Doom: The Dark Ages – Hands-Off Preview
Doom (2016) injected new life into the franchise, channeling the raw intensity of the originals while infusing it with modern innovations. Armed with an arsenal of heavy weaponry and devastating melee attacks, you possess the ability to annihilate anything in your path. Coupled with a banging soundtrack, this combination re-established the series as one of the greatest shooters of all time. Now, the maniacs at id Software are taking us back to where it all began. Their latest release, Doom: The Dark Ages, is a prequel that chronicles the rise of the Doom Slayer. But can this fierce, blood-soaked journey live up to the towering legacy of its predecessors?
I was lucky enough to attend a hands-off preview for the massively anticipated shooter which featured a Q+A with Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin, the masterminds behind the series. So, here are the juicy details about Doom: The Dark Ages.
Gettin’ Medieval On Your Ass
Set in a medieval fantasy world, the prequel aims to serve as the perfect entry point for newcomers while delivering a captivating adventure that delves into the origins of the Doom Slayer. Long known for its brutal, fast-paced gameplay rather than its narrative, iD Software seeks to bring the story into the spotlight with this latest iteration. Instead of relying on codex entries for lore, Dark Ages places a strong emphasis on cinematics to enhance key story moments, marking a significant narrative shift for the series.
2016 perfected the run-and-gun gameplay loop, while Eternal expanded on it with verticality and acrobatic combat. Dark Ages continues the developers’ focus on innovation but does so by channeling the spirit of the original. Emphasizing a more grounded and weighty approach, the game encourages players to strafe through intricate projectile patterns while unloading devastating firepower on enemies. This gameplay loop rewards aggression, urging you to push forward and obliterate foes with its revamped Glory Kill system. Offering greater freedom, the new system allows for a variety of brutal executions, seamlessly building momentum as you tear through anything that dares to stand in your way.
The new weapons are a standout feature, introducing creative tools that perfectly align with the game’s setting and tone. A highlight among them is the Shield Saw, a versatile weapon with rotating blades along its perimeter. This innovative tool allows you to block, throw, parry, and charge, making it a core component of combat. Paired with other melee options, it significantly expands the ways you can dispatch enemies. Thanks to a simplified control system that ensures you remain in control during the chaos, this has the potential to deliver the most refined and engaging combat system in the franchise’s history.
Time For Some Action
A new addition is the ability to adjust various aspects of the gameplay, resulting in a dynamic difficulty system that allows you to tailor your experience. You are able to change several aspects such as gameplay speed, parry windows and much more. Not only does this support newcomers by making the game more accessible, but it also allows veterans to crank up the challenge which in turn, could add additional incentives to replay the campaign.
Levels are larger than ever, housing multiple missions that you can tackle in any order. Secrets lie within, giving you a reason to explore and methods to upgrade your arsenal so that you can decimate on the battlefield. Mechs also make an appearance with dragons that allow you to soar across the terrain and bots the size of buildings leading to Kaiju-style battles that look insane!
Doom: The Dark Ages promises to deliver a standout adventure that stays true to the essence of the franchise while pushing boundaries to craft a fresh, distinct experience. Set to launch on May 15th, it boasts all the elements of a potential series-defining entry, with the innovation and ambition to possibly become the best installment in Doom’s storied history.
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