Doom: The Dark Ages

Doom: The Dark Ages is a single-player first-person shooter with action elements, set in a dark medieval fantasy world. It is the third game in the modern Doom series, serving as a prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal (2020). The story focuses on the early life of the Doom Slayer and the events described in Eternal — the confrontation with the forces of Hell on the planet Argent D'Nur. It stands out from its predecessors with heavy combat, almost complete absence of platforming and parkour, as well as a measured pace. The Doom Slayer brutally deals with enemies: he slashes them, crushes them with a mace, parries attacks with a shield, flies on a cyber-dragon, and crushes demons while controlling a giant mech-robot.

The game runs on the idTech 8 engine, which has significantly improved the visual component compared to previous entries in the series. "Out of the box," it features ray tracing, 4K resolution, highly detailed textures, realistic lighting, and rich visual effects with brutal finishing animations. All of this is complemented by good game optimization and stable frame rates.

The events of The Dark Ages reveal a new chapter in the Doom lore, previously only mentioned in Eternal. In ancient times, the world of Argent D'Nur, inhabited by humanoid beings and ruled by angels, waged holy conquest campaigns, conquering one dimension after another. Everything changed when their armies clashed with Hell. A brutal slaughter began: even the resilient Night Sentinels, elite warriors of Argent, barely withstood the onslaught of countless demons. Argent D'Nur — a technological civilization with a pronounced medieval aesthetic — found itself embroiled in a grueling war against a demonic invasion.

And then the Doom Slayer appeared. At that time, he did not yet bear the title. Some knew him as an ordinary marine, others as Doomguy. According to legends, he wandered between dimensions, exterminating demons and cleansing entire worlds of them until he found himself on a planet with the Night Sentinels. How he moved between dimensions is unknown, but during a joint battle with demons, he impressed the warriors of Argent so much that they took him with them to their home planet and accepted him into their ranks.

The Dark Ages expands the traditional Doom formula, emphasizing exploration and spatial orientation. The levels have become larger, their structure more open and filled with nonlinear routes. Players will need to search for keys (blue, red), decipher "golden paths" — hidden optimal routes — and find secrets not marked on the map. Most of the time will be spent on the demon-sieged planet Argent D'Nur: among ruined castles, battlefields, dark forests, and ancient hellish landscapes. At the same time, the game offers new, unusual locations, such as Cosmic Ream — a world with Lovecraftian motifs and dark architecture.

Due to the increased scale of the arenas, the developers have raised the density of enemies: now victory requires not only accuracy and aggression but also the ability to use the environment. For example, a player can smash a barricade with a shield to open a path to resources or find a detour. The importance of spatial control increases: one must move wisely, divide the crowd, and avoid being surrounded by enemies. Levels are often divided into contrasting acts — from narrow dungeons to wide battlefields. This gives the gameplay a dynamic structure and allows the player to choose how to reach the goal.

The Dark Ages reveals the secrets of the past of the Doom Slayer, which were only mentioned in Doom and Eternal. The story begins with an unnamed marine being captured by the Maykr — a powerful race that appears benevolent but is actually deeply frightened by his destructive power. Seeing him as a weapon against Hell, they send him to Argent D'Nur — the homeland of the Night Sentinels.

The main story covers the period of the Sacred Wars — a fierce confrontation between Argent and the armies of Hell, led by the demonic prince Ahzrak. Initially, the Slayer fights under the control of the Maykr — through a device called Tether, which limits his will. But at a crucial moment, he breaks free from their influence, is reborn in a new form, and leads a counter-offensive, trying to save the doomed planet.

The narrative shows the Slayer's journey from an ordinary warrior to a mythical figure that will be feared even in Hell. As events unfold, betrayal within the ranks of the Night Sentinels and the tragedy behind the fall of Argent D'Nur are revealed. Important roles in the story are played by the leaders of the Sentinels — King Novik, commanders Tira and Valen, each of whom is connected to the Slayer's fate and the unfolding catastrophe in their own way.

