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1 DOOM: The Dark Ages is an Action, First Person Shooter from the same brains behind the rest of the DOOM series, id Software. Thankfully the funds from Bethesda Studios have the cup run over for how great this game turned out. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal. If you’re wondering if you can play this DOOM before the others, yes however I would always start with the older games first.
All you lost lambs that are entering the DOOM series with DOOM: The Dark Ages, I have one thing to say…
Rip and tear…Rip and Tear…RIP and Tear…RIP AND Tear…RIP AND TEAR…RIP AND TEAR!!!!!!!!
For everyone out of the loop or they’re reading this review to see if DOOM is right for them, sit down, because I got a tale to rip and tear right into you.
Gameplay
The game starts you out with the current events going on in this medieval tech period. We see that the DOOM Slayer is in a mind control state, being controlled by the Maykrs. Despite appearing in the end of a citadel where the carnage where the demons are, thanks to Maykr’s tech. Basically, this becomes our starter point for learning the way of ripping and tearing. No sooner do you get a shotgun and start learning how to use a shield. Than we start getting the tricks of the shield, which improves our ripping and tearing.
Killing demons left and right will have you lose track of where to go next. But, thankfully the map system is there to not only guide us, but to show us where secrets are. Although this was an ingenious idea, but this created the reason “I” couldn’t just finish a chapter without getting everything. Thanks to this system I did manage to get all the health, shield and ammo upgrades though. I loved that each weapon also has a class system. Swapping from a normal shotgun and the super shotgun was much appreciated!
Some may say that even mentioning the super shotgun is in this game is a spoiler. However, to unleash my full DOOM nerd, I’ll have you know that the super shotgun has been a permeant staple of this series since the first game. Although, I do question how a world exists where both technology and medieval architecture thrive. But, Final Fantasy 15 happened and I wish I got a gun in there!
Graphics and Audio
My PC currently runs with a RTX 2070, yet this game ran and preformed like a nothing was wrong. I didn’t experience any dip in performance or frames because id Software are just that good. Being able to see the blood flying and body parts leaving these demons was a blessing. Watching the special takedown animations move as smooth as butter brought a tear to my eyes.
I thoroughly appreciate the beautifully done work for the UI and the enemy glossary. Additionally, the way they continue to make an amazing 3d map with a proper pathing is always a blessing. Seeing where a secret is located by freely looking around the map in any angle is amazing. And the demon glossary shows the love in care into the lore because of their independent drawing when looking at them.
Moreover, hearing the sounds when the shield meets a demon face is just *mwah* chef’s kiss. I never got tired of jumping, aimed and shield charge enemies to escape from my problems. Especially when I’m low on health and have zero armour to keep me alive. The shield was there to let me zip through the map to safety and it came with a thunk sound of killing. Certainly the audio work on the shield hitting demons was great, yet so was the sounds from using all the weapons.
The voice work, the weapons sfx, and even the demons themselves continue to charge my RnT gauge. I rocked out to the OST when going through a demon murder fest. I then chose to listen to the Eternal Horizon each time I saw a crowd of demon that have lined up to be cannon fodder for my rage. The audio is perfect.
Longevity
DOOM: The Dark Ages can be completed in about half a day going through 22 chapters. But, with how simple it is to “stop, look at your map and see if there’s any secrets than continue onward.” You could finish the game in about 17 hours.
Now, getting 100% complete will take a bit longer. I’m currently trying to do this, I just need to unlock all my weapons’ skills. So, go out there and collect…COLLECT AND SPEND!
Final Thoughts
The time I spent play DOOM: The Dark Ages will always be an amazing stress reliever. A game that just lets me release all my built up rage from the day to something that deserves it feels like holy work. Although, we all know that we can’t trust the Maykr because they’re just as bad as demons. But that’s mostly for others to learn the hard way by playing the other DOOM games. Here’s to Rip and Tear. And here’s to getting another DOOM game with working lore in another 5 years.
I give DOOM: The Dark Ages the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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