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. This is the third game in the modern Doom series, which serves 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 heavyweight combat, almost complete absence of platforming and parkour, as well as a measured pace. The Doom Slayer brutally deals with enemies: he slices them, crushes them with a mace, parries blows 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 significantly improved the visual aspect 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 comes with good game optimization and stable frame rates.

The events of The Dark Ages reveal a new chapter in the lore of Doom, 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 massacre 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. In that era, he did not yet bear the title. Some knew him as a mere marine, others as the Doom Slayer. According to legends, he wandered between dimensions, exterminating demons and cleansing entire worlds, until one day he found himself on a planet with the Night Sentinels. How he traveled between dimensions is unknown, but during a joint battle against demons, he impressed the warriors of Argent so much that they took him back to their home planet and welcomed 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 our 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 also offers new, unusual locations, such as Cosmic Reim — a world with Lovecraftian motifs and dark architecture.

Due to the increased scale of 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, separate 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 Rock Slayer, which were only mentioned in Doom and Eternal. The story begins with an unnamed marine being captured by the Maykrs — a powerful race that appears benevolent but is actually terrified of his destructive power. Seeing him as a weapon against Hell, they direct him to Argent D'Nur — the homeland of the Night Sentinels.

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

The narrative shows the Slayer's journey from an ordinary warrior to a mythical figure who 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. Key roles in the story are played by the leaders of the Sentinels — King Novik, commanders Tira and Valen, each of whom is connected in their own way to the fate of the Slayer and the unfolding catastrophe.

In terms of presentation, the story has become much more expressive. Instead of scattered entries in the codex, as in previous games, The Dark Ages uses full-fledged cutscenes. This makes the plot clearer, more structured, and emotionally rich.

The Dark Ages departs from the dynamic, intense, and sometimes even acrobatic combat of Eternal, leaning towards a more measured gameplay. Combat is now based on horizontal mobility, dodging projectiles, and arena control, reminiscent of the spirit of classic Doom. Players will need to pay closer attention to their positioning and the actions of enemies, rather than relying solely on movement and nonstop weapon switching.

The Rock Slayer appears as an "iron tank" — a slow but resilient and strong fighter capable of absorbing massive damage. At the same time, the emphasis on close combat has significantly increased, showcasing the unprecedented physical strength of our subject and adding a new dimension to short-range battles.

The glory kill system has been reworked: now, when activated, time automatically slows down, giving the player more control over the situation and allowing them to enjoy the spectacular animations of the brutal demon executions.

The arsenal includes 23 types of weapons, including new options and fan-favorite classics like the shotgun and super shotgun. The BFG is reimagined as a massive crossbow that hits multiple targets at once. All weapons are designed in a dark gothic style, emphasizing the atmosphere of the era.

The main innovation is the chainsaw shield — a versatile weapon that replaces the chainsaw. It functions for blocking, parrying (using color indicators for timing), and close attacks. Additionally, the shield can be thrown, including for solving puzzles — for example, cutting chains. After being thrown, the shield returns to the Executioner like Thor's hammer and serves as a central element of the combat system.

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 taser that allows for quick combo attacks. The lineup of firearms has been expanded with samples that match the techno-medieval theme: the Skullbreaker minigun that shoots bone shards, the Piercer (nail gun), and the Chain Shot — a thrown projectile that attaches to a chain.

The game features 34 types of demons, many of which fans have already encountered in Doom and Eternal: Imps, Arachnotrons, Cyberdemons, Lost Souls, and Hunters — all have undergone visual updates, from minor changes to complete redesigns.

Among the new enemies are massive crab-like creatures and floating cultists. Sub-bosses have been added — enhanced opponents with a squad of subordinates. Defeating them requires first eliminating their entire entourage. Full 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 can control vehicles. Among them are the cybernetic fire-breathing dragon Winterin (Serrat), as well as a giant 30-story battle mech, Atlante, available in certain episodes of the campaign.

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

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

All changes emphasize the shift towards a more tactical combat experience, where key roles are played not only by skills and reactions but also by understanding the environment, effectively using melee combat and defensive elements.