Doom The Dark Ages Review

🛡️ Doom: The Dark Ages Review – A Medieval Reimagining of the Iconic Shooter

Doom: The Dark Ages, released on May 15, 2025, by id Software and Bethesda Softworks, boldly reimagines the franchise by transporting players to a gothic, techno-medieval world. Serving as a prequel to the 2016 Doom reboot, this installment delves into the origins of the Doom Slayer, offering a fresh narrative perspective.

⚔️ Combat: From Speed to Strength

Departing from the rapid-paced chaos of Doom Eternal (2020), The Dark Ages adopts a slower, more deliberate combat style. Players engage in grounded, brute-force battles, emphasizing strategic positioning over fast, evasive maneuvers. The introduction of the Shield Saw—a versatile weapon that can block, parry, and be thrown to decimate enemies—adds depth to the melee-centric combat. Complementing this are new weapons like the iron flail, electrified gauntlet, and spiked mace, each offering unique combo potentials and upgrade paths .🏰 Setting & Story: A Gothic Epic

The game immerses players in a richly detailed medieval setting, featuring towering fortresses, blood-soaked battlefields, and eerie cathedrals. The narrative focuses on the Doom Slayer's transformation from a weapon of war to a legend, exploring his enslavement and subsequent rebellion against the rulers of Argent D’Nur . Cutscenes replace the dense codex entries of previous titles, providing a more accessible and cinematic storytelling approach .

🛡️ Weapons & Mechanics: Innovation Meets Tradition

The Dark Ages introduces an array of inventive weaponry, blending medieval aesthetics with futuristic technology. Notable additions include:

• Shield Saw: A multifunctional tool for defense and offense.

• Skull Crusher: A gun that fires bone fragments at enemies.

• Rail Spike Launcher: Pins enemies to walls for strategic takedowns.

The game also features large-scale combat scenarios, allowing players to pilot the Atlan, a towering mech, and ride a cybernetic dragon equipped with formidable firepower .

🎮 Gameplay & Accessibility

With 22 expansive levels, The Dark Ages offers a mix of open-ended exploration and linear progression. The revamped Glory Kill system allows executions from any angle, enhancing combat fluidity. A new adjustable difficulty system lets players fine-tune parameters such as damage levels, enemy aggression, and game speed, catering to both hardcore gamers and newcomers .

🎧 Audio & Performance

The game's soundtrack, composed by Finishing Move, fuses heavy metal with medieval influences, creating an atmospheric backdrop that complements the game's setting . Performance-wise, The Dark Ages runs on the id Tech 8 engine, delivering enhanced visuals and solid performance across platforms. Notably, on high-end PCs equipped with RTX 5090 GPUs, the game achieves impressive frame rates, showcasing its optimization .

📝 Verdict

Doom: The Dark Ages successfully reinvents the franchise by embracing a medieval aesthetic and grounded combat mechanics. While it departs from the high-speed action of its predecessors, the game's strategic depth, innovative weaponry, and immersive setting offer a fresh and compelling experience for both longtime fans and newcomers.