XBOX REVIEW | Doom: The Dark Ages

“Now, they will fear you.”

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Doom: The Dark Ages ever since it was first announced back in June 2024. Doom: The Dark Ages is the prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, which was released in 2020. You play as the series’ protagonist, the Doom Slayer, who becomes the last hope of a kingdom fighting against the forces of Hell in a techno-medieval setting.

Doom: The Dark Ages is developed by id Software, well known for other games like Quake, Rage, and one of my favourite game series, Wolfenstein. Id Software has always been at the forefront of pushing hardware to its limits.

The game promises to have the longest campaign in any Doom entry to date, along with new gameplay mechanics, while retaining the original charm that has made Doom what it is today.

Things I liked!

• Weapons | Doom: The Dark Ages boasts a varied arsenal of 16 weapons, each offering distinct functionality and upgrade possibilities to experiment with. All weapons become available progressively throughout the campaign. Each weapon has two modes that can be switched instantly, for example, the rocket launcher and grenade launcher, or the combat shotgun and super shotgun. I had a blast experimenting with the weapons at my disposal, and one that really stands out is The Pulverizer. This gruesome weapon crushes demon skulls and fires bone shards, making it incredibly powerful when facing large groups of enemies in close quarters. It quickly became my go-to weapon for clearing out hordes. Another new weapon is the Saw Shield, which I will explore in more detail below. You start the game with the combat shotgun, which remains highly effective even in the later chapters. As you progress, you can upgrade weapons at Sentinel shrines scattered throughout the levels. To enhance them, you’ll need Gold, Rubies, and Wraithstones. While Gold is more common, Rubies and Wraithstones are much harder to find.
  
  
• Shield Saw | Among the new weapons, my favourite is the Shield Saw. This versatile tool allows the Slayer to block incoming attacks, and with precise timing, a block can parry enemy strikes, particularly potent ones like Hell Surge attacks, reflecting damage back and breaking enemy defences. By locking onto an enemy, the Slayer can initiate a Shield Charge, propelling himself forward to slam into foes. This move can instantly eliminate weaker enemies while providing a burst of speed for battlefield navigation. The Shield Saw can also be thrown like a spinning disc, slicing through lesser demons and stunning tougher foes. Against enemies with heated armour or shields, a well-timed throw can shatter their defences. Beyond combat, the Shield Saw can be lodged into specific environmental nodes, activating mechanisms or enabling the Slayer to perform a Recall Jump, allowing access to otherwise unreachable areas. Its multifaceted design makes the Shield Saw an essential component of the Slayer’s arsenal, offering strategic versatility in both combat and exploration. Additionally, by holding down the button used to throw the Shield Saw, you can temporarily slow down time for a few seconds. This is great for lining up the perfect shot, and I also found it helpful for capturing great screenshots, though I doubt that was its intended purpose.

• Visuals | Doom: The Dark Ages looks phenomenal running at 60 frames per second, even when the screen is completely filled with multiple enemies and projectiles flying in all directions. I never noticed any slowdown or anything that disrupted the fun. I was really impressed by the variety of locations throughout its 22 chapters. Whether you’re on foot, flying a dragon, swimming, or piloting a giant mech, nothing feels out of place, it all comes together as a spectacular visual treat. Character models look incredible, with the tiniest details helping to bring them to life. The cutscenes, most of which appear at the beginning of each chapter and at key moments, provide a welcome break from the frantic, fast-paced action and effectively advance the story as you progress through the campaign.
  
  
• Sound | The sound effects greatly enhance the immersive experience, from the footsteps of the Doom Slayer as you run around hunting enemies to the spot-on gunfire sounds. The chain shotgun is especially satisfying, with the chain shooting out and then reeling back in with an almighty thud each time. The voice acting is top-tier, as you might expect, and it does not disappoint. The impressive soundtrack of Doom: The Dark Ages is a dynamic blend of heavy metal subgenres, perfectly tailored to complement the game’s medieval setting and intense combat. The music is slightly quieter than the sound effects and often fades into the background, but when needed, it becomes loud and ferocious.
  
  
• Gameplay | As you play, an objective marker appears to guide you, and there are always hordes of enemy demons in all shapes and sizes, some even fly or hover above the ground. Certain enemies are more difficult to kill than others, with some wielding shields that need to be broken. This can typically be done using shield parries or by eliminating all other enemies in the area. Throughout the game, you’re constantly searching for health and shield pickups, along with ammo drops. These are impossible to miss, glowing brightly to stand out. In Doom: The Dark Ages, you can now climb and ride a dragon as well as pilot a giant mech. I found this to be a welcome addition to the run-and-gun gameplay, even if both mechanics could have been refined further. Controlling the mech felt somewhat clunky, and shooting while riding the dragon seemed a little too simplified.
  
  
• Accessibility | Doom: The Dark Ages introduces a comprehensive suite of accessibility features. There are six difficulty levels, ranging from Aspiring Slayer, the easiest, designed for newcomers, all the way up to Ultra-Nightmare, the ultimate test of skill. You also have several adjustable options, such as modifying the amount of damage dealt and received. You can tweak the game speed to alter the pace of gameplay and adjust the parry window to make it easier or harder to execute. Auto-aim can be enabled to assist with targeting as well. Additionally, the game offers a wide range of accessibility options focused on visual and audio enhancements. The Threat Detector provides visual indicators to show the direction of incoming threats, benefiting players with hearing impairments or those who prefer visual cues. You can even customize the color of pickups and projectiles.

Mixed & disliked!

• Story | I thought the story in Doom: The Dark Ages was its weakest point. With everything else the game has going for it, I wish it had a deeper narrative to complement its incredibly detailed locations.Instead, I knew I was completing set objectives to try and defeat Prince Ahzrak and his closest allies, whom I encountered in the many cutscenes. However, for much of the game, I didn’t have a strong grasp of the story or a clear sense of my ultimate goal.

• Repetitiveness | Towards the end of Doom: The Dark Ages, I felt it started to become a little repetitive. This is only a minor complaint, as fighting and defeating enemies remained a lot of fun. However, I began to notice a real lack of enemy variety, and perhaps the game could have ended around chapter 16 instead of 22 to mitigate this.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 18 Hours
How long to beat the story? 16 Hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 19/28 OR 590/1000
How long to achieve 1000G | 25-30 Hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | Wolfenstein: The New Order and Ghostrunner 2

CONCLUSION

Score: 89/100

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Doom: The Dark Ages, despite the later chapters starting to drag a little and feel repetitive. Doom has always been about fast, frantic, and intense gameplay, and this entry certainly delivers. The visuals are among the best I’ve seen on Xbox, and the sound design is top-notch. It’s definitely a must-play for fans of Doom or single-player first-person shooters. Early on, Doom: The Dark Ages reminded me a little of classic Halo, with the sheer scale of everything happening around me. Controlling the Doom Slayer always feels incredibly powerful and god-like, I haven’t played too many games where I’ve felt this strong.