Doom: The Dark Ages Review – Demon Slaying Magnum Opus

Doom: The Dark Ages on PS5 Pro

There is a good reason why the Doom series has always had a hardcore following. Allowing players to step into the battle-hardened boots of the Doomguy/Doom Slayer comes with the satisfying knowledge of overwhelming power, measured against the tantalising challenge of overcoming impossible odds. With Doom: The Dark Ages, it clearly demonstrates that id Software and Bethesda have achieved in perfecting the ultimate level of mastery when it comes to demon-slaying with style, speed, and substance.

A prequel to the Doom reboot, you will play a central role in establishing the legend of the Doom Slayer as the forces of Hell, led by Prince Ahzra, attempt to retrieve an object of immense power in the higher dimension of Argent D’Nur. As the de facto superweapon of the gods and kings, that will certainly not happen on your watch.

Across 22 chapters of pure adrenaline, players will be treated to what can be considered the zenith of the Doom experience. The reboot in 2016 focused on running and gunning, Doom Eternal added verticality into the mix, and in The Dark Ages, all of it comes together with an elevated sense of control and violence in a perfected formula. And that’s before the introduction of that serrated, spinning Shield Saw.

It cannot be understated just how this new tool changes things up significantly. The sheer presence of this defensive instrument means that enemies are much more aggressive, their moves varied, and the numbers grow ever more. That also brings lots and lots of killing and blood spilt, which is precisely how a Doom game should be.

While you have a limited gauge in which to block regular red attacks, the Shield Saw really comes into its own as a countering device against glowing green Hell Surge attacks. Time it right against melee strikes, and it dazes the demon; do it against ranged attacks and send projectiles flying back at your opponent. This new addition improves upon the signature hallmark of the games, bolstering the intense gunplay with a layer of timing and positioning that makes you feel like an utter badass.

And wait, that’s not all. You can even use the shield as a dashing bash, helping close the distance and unleashing an area-of-effect blast that never gets old. Prefer to deliver penance at a distance? Rev those saws up and hurl the shield like a medieval Captain America, dispatching smaller enemies with ease and locking up larger foes as the crimson sprays everywhere.

Doom: The Dark Ages goes further in integrating the shield with the impressive arsenal at the Doom Slayer’s disposal. Players are getting one hell of an arsenal of weapons that are fit for all occasions. From shotguns to rocket and grenade launchers, to the more innovative energy-firing Cycler and the skull-crushing Pulverizer, they are all delightful to use in the fight against the army of Prince Ahzrak. You will know exactly what I mean once you get your hands on the BFC, the medieval version of the BFG, and weapon mastery challenges aren’t that obnoxious this time around.

That synergy gets increasingly amazing as you unlock upgrades that take further advantage of the Shield Saw and its part in the combat flow. An early example is shielded enemies that repel most projectiles. However, once you get those shields heated up via sustained fire, a shield throw will explode the unfortunate demon and all its friends into smithereens.

Later on, you might upgrade the fast-firing Shredder so that enemies that get the shield embedded in them become targets for ricocheting your bullets into nearby enemies. The way the team has made sure players get to use everything at their disposal for an advantage is plain good design.

With the three different melee options that also cater to how you like your close-up options to be, it is easy to get into the flow of things and achieve Doom nirvana. Charging into battles, shooting things up, blocking and shredding demons using the Shield Saw, and using melee attacks for finishers and ammo replenishment, nothing else comes close to the encounters in which you play a starring role every time.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get even more metal and hardcore, Doom: The Dark Ages drops in the gigantic Atlan mech and summons Serrat, the hypercharged dragon. Available only in select chapters and moments, both experiences do more than break up the standard action; they up the scale like never before.

After all, it’s not every day that you get to take down kaiju-sized demons and leave a trail of destruction in your wake using a mechanised, powered-up suit of armour. Those impactful punches genuinely feel like they hurt a ton as the haptics on the DualSense controller work their magic.

And as you dodge gigantic swords and energy blasts, you build up a meter that lets you deliver fierce stomps and finishing moves that render your enemies into red paste. Then we have gigantic guns that only the Atlans can wield, and if you don’t find joy in shooting out rounds the size of a skyscraper, then nothing will bring you happiness.

Hopping on Serrat brings a separate kind of enjoyment in Doom: The Dark Ages, as you soar through the skies and marvel at the battlefield from a vantage point. That sense of speed is exhilarating, especially as you chase down Hell Fighters and explore the environment. When facing bigger threats like giant demons or Hell Carrier airships, it changes to a fixed perspective, holding you in place as you dodge attacks and return the favour with prejudice.

As you destroy specific targets, you will discover landing sites where the game seamlessly transitions from dragon riding back to boots on the ground. Getting to see the destruction you wrought from up high and now in person will make you appreciate just how well-tuned the entire experience.

That level of craft is also evident in the level design, giving players plenty of room to use the Doom Slayer’s superhuman abilities to explore horizontally and vertically. Levels are full of secrets and hidden paths, and the helpful map keeps you on the hunt always. There is plenty of platforming to do and light puzzle solving to relish in, leading to collectibles and valuable upgrade materials that feed back into the gameplay.

While many levels are more linear and self-contained in nature, there are also more expansive sandbox levels that unleash the player to attack at their own pace. This means more interesting encounters using different mechanics, which, while optional, are always worth it to partake in. Hordes can have more powerful variants within the ranks, empowering the rank and file and making them harder to kill. Encountering leaders creates a different conundrum, as they are invulnerable unless you thin the ranks sufficiently.

It undoubtedly helps that the demons that stand in your way in Doom: The Dark Ages are always fun to fight. Other than the squishy cannon fodder meant for ammo, the rest of Hell’s army all have tricks to disrupt the Doom Slayer’s quest for justice.

New faces join familiar staples and they are not afraid of mixing up melee and ranged attacks, using environmental hazards to manipulate you, or even downright becoming invisible or using decoys to level the playing field. Together with the numbers game in their favour, and you’d best be on your best slaying form to come out on top.

That said, as impregnable as the Slayer suit appears to be in Doom: The Dark Ages, there are tiny parts that could use some strengthening to achieve that pristine finish. Even with the massive number of enemies and types that often fight back against the Slayer, the game can be considered easy on the standard difficulty. This means it is more accessible to new players, with sliders that can further tilt the balance in your favour. However, for veterans of Doom 2016 and Eternal, the recommendation would be to bump up the challenge to really get your blood pumping.

The more open levels also tend to feel a little empty in certain parts of the map, and granted, the extra room is used to facilitate more exploration. Still, it can be tighter not to let the highs of both discovery and combat die down as you trek across the level. And while the platforming is quite pleasing as you leap across huge gaps and climb up high, the less swimming sections the better. The Doom Slayer will always move with heft, but the clunkiness of swimming and surfacing never felt right. If it wasn’t clear already, these nitpicks are just about the issues I can find with the game, and that’s saying a lot.

From the first kill to the last, Doom: The Dark Ages is an undeniably exhilarating ride that rarely comes down from its high. The narrative sets the stage for more, the weapons and the Shield Saw make for potent combinations, the music is once again marvellous, and the level and world design tie it all together in one devilishly brilliant package. It has been more than 30 years since the franchise first kicked off the killing spree, and this latest entry represents the continuation of a new golden age for the Doom Slayer.

Doom: The Dark Ages will launch on May 15 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.