Xboxaddict.com Article
DOOM: The Dark Ages - First Look
by Peggy Doyle
During the Xbox Develop Direct this week, id Software showed off its newest DOOM title, DOOM: The Dark Ages. This is a prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, and it is promised to be the most ambitious DOOM title to date.
Since this is a prequel, the developers at id Software have said that it's a great place for those new to the franchise to start their experience with DOOM, but it will also be a wonderful experience for the more experienced players.
The Developer Direct gave us some insight into the three core pillars of DOOM: Combat, Exploration and Story.
Combat
This is a whole new world, with new weapons and new mechanics. DOOM Eternal wanted you to ‘jump and shoot' but DOOM: The Dark Ages has you as an iron tank, heavy and strong, but still able to move and fight. You'll be more power versus acrobatics, and a balance of movement and projectiles. A whole suite of new melee weapons as well, as a new melee skill tree means you'll be able to fight up close and personal with the biggest bad guys in any DOOM game while dealing some considerable damage.
One of the weapons highlighted was the shield saw, used in multiple ways to block, parry, and even decapitate your enemies. We also got to see an electric gauntlet and a spiked flail. These are some incredible-looking weapons. Each will have their own upgrades.
One note of particular interest to me was that most combat revolves around single-button inputs. Streamlining the complex combat means players can focus more on the fighting and less on fighting to find the correct inputs. There will also be difficulty sliders meaning this will be the most approachable DOOM game and a better experience for more players. Slow down, speed up, it's up to you. A DOOM for all Slayers.
Now, this wouldn't be a DOOM game without guns, and this game has some impressive weapons to choose from. We saw energy-powered weapons, a double-barreled shotgun and the most intriguing to me, a type of machinegun that makes its own high-speed projectiles by breaking down skulls. Yes, you read that right. The skull-crusher is an impressive weapon.
Bigger demons mean bigger battles, and therefore, you need to be bigger, too. Introducing your own mech, the Atlan. Some of the clips shown were reminiscent of a kaiju movie. I can't wait to see this in action for myself. We will also lean slightly more into the fantasy and sci-fi realm with your own cybernetic, gatling gun-equipped dragon. This will let you take your fight to the skies. Both the dragon and Atlan will each also have their own upgrades.
Glory kills are, of course, still in the game. Now they are player-driven and unsynched. You can do them from any angle; you are in control.
Exploration
This is very much an open-world sandbox game. You'll be able to explore the levels with freedom not normally found in previous DOOM games. There is a lot to discover while roaming. You can use the shield saw mentioned earlier as a handy exploration tool as well, using it to traverse across gaps and broken bridges, or even to smash through hidden areas and scale up ledges. There is a lot of treasure and secrets to discover.
Story
The developers from id Software were clear about bringing the story and lore out of the codex and into the cutscenes. This will be more approachable and give the players maximum impact. While the main plot has been kept secret, you are starting your story by being imprisoned. You will meet new characters, old allies, and new enemies. This story will lead directly into that of DOOM (2016).
Focusing on a single-player campaign versus multiplayer aspects allowed them to create a better single-player experience. When asked what other media inspired this DOOM game, the answers included the original DOOM game, Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel, and Zach Snyders classic movie, 300.
Finishing Move created the fantastic soundtrack we heard during the trailer. Just incredible.
To finish off the trailer we got some wonderful news. We won't have to wait long to play this highly anticipated game. DOOM: The Dark Ages is coming out May 15th, 2025. It will release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5 and will be available on day one with Game Pass.
