DaRmaZat The DOOM franchise has never shied away from reinvention, but DOOM: The Dark Ages might be its boldest pivot yet. Developed once again by id Software and published by Bethesda, this entry trades sci-fi corridors and neon hellscapes for a brutal medieval past — not just in tone, but in timeline. Set centuries before the events of DOOM (2016), this is a full-blown prequel exploring the rise of the Doom Slayer and his connection to the mysterious Night Sentinels.
Forged in Argent Blood
While not a direct continuation of DOOM Eternal, it expands the mythos significantly, offering players both a thematic shift and an origin story framed in blood and iron. Launching across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, The Dark Ages is shaping up to be a wild ride — one that’s heavier on narrative than ever before, and just as savage as fans would hope.
The game kicks off on Argent D’Nur, ancestral homeworld of the Night Sentinels — and the battleground for an escalating conflict with the forces of Hell. Led by Prince Ahzrak, these demons are searching for an artifact known as the Heart of Argent, threatening the fragile alliance between the Sentinels and the Maykr. Enter the Slayer — freed once more, not as an outsider but as a weapon summoned by King Novik and his daughter Thira to turn the tide of war.
Compared to previous entries, The Dark Ages places much greater emphasis on storytelling. While lore entries still exist in the form of codex logs, the narrative is now more present through in-engine cutscenes, voiced characters, and scripted sequences within missions. The tone is darker and more solemn, drawing on themes of ancient prophecy, reluctant heroism, and cosmic dread.
Some story beats early on feel deliberately fragmented — as if echoing a myth that’s been passed down, rather than a linear plot. But it builds toward a surprisingly engaging climax that spans multiple realms and aesthetic tones, from baroque castles to dimension-warped ruins with disturbing architecture. It’s more fantasy-epic than military-thriller, and it works.
Shields, Steel, Slaughter… and Even Dragons
If DOOM Eternal was about speed and juggling cooldowns, The Dark Ages is about weight — and momentum. The Slayer’s arsenal returns with an impressively vast collection of weapons, ranging from the classic shotgun to new, deadly medieval-inspired tools. Most notably, the Shield Saw is a multifunctional tool used to grapple, block attacks, deflect projectiles, and even be thrown like a brutal boomerang. Defensive timing is now a core mechanic: parrying certain attacks (notably the green-glowing ones) stuns enemies and can turn the tide in tight encounters.
There’s also a new melee option in the form of a flail-style weapon, allowing players to pulverize groups with charged swings. Both additions push the combat toward a more close-quarters rhythm, where positioning and timing matter more than raw aggression.
Notably, combat arenas are broader and more layered. While classic gauntlets still exist, many levels open up into semi-nonlinear objectives, encouraging exploration and improvisation. Optional bosses, hidden rooms, and environmental puzzles break up the rhythm in smart ways.
And yes — there are vehicle sections, though they’re used sparingly. In one sequence, you pilot a towering Atlan mech, stomping through battlefield chaos. Another lets you ride a cybernetic dragon, dodging and retaliating in a pseudo-on-rails aerial duel. While these moments are visually stunning, they’re mechanically simpler than the core combat, and serve more as power fantasy set-pieces than skill tests. It’s spectacle — and mostly effective — but thankfully doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Difficulty-wise, the game retains the series’ commitment to challenge. With multiple granular difficulty settings — including modifiers for permadeath — both casual players and masochists will find room to suffer.
Hell Never Looked So Good
Powered by the id Tech 8 engine, The Dark Ages runs great, and looks technically gorgeous. While the gothic-medieval aesthetic is a stark departure from the sleek techno-hell of previous games, it carries the same intensity and attention to detail. Environments are dense and layered, enemy designs feel appropriately grotesque, and effects like particle fire, armor impact, and gore physics are cranked to eleven.
What stands out most is the environmental diversity. From crumbling citadels to abyssal voids, every region is distinct — and packed with visual storytelling. Even in the midst of chaos, there’s care in the environmental composition. Some classic enemies also return with redesigned flair: familiar demons now wear bone armor or ride beasts, adding just enough freshness to longstanding threats.
Audio-wise, the soundtrack remains a vital part of the identity. The new composers bring crushing riffs and ritualistic undertones that feel tailor-made for this darker, more ancient DOOM. It’s heavier in atmosphere, but still pulses with rage.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, DOOM: The Dark Ages takes risks, and most of them pay off. Its more grounded, lore-driven story doesn’t dampen the primal thrill of combat — it sharpens it. While a few experimental systems (like the mech or dragon sections) don’t reach the heights of the series’ best moments, they add variety without slowing down the momentum. And the new defensive mechanics breathe fresh life into what could’ve been a simple retread. This isn’t just another DOOM. It’s a reforging. And it’s one hell of a good time.
Additional Information
Release Date: May 15, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via Tasta.
Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Official Website: https://doom.bethesda.net/en-US/the-dark-ages
Relevant Links: DOOM: The Dark Ages on Steam, DOOM: The Dark Ages on Xbox Game Pass
Nice review!