The focus of the narrative has shifted towards visual presentation. Key milestones in the Slayer's biography and the stories of his allies — Novik, Tira, and Valen — are now revealed through a system of cutscenes, while lore details are still thoroughly outlined in codex entries. This makes the story clearer, more structured, and emotionally rich.

The Dark Ages changes the direction of dynamics: the vertical gameplay and acrobatic jumps of Eternal have been replaced by devastating ground power. The Slayer now feels not just like a fast fighter but an unstoppable "heavy train." Thanks to the new sprint mechanic, he gains immense speed, breaking through enemy lines with inertia and weight.

The combat system has become more straightforward. Instead of constant resource management and juggling an arsenal — the focus is on positioning, dodging projectiles, and effectively using the shield in the heat of battle. The role of melee combat has significantly increased, showcasing the unprecedented physical strength of our protagonist.

The glory kill system has also been optimized: execution animations have become shorter and more brutal. This allows for maintaining a high pace of battle and instantly switching between targets, turning the fight into a continuous flow of rage. In Eternal, at such moments, the player would drop out of the flow for a couple of seconds.

The Punisher's arsenal includes 12 types of destructive firearms, featuring both futuristic novelties and legendary classics — the super shotgun and rocket launcher. The traditional BFG has been replaced by a ballistic crossbow (BFC) — a monumental weapon that fires energy spears capable of destroying entire groups of demons with a single blast.

The main innovation is the universal shield-saw, which has replaced the classic chainsaw as the primary combat control tool. It serves both for defense and parrying attacks (using a timing system), as well as for offense: the shield can be used in close combat or thrown at enemies, after which it returns to the Punisher, similar to the legendary hammer of Thor. Besides battles, the shield helps in solving puzzles, such as cutting chains. The arsenal is complemented by three auxiliary weapons — a mace, a chain, and a power glove, which allow players to literally knock the necessary resources from demons in the heat of battle.

New types of melee weapons are also introduced: a chain for breaking armor and shields, a massive spiked mace that restores resources, and a glove with a stun gun that allows for quick combo attacks. The range of firearms has been expanded with samples that fit the techno-medieval theme: the Skullbreaker minigun, which fires bone shards, the Piercer (nail gun), and the Chain Shot — a projectile that attaches to a chain.

The game's bestiary features over 35 enemies, combining classic demons from Doom (2016) and Eternal, along with entirely new threats. Familiar to fans, Imps, Arachnotrons, and Lost Souls appear with a revamped design adapted to a harsh medieval aesthetic. However, the main innovation is the mechanized enemies and heavy machinery of hell, turning each encounter into a large-scale battle involving not only flesh but also steel.

Among the new foes are massive crab-like creatures and floating cultists. The game includes sub-bosses — enhanced opponents with a squad of subordinates. Defeating them requires first eliminating the entire entourage. Full-fledged bosses are also promised, each with unique combat patterns and mechanics. These battles are integrated into the campaign and can occur in both mandatory and side missions.

For the first time in the series, players have the ability to control vehicles. Among them are the cybernetic fire-breathing dragon Winterin (Serrat), as well as the giant 30-story battle mech Atlante, available in specific episodes of the campaign.

The upgrade system allows players to accumulate resources and direct them towards improving the weapons and abilities of the Executioner, enhancing individual play style and providing room for tactical adaptation.

New customizable difficulty settings have been added: players can adjust the timing windows for parrying projectiles, the overall gameplay speed, and other elements, tailoring the game to their reaction time and quality of gameplay.

All these changes signify a shift towards a more methodical and dense combat style. Now, frontal pressure and complete control over the arena are prioritized. Mastery of the chainsaw shield and understanding of level geometry allow players not just to survive, but to literally grind through enemy ranks, choosing between devastating attacks and impenetrable defense.