Doom: Medieval Invasion: First Look Revealed

Doom: The Dark Ages – A Return to Roots

Following the resounding success of 2016's Doom and its 2020 sequel, Doom Eternal, id Software is shifting gears with Doom: The Dark Ages, a prequel that prioritizes classic Doom gameplay. Instead of the platforming elements of Eternal, The Dark Ages focuses on intense, close-quarters combat emphasizing powerful melee weapons and strategic strafing.

While the iconic arsenal returns – including the skull-crushing new weapon showcased in the reveal trailer – the game significantly enhances the three melee weapons: the electrified gauntlet, the flail, and the Shield Saw. Game director Hugo Martin describes the combat as "stand and fight," highlighting the importance of these melee options.

Martin cites the original Doom, Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and Zack Snyder's 300 as key inspirations. This influence is evident in the game's design, featuring large-scale combat encounters reminiscent of the iconic "combat bowls" in 300 and the original Doom. The Glory Kill system has been overhauled, allowing for dynamic finishing moves from any angle. Level design offers greater freedom, with objectives tackled in any order and shorter, more focused levels (approximately one hour each).

Addressing criticism of Doom Eternal's Codex-based storytelling, The Dark Ages delivers its narrative through cutscenes, promising a "summer blockbuster event" within the expanded Doom universe. The control scheme has been streamlined for improved intuitiveness, and the game features a simplified economy with a single currency (gold), focusing rewards on tangible gameplay enhancements rather than lore. Difficulty is highly customizable via sliders adjusting aspects like game speed and enemy aggression.

Showcased in the reveal trailer, the giant Atlan mech and cybernetic dragon riding sequences are not isolated events but feature unique abilities and mini-bosses. Importantly, The Dark Ages will not include a multiplayer mode, allowing the developers to concentrate solely on the single-player campaign.

Martin emphasizes the deliberate departure from Doom Eternal's style, aiming for a return to the core principles of the original Doom. This focus on a classic Doom experience, while maintaining a powerful player fantasy, has generated significant excitement for the game's May 15th release.