This article details some gameplay features that players will encounter inDoom: The Dark Ages' first five chapters.
Doom: The Dark Agesmay stand as the most unique entry in the modern era of the longstandingDoomfranchise, with the title taking some big creative risks to stamp out its own identity against the backdrop of 2016’s well-receivedDoomand its popular successor,Doom Eternal. As a prequel to both of those games, id Software had many potential avenues to explore when working to makeThe Dark Agesfeel like a fresh experience, and the developer made some massive changes to the combat and exploration mechanics seen in the modern era of the series for this new entry.
The levels ofDoom: The Dark Agesare defined by a more open-ended freedom when compared to the levels of the game’s predecessors, and certain sequences feature new types of gameplay for the series, like using a giant mech to fist-fight Titans and taking to the skies on the back of a loyal dragon mount. These deviations from the standardDoomformula are echoed even further in the core combat ofThe Dark Ages, with the title’s parrying system being integral to most combat avenues that players have at their disposal. While this parry system has some great benefits and gameplay value, the over-reliance on parrying throughout the game diminishes how satisfying the mechanic feels and limits players' combat options.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Parrying Mechanic Risks Making Combat One-Dimensional
One of the most importantweapons inDoom: The Dark Agesis the Slayer’s new Shield Saw, which acts as a permanent off-hand weapon that can be used in conjunction with the game’s variety of ranged armaments. Not just a tool for unlocking certain areas, the Shield is frequently used in combat to dash and close the gap on enemies and to temporarily stun larger demons by throwing the weapon at them.
Alongside the Shield Saw, players can choose from a range of dedicated melee weapons inThe Dark Ages, including the Power Gauntlet, Flail, and Dreadmace.
Above all else,The Dark Ages' Shield Sawis used to block incoming damage and reflect certain attacks, which often appear as green projectiles or green close-range lunges, through perfect parry timing. Parrying attacks is not only useful, it is essential for clearing space on packed battlefields and damaging bulkier enemies, and the strategy for killing certain mini-bosses is entirely tied to the parry system.
Combat inDoom: The Dark Agesis essentially dependent on parrying, and the title can almost feel like a rhythm game during intense fights, a feeling that is emphasized by the game’s difficulty sliders being centered around things like parrying windows of opportunity and projectile speed. This focus on parrying is a massive part ofThe Dark Ages' gameplay identity, and while the system can be satisfying, it comes at a cost. Specifically, the importance of the parry mechanic can limit how players are able to approach different enemies, making battles feel less dynamic than in previous entries.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Parrying Can Take Combat Freedom Away From the Player
In thebestDoomgames, players are encouraged to use a wide range of weapons in order to best deal with certain enemy types. For example, players could smartly do things like fire a precise bolt at an Arachnotron’s top-mounted turret to make the demon less of a threat, or they could fire a well-timed grenade into the mouth of a Cacodemon to kill it much faster than they would with other approaches.
This dynamic variety is somewhat stunted byThe Dark Ages' over-reliance on parrying as the major way to eliminate most high-level enemies, and it runs the risk of pushing players towards using the same combat approaches throughout the entirety of the game. WhileDoom: The Dark Agesdoes enhance combat in other ways, like offering a wide variety ofmelee weapons, the title may lean too heavily on its shiny new parry system.
