Doom: The Dark Ages is stirring the gaming community with its promising twist on the classic first-person formula. As the latest entrant in the series, this title departs from the futuristic hellscapes of its predecessors and plunges into a dark, mediaeval fantasy setting.
The anticipation for Doom: The Dark Ages began building shortly after its surprising reveal during the recent Xbox Games Showcase. The gameplay trailer showcased Doom Slayer wielding several unique weapons and equipment appropriate to the game’s setting.
This time, Doom Slayer will not be fighting for humanity but for the “Gods and Kings” mentioned in the trailer. He is nothing but a pawn to some powerful beings, who use him to fend off the forces of hell.
As more details emerge, discussions and speculations flood the internet, with fans eagerly waiting to dissect every piece of information available. For such fans, we have compiled everything we could find about Doom: The Dark Ages.
‘Doom: The Dark Ages’: All the details you need to know
In 2016, fans were sceptical when developer id Software released Doom, a reimagining of their long-running first-person shooter series. Even after all the scrutiny, the game won everyone over. Every Doom 2016 fan knows several reasons for its success, the most standout being its combat system, music, and no-nonsense narrative.
Four years later, id Software released Doom Eternal, a game, which not only had everything that made the 2016 title great but was also larger and even more violent. It gave players a flame thrower and introduced platforming, making Doom Slayer even more nimble and deadly.
Now, after two successful games, id Software is back with Doom: The Dark Ages, and it is once again the same game, a fast-paced first-person shooter where you kill demons, but it’s set years before the original game, in mediaeval times.
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‘The Dark Ages’ gameplay and combat
In its first trailer, id Software proudly showcased the new equipment this legendary warrior will use to diminish his enemies. One is a shield that works as a chainsaw-like weapon; it can also be thrown like a boomerang, and they call it a shield saw. Then there’s a weapon called the Skull Crusher, and it does exactly what its name suggests: it uses skulls as ammunition. Can a game get more metal than this?
This game is also set to introduce a classic weapon from the yesteryears of the series called the Rail Gun, but in Doom: The Dark Ages, they are calling it the Rail Spike Gun, as it shoots large spikes.
All these newly introduced weapons will change the way players combat their enemies. They can now deflect enemy attacks using the shield, defeat multiple enemies at once using the Skull Crusher, and much more.
In a GameSpot interview, Hugo Martin, the creative director for id Software, explained that they decided to change how Doom Slayer moved in the game. He talked about Doom Eternal‘s platforming and then compared it to the overhauled movement of The Dark Ages. “Doom Eternal went up in the air, and you were like an F22 fighter jet; in Doom: The Dark Ages, you’re going to feel like an Abrams tank.”
This means Doom: The Dark Ages’ Slayer will remain grounded throughout the game. Besides removing some mechanics, id Software has added things like controllable mechs and a dragon that players can ride throughout the game’s massive levels; these two will no doubt compensate for the mobility fans will lose after the removal of platforming in The Dark Ages.
Do we have a release date for ‘Doom: The Dark Ages’?
While the game looks incredible, its release date has not been announced yet. We know it will be released sometime in 2025, though.
What platforms will the game be available on?
Apart from its 2025 release window, the other thing that Bethesda has confirmed is the platforms on which this game will be released.
The first trailer for this upcoming fantasy shooter confirmed that it will be released for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 and PC. Unlike the previous two games in the series, The Dark Ages will be skipping Nintendo Switch. Perhaps Bethesda and id Software are waiting for Nintendo Switch 2 to launch, as the current generation of Nintendo’s console might not run it so well.
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(Hero and featured image credit: Bethesda Softworks)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Dark Ages is a first-person shooter about a marine fighting off forces of hell.
The Dark Ages is a prequel to Doom 2016 and Eternal.
Yes, The Dark Ages is coming to PS5 alongside Xbox and PC
Yes, The Dark Ages will be on PC.
