Review of 'Doom: The Dark Ages': Farewell parkour, welcome Shield Saw.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a very different game than Doom Eternal Discover the latest game in id Software's demon-slaying series. Unleash the Slayer and face the ultimate challenge. Eternal A proficient parkour expert, skilled at high jumps and rail swings, was known as the Slayer. Doom: The Dark Ages Moves with the grace of a buffalo on skates - robust yet nimble. The sensation is not just pleasant, but also undeniably fitting.

The developers have made it clear that their goal with The Dark Ages is to emulate the original Doom more than its recent iterations, with the focus on building a concise combat loop and making the Slayer feel like a living monster truck, rather than a Ferrari. After 12 hours with the game, I can say they’ve done precisely that, plus they’ve made everything around the Slayer about 666 percent more metal than ever before. Doom: The Dark Ages A thrilling comeback with remarkable progression in defining the genre.

Doom: The Dark Ages feels like an old-school Doom game in terms of combat, soundtrack and the Slayer’s overall vibe, but it introduces fresh elements, including a razor-lined Shield Saw, a playable mech and dragon, detailed difficulty sliders, and expansive sandbox maps. I’m currently on chapter 12 of 22 and I’ve completely filled up my weapon wheel, maxed out multiple stats, solved a handful of puzzles, unlocked shield runes, played as a titan twice and ridden a dragon once. At this point I can feel the game’s rhythm in my bones and, even with the modern touches, it’s a familiar, catchy beat.

The addition of the shield enhances the combat experience significantly, becoming a central aspect of every battle. It empowers the Slayer to block, parry, dash forward, and even hurl it as a massive spinning sawblade. A diverse array of demon varieties exists, each with its own style of combat and weaknesses, and the Shield Saw responds to them uniquely. For instance, when certain foes unleash glowing projectiles, deflecting a specific type back at them inflicts substantial damage. By throwing the Shield Saw like a boomerang, it can slice through groups of lesser foes, hitting them on the outward and return paths. Alternatively, it embeds into and spins within the flesh of medium-sized monsters, disrupting their assaults until it's summoned back. Moreover, it can dismantle bullet-resistant armor and obliterate clusters of infantry imps shielded behind their own fiery defenses. By targeting enemies with the shield and then initiating an attack, the Slayer can charge forward, stunning or obliterating the chosen demon and its nearby allies. Besides serving as a long-range dashing maneuver, the Shield Slam proves vital in defeating midbosses reliant on ranged weaponry, compelling them to switch to melee attacks that can be parried.

The Shield Saw, heavy and dangerous, quickly becomes the Slayer’s natural companion, and in combination with the gauntlet or flail, your melee weapons, it’s a twitchy, deadly force. There are 10 main guns to unlock, each more hellish than the last, and they support a range of playstyles, from spray-and-pray to precision headshots and elemental damage. Based on early footage of The Dark Ages I believed the Pulverizer would become my top choice due to its intimidating appearance and the eerie human skull embedded in it. Surprisingly, the Chainshot has captured my preference. This weapon launches a weighty metal ball attached to a chain, inflicting substantial damage upon impact. What truly impresses me is its ability to eliminate demons on its way back. Each weapon features its own upgrade path, alongside a variety of Shield Runes waiting to be discovered. To put it succinctly, among all the firearms available, The Dark Choose your preferred age and maximize its potential - they are all equally valuable.

The Slayer’s weapons and attacks work symbiotically, building a complex rhythm of parrying, repositioning, shield throws and gunfire. The battlefields are littered with glowing piles of ammo, health and overshields, and the sounds that accompany their pick-up are charmingly familiar. These items pop out of demons as they take damage, keeping you alive, just barely, even when surrounded by enemies. There are entire levels built out of relentless combat, with large-scale fights around every corner and the sound of guttural, demonic groans constantly echoing across the wastelands. The Slayer feels like a tank made out of pure muscle, but he runs, dodges and attacks like an athlete a quarter of his size, and the combination of heft and responsiveness is just right. The Slayer is a bleeding, breathing weapon and in The Dark Ages , he really feels like it.

Should he ever doubt his godlike status, you have the power to restore it. The Dark Ages Introducing a sophisticated difficulty adjustment feature that enables players to customize gameplay settings directly from the pause menu. With four difficulty levels - Novice, Intermediate, Expert, and Master, users can fine-tune ten parameters such as enemy behavior, timing for blocking attacks, projectile velocity, and stun duration.

I began playing on the Hurt Me Plenty difficulty level and quickly realized it was too easy for me. I decided to challenge myself by switching to Ultra-Violence. However, I encountered a tough battle that seemed unbeatable, leading to a sense of frustration. To maintain the thrill I was experiencing, I chose not to change the main difficulty setting but instead slightly boosted my damage and resource efficiency. This adjustment proved to be the perfect solution as it helped me overcome the obstacle and reignite my demon-slaying spree, making me feel empowered once more. The Dark Ages Id Software has developed an elaborate and sophisticated customization system that enhances the gaming experience. This innovative feature is likely to set a new standard for similar games in the industry. It not only facilitates smoother gameplay but can also elevate the intensity of battles, adding a thrilling dimension to the overall experience.

The Dark Ages is the largest Doom game id has ever made, and it’s also the most gorgeous. In the first 12 hours alone, I’ve encountered battle-worn medieval castles overlooking ravaged kingdoms, mazelike underwater regions, floating ships made out of giant bones, and, of course, the wastelands of Hell, covered in juicy, intestinal growths, gothic fortresses and rivers of fire. There are a handful of secrets hidden in every level, and exploring the terrain is just as much a part of the gameplay as demon-slaying, a feature that I enjoy immensely. The character designs are also luscious: There’s a marshmallow-like corpo alien and its floating, tentacled workforce; King Novik wearing heavy armor everywhere except over his rippling pecs and abs; and Prince Ahzrak, an ambitious demon with a pale face, slender horns and high-collared blood-red robes (a look that I would love to see replicated on Dragula Indeed, the timeless foes, modernized yet still grotesque, offer satisfaction in their defeat.

From what I observed, the narrative is suitably grand and remarkably consistent, featuring numerous high-stakes quests and a distinct Main Antagonist. I eagerly anticipate our ultimate showdown, a promising indicator of a compelling storyline.

There are two new elements in The Dark Ages Two colossal creatures remain unexplored in detail: the titan and the dragon. At specific stages, players can pilot a gigantic Slayer to combat enormous demons or mount a fierce, armor-clad dragon to soar through the skies. While these interludes provide entertainment and variation from the typical monster-slaying gameplay, they may not be essential. Reflecting on my gaming experience, these encounters, although impressive, could be further integrated to enhance the overall gameplay. The Dark Ages In the latest Doom game, the Titan and the Dragon often slip my mind. My focus is captivated by the intricate gameplay mechanics, the depth of strategy involved, and the stunning visual aesthetics. The ability to control a mech and soar on a dragon doesn't go unnoticed, adding an extra layer of excitement. meh about it.

The Dark Ages The game is a captivating blend of gore and grace. While some major additions may seem less significant, its emphasis on dynamic combat, personalization, and precise shield tactics delivers a comprehensive journey through the depths of hell. The Dark Ages is a bright spot in Doom history.

Doom: The Dark Ages Launching on May 15, the game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.