Doom The Dark Ages Keeps its Core Franchise Identity and That's a Boon (2024)

Highlights

Doom: The Dark Ages looks to respect the series' identity and gameplay, staying true to its roots.
The game will combine sci-fi and fantasy elements, introducing new weapons like a shield and mace.
It may be set in a period of the Doom Slayer's past, exploring his time with the Argenta tribe defending their home planet against hell's army.

After rumors and rumblings of its existence previously, id Software officially unveiled their latest project, Doom: The Dark Ages, at the 2024 Xbox Showcase; part of the extended Summer Game Fest that recently concluded. The next Doom game's presence at the event was eagerly anticipated, and it seems not to have disappointed. Doom is, of course, one of the all-time most legendarily important games and franchises ever devised for how it impacted the burgeoning medium, and its indelible influence on it since inception is hard to miss.

As beloved and renowned as the original two titles were, 2004's Doom 3 was met with a more mixed reception. The series then went officially quiet until a reboot came in the form of Doom (2016.) While it was initially uncertain whether it could make the transition to a modern context, the entry saw players ripping and tearing across a campaign that captured the bloody essence of Doom's old school spirit combined with current-gen top-of-the-line production and informed design.

Doom: The Dark Ages Has Jaw-Dropping New Weapons, a Mech, and Dragons

Xbox and Bethesda officially reveal Doom: The Dark Ages, a prequel game that has the iconic Doom Slayer using new weapons, a mech suit, and dragons.

Doom The Dark Ages Seems to be Smartly Sticking to its Guns

Doom The Dark Ages Appears to Perfectly Understand the Importance of its Identity

Given its colossal status, Doom managing to reinvent itself to remain relevant and engaging in the hugely changed landscape and scope of first-person shooter design and technological advancements since its original was a notable accomplishment. In addition, 2016's Doom, and to a much greater extent, Doom: Eternal, expanded extensively on the series' lore, filling out background information and some of the history of the Slayer's life and travels prior to his current incarnation. Without the gameplay to back it up, though, this wouldn't mean much. Both previous titles understood what it meant to be a true Doom experience, and found the right balance to achieve it. Doom: The Dark Ages looks to be following suit, not attempting to fix or change what isn't broken, but putting a cool twist on the general framework.

How Doom The Dark Ages Looks to be Keeping What Already Works While Adding Even More into the Mix

Per the above lore, The Night Sentinels, aka the Argenta, are a mighty warrior tribe from the planet of Argent D'Nur. The upcoming entry's title implies it will be set in the "lost" era from The Slayer's time there, and it seems The Dark Ages may be exploring this period when the Slayer joined the Sentinels' ranks. It will possibly have players controlling the Slayer alongside the Argenta when he helped them defend Argent D'Nur from the forces of hell, perhaps explaining his familiarity and expertise in eradicating demons by the score. The Argenta were shown to be no strangers to the art of warring against demonic spawn either, and the premise is ripe with potential.

Doom The Ages contains a confluence of sci-fi and fantasy aspects in its presentation and other elements glimpsed in the footage. Decked out in a version of his iconic armor with medieval trappings like spikes, the Doom Slayer is seen wielding a shield that almost seems to function similarly to Kratos' Leviathan Axe in the two most recent God of War games. In an excellent Doom-like touch, this shield is edged with sawed teeth, perfect for slicing up hellspawn. There is also what appears to be a mace, possibly a special weapon similar to the Crucible sword or Hellbreaker hammer, returning glory kills, and more.

In a savvy move, the range of tried-and-true as well as new mechanics and items The Dark Ages aims to introduce seem poised to slot seamlessly into the series' setting and combat philosophy, not seeking to radically alter the rock solid structure it has in place. The next Doom thus promises to be as gorily over-the-top and satisfyingly crunchy to play as its predecessors, while injecting it into a brutal fantasy-flavored world.

Doom The Dark Ages Keeps its Core Franchise Identity and That's a Boon (2)

DOOM Eternal

Doomguy is back in this 2020 demon-slaying adventure that looks and feels more imposing than ever before. Players will unlock a variety of amazing weapons and abilities to help them rush through enemy-filled levels as they attempt to save humanity from the demonic scourge.

Franchise: DOOM
Platform(s): Xbox One , Stadia , PC , PS4
Released: March 20, 2020
Developer(s): id Software
Publisher(s): Bethesda
Genre(s): FPS , Action
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
How Long To Beat: 15 Hours
Metascore: 87

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