the development team to focus solely on the single-player experience.

Martin highlighted the deliberate departure from Doom Eternal's design, aiming for a return to the core principles of the original Doom. The focus is on delivering a powerful and satisfying experience rooted in classic Doom gameplay. The game's release date is set for May 15th.