The DOOM franchise has always embraced relentless action and blood-pumping chaos, and DOOM: The Dark Ages looks to continue this legacy. Picking up the style and mechanics that made 2016’s DOOM and sequel DOOM Eternal such modern classics, this new prequel sends players back in time, setting the stage for the Slayer’s brutal origin story.
While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it does add larger open-zone levels to its formula, offering players fresh opportunities to explore and strategise amidst the carnage. The bottom line is its more of the DOOM fans love — with enough twists to keep things interesting.
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The Dark Ages is set to be the largest campaign in the DOOM series to date. This sprawling adventure promises a deeper dive into lore, which has expanded significantly over the past few entries.
From what I’ve already experienced, this prequel is an accessible starting point for newcomers while still embracing the franchise’s signature chaos.
Parry, Parry, Parry
DOOM: The Dark Ages introduces six difficulty levels, with customisable options including narrowing parry windows to suit all skill levels.
Parrying is a prominent mechanic throughout DOOM: The Dark Ages, but its emphasis may not resonate with every player. Green energy balls are primed for parries, while red ones require precise dodging or blocking — textbook, really.
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This applies across various gameplay elements, including combat as the Slayer, dragon riding, and towering kaiju-style battles while wielding a skyscraper sized gatling gun (ridiculously incredible). While these mechanics offer variety, I experienced them as distinctly separate levels — which didn’t feel like the ideal way to do it.
The dragon sequence, in particular, felt lacklustre during my preview. Flying a mega dragon and landing for brief ground-level combat had potential but was ultimately hindered by repetitive gameplay: fly, shoot, dodge — luckily it looked cool.
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The open-zone level design was easily the highlight of the preview. It brought in some fun exploration and gameplay that actually felt rewarding. You really get a sense of the game’s scale here, with plenty of chances to dive in and try different approaches.
These areas gave me a glimpse of what the game could really offer, and while I’m not totally sold yet, I’m curious to see how the full version plays out.
It’s fair to say that DOOM: The Dark Ages delivers more of what fans love, with a mix of familiar mechanics and new ideas. It’s launching on May 15th across Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC — look out for more from us soon.
Quest Daily attended the DOOM:The Dark Ages preview event with thanks to Bethesda ANZ.
