DOOM: The Dark Ages [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

DOOM: The Dark Ages is proof that even thirty-two years on from the release of the original DOOM, id Software still know EXACTLY how to reinvent hell. The third entry in the modern DOOM trilogy takes a bold step away from the relentless pace of its predecessors, embracing a slower, heavier, and more tactical rhythm – all without losing any of the ferocity that has made the series so beloved by fans for so long.

Check out some screenshots down below:

DOOM 2016 reintroduced the franchise with tight, resource-conscious combat whilst DOOM Eternal took that formula and exploded it into an acrobatic dance of movement and momentum. DOOM: The Dark Ages reshapes the formula again, adding defensive mechanics, larger environments, and an element of puzzling to the mix, bringing a welcome sense of variety to ensure players can come in expecting a much different experience than before. It’s a prequel that reimagines the Slayer’s role in a medieval, sci-fi apocalypse, and somehow makes shield combat and environmental puzzling feel just as satisfying as ripping and tearing.

The narrative in DOOM: The Dark Ages marks a significant evolution for the series, delivering a story that is not only more prominent but also more focused and cohesive than ever before. Where previous entries often treated plot as a backdrop for the non-stop carnage of slaying demons, this instalment places storytelling front and centre with well-produced cutscenes, strong voice acting, and a genuinely memorable campaign. The tone is unabashedly over-the-top – larger-than-life characters, grand mythological stakes, a healthy dose of metal-infused melodrama, and all that jazz – but it all works thanks to its confident delivery and a clear direction that has often been missing in previous entries in the series. It’s a welcome shift that enhances immersion and makes the campaign feel more like an epic journey than just a string of increasingly violent arenas, with the result being a game that finally gives the Slayer’s mythology the spotlight it deserves, all without losing the pacing or tone that makes DOOM what it is. It’s absolutely brilliant and makes me excited for the potential future direction of the franchise.

The most significant addition made to the experience is the shield, which doubles as both a powerful defensive tool and a brutal offensive weapon. With its shield saw attachment, players can zip toward enemies from range, tearing through them with a flashy, satisfying charge, adding a whole new layer to combat that sees a bigger focus on controlling and utilizing the space around you in effective ways  (especially once you unlock the shield’s slow-motion ability, which is great for both stylish kills and survival). Whilst bouncing between enemies both up-close and from afar has defined the modern iteration of the DOOM series, this time around, I always felt like I packed the weightiest and bloodiest punches when I paced myself and kept things up-close and personal.

This new gear pairs perfectly with the game’s more open level design, with DOOM: The Dark Ages frequently giving players larger, less linear maps to explore. These areas reward curiosity, with clever environmental puzzles and plenty of collectibles scattered around to ensure that venturing off the beaten path feels worthwhile. It’s also worth noting that the platforming elements that DOOM: Eternal were known for have been toned