![[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhKP6Elyhkh5_LOPLNhl_nbjwmQNCffmQoNszm9lxn63WaP1rAddW_SzhJOuzVzxGZGNYrPvPOhju0v6CQPPIspGCyBIgThmrjgO687MYVRe1H56or0Q38n1Acp7oYdyOdHhobs5ogMJLQ7PiOLcLQJuqXSpX-4PGsU7sp6jlE-yuqINW8cGWTsBLBMf60=w640-h320-rw "[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages")
Doom: The Dark Ages does not retreat backwards but instead threads the needle by reestablishing an engrossing power fantasy with simple but satisfying mechanics that push its combat into uncharted territory for the series.
Doom: The Dark Ages is a new addition to the series that builds upon the strong foundations established by Doom Eternal, which introduced a complex layer of strategy and quick decision-making. This change did alienate some players looking for something akin to its more straightforward predecessor, with its emphasis on consistent movement, resource juggling, and frequent weapon switching. Doom: The Dark Ages does not retreat backwards but instead threads the needle by reestablishing an engrossing power fantasy with simple but satisfying mechanics that push its combat into uncharted territory for the series.
The game puts a big emphasis on standing your ground in a fight, rather than moving around it. You are permanently equipped with a shield that allows you to parry enemy attacks and block incoming damage. It's a versatile tool that soaks up damage or redirects it with timely blocks and parries, giving you the ability to go toe-to-toe with far more enemies than before. In typical Doom fashion, the best defense is often an incredibly aggressive offense. Your shield is far more than a means to defend yourself--it's a weapon in every sense of the word. When you're not slicing a demon's head off with its chainsaw edges, you can bounce it between enemies or shatter armor that has been superheated by your bullets. It's a great tool for closing distance, since it substitutes Eternal's air dash for a long-reaching shield bash that comes in handy across the larger battlefields.
![[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3PrseU-T1xalE_YWb1M3Rx5Znqe6X7FXGwcVg_wwJ9csqwCMX7snUNaVbG5NMn5Os_8upIQpX2VKHF5Aq7jX6Aa_-Dc9JPsEUvaCNE5o3G5cqsC1840t8qCkuSPuGSdrybWvppyPadjJKuyUkdnMu32JMMyaAdVPXwbhe3iDtL9HkIGd05gEiduf4wd8=w640-h360-rw "[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages")
The focus shifts from managing how you kill demons to balancing parries and melee attacks in equal measure. You're given powerful attacks that you can deliver routinely with your fists and other melee weapons, all of which are tied to refresh timers that you can shorten by parrying incoming attacks. Each reverberating parry and subsequent crushing counterattack pauses the action ever so slightly to emphasize the impact of your actions, giving each skirmish a crunchy feel that never gets old.
The sheer physicality of the Doom Slayer this time around is accentuated by the sheer physicality of the Doom Slayer. Each jump down from a ledge is accompanied by an earth-shaking thud, turning nearby enemies into bits and pieces in a violent rendition of a superhero landing.
![[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgKKlzd13As51DFrPInbS6JW-ptUX6TAAcdOhBXkG5SJ0_CkrDWkfs1R_5wbcv6Tq3LvBp3mqnZ3DekE46bLuXHFCJUjg9hfgs5TRrymLRQGAC5RLF4kH0Hue9pb7LZ1BerN9vTA0sV0E9rXb3nrCUs2idD6Dmky0eXtXU5lO1vLHSpI36lbPxG9md_DY4=w640-h360-rw "[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages")
Doom: The Dark Ages doesn't toss aside the series' heritage in favor of its newly discovered love for melee combat. Its vast array of weapons brings back series favorites and intelligently twists some staples for more era-appropriate substitutions. One of my favorites is a railgun-equivalent rifle that fires a cannonball attached to a chain, decimating armored enemies with seismic impact. Another literally chews up skulls and spits out the bits of bones as bullets, which translates into a rapid-firing Gatling gun that's great for controlling groups of demons.
However, Doom: The Dark Ages falters when it strays away from these tightly tweaked fundamentals. Among the mix of linear and larger stages, there are a handful of instances where you either pilot a giant mech for climactic kaiju-like fights or traverse a large battlefield on the back of an armor-clad dragon with energy wings. While both are introduced in memorable ways, they lack depth to their actions.
![[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSD0AvrpoVIegXn4ydqAx-FiLk85d6BYKosdOHs0T0NbQuiiCda0hCeCOwF0-lnAaB44BCAiU8C5NE9xK1eHMQsjbrj_1t1lW6XPSea2gK2N5YHcyQLm1JKqH1PJy_x6UMlp2kp58ncoI64YXOgG6E0xInflt0L1lxEa7qjYwDxeqc7MDYO6yB-8Xx724=w640-h366-rw "[REVIEW] Doom: The Dark Ages")
Similarly, Doom: The Dark Ages fails to tell a captivating tale with its shift towards cinematic storytelling. It's easier to follow now that there are characters to put names to and events unfolding in front of you rather than through codex entries like in games prior. It's a far cry from the tone of the 2016 reboot and more in line with that of Eternal's seriousness, never paying off some of the questions it poses about the Slayer and his role in the conflict at the start.
About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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