Doom: The Dark Ages – A Medieval Twist on Classic Gameplay

EDGE magazine recently unveiled new gameplay details for Doom: The Dark Ages, promising a significant departure from previous installments. This iteration prioritizes narrative, delivering a richer story experience than its predecessors. The game will also boast the largest levels in the series' history, creating a more expansive, sandbox-like environment.

Game director Hugo Martin and studio head Marty Stratton highlighted key changes:

Unlike previous entries where lore was largely confined to text logs, Doom: The Dark Ages will feature a more direct and engaging narrative. The game's aesthetic shifts to a medieval setting, toning down futuristic elements. Even the iconic weaponry will undergo a redesign to maintain thematic consistency.

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While retaining the series' signature level-based structure, Doom: The Dark Ages introduces the largest levels yet, seamlessly blending dungeon crawling with open-world exploration. The game's chapters are structured into "acts," progressing from confined dungeons to vast, explorable areas. Adding further variety, players will gain control of both a dragon and a mech, offering diverse gameplay options.

A revolutionary addition to the Slayer's arsenal is a multi-functional shield that doubles as a chainsaw. This versatile weapon can be thrown at enemies, exhibiting varied effects depending on the target (flesh, armor, energy shields, etc.). The shield also facilitates a dash attack for rapid battlefield traversal, compensating for the absence of double jumps and roars from previous games. Furthermore, the shield enables parrying, with adjustable difficulty settings to cater to different skill levels.

Parrying serves as a "reload" for melee attacks, while successful melee combat replenishes ammunition for ranged weapons – a mechanic reminiscent of DOOM Eternal's chainsaw. Players can choose from a variety of melee weapons, including a fast gauntlet, a balanced shield, and a slower mace.