Buckle up, Slayers. The long-rumored prequel,Doom: The Dark Ages, was finally unveiled at theXbox Games Showcase, and it looks incredible. The two-minute trailer plunges players into a medieval setting and is filled to the brim with gameplay.
Scheduled for release in 2025, the long wait has begun, and fans are quenching their thirst byrewatching the trailer on repeat. Here are the eight exciting features that have fans hyped, from badass weapons to new game mechanics, and more.
8Prequel Setting
In The First Age, In The First Battle, When The Shadows First Lengthened, One Stood
There was only one direction ID Software could take the Slayer afterconcluding his story inDoom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2, and that was into the past. Set before the events of bothDOOM (2016)andDoom Eternal,Doom: The Dark Agesplaces the Slayer in an ancient kingdom overrun by the forces of Hell.
This setting is exciting because the previous two games mention an ancient war between Hell and the Slayer, and now the player gets to experience that epic battle firsthand.
7Gun With Skull as Ammo
You Get A Bullet, You Get A Bullet, Everybody Gets A Bullet
Skull-powered Machine Gun? Hell yeah!Doomis known for its insane weapons, andThe Dark Agestakes things to a new level with the Skull Crusher.
It’s called that because it crushes skulls, simple as that. This gun feeds skull fragments to demons by turning skulls into small bullets. It’s a gruesome yet undeniably satisfying weapon.
6Mech Fights
Even The Biggest Demons Aren’t Safe From The Slayer Because of Mecha vs Kaiju Action.
Doomhas always offered nonstop, over-the-top action, andThe Dark Agestakes it to new heights with theinclusion of colossal mechs. Players will be able to control thesePacific Rim-type mechs to unleash a torrent of destruction upon the demonic hordes.
In bothDoom (2016)andDoom Eternal, players often saw corpses of giant demons, and now they will be the reason those corpses are there in the first place.Doom Eternalalso featured a mech suit at the Slayer’s base, but unfortunately, they were only there for show and were never usable.
5Bigger Levels
Everything Is Big in Hell
From the small snippets of gameplay ID Software revealed during the Xbox Showcase, it seems likeThe Dark Ageswill feature much larger levels compared to the previous games in the series.
These expansive levels could make exploration a bigger aspect of gameplay and even include side quests that can only be found if the player actively searches for them. However, this does risk slowing down the game’s pace.
4Flying Demon
Even The Skies Aren’t Safe for Demons
The larger levels ofThe Dark Agesnecessitate a new mode of traversal, and what’s better than a flying steed? The Slayer will be able to rain down destruction using his mount, which can breathe fire and has guns attached to its back.
While the full capabilities of the steed are still unknown, there’s no denying that it boasts an intimidating look that matches theDark Ages' medieval aesthetic. Now, all that’smissing is a unicorn skin.
3Brutal New Melee System
Rip and Tear Through Demons Via The New Melee System
Thecombat inDoom Eternalis likeDoom (2016)but on steroids. However, one aspect that didn’t receive much improvement was the melee system. Unless it was a Blood Punch, the Slayer’s fists weren’t really a big threat to demons.
Thankfully, that seems to be fixed inDoom: The Dark Ages. Equipped with an actual medieval weapon, the Morning Star, the Doom Slayer now has another tool that delivers a violent dose of destruction to his foes.
2The Introduction Of A Shield
A Chainsaw Embedded Into Defense
The inclusion of the Shield inDoom: The Dark Agesis a very risky move by the developer, as it risks slowing down the gameplay. But hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. The Shield does exactly what one might expect: it protects the Slayer from demons’ gunfire, but it also has many more uses.
It parries enemy attacks (more on this below) and can be transformed into a chainsaw Frisbee that cuts through enemies when thrown. It will even come back to the playerlike a Mjölnir hammer.
1Parry System
Parry This You Filthy Demon
ID Software has consistently kept theDoomformula fresh in every gameby introducing changes to the gameplay, andThe Dark Ageswill be no exception. The prequel features a parry system where the player can use the Shield to deflect an enemy attack at just the right time.
Doing so will stun the enemy and grant the Slayer an advantage. This adds a layer of strategic depth that will test the player’s reflexes and make them feel like a total badass when they pull off a perfect parry. Just don’t gocomparing it toSekiro.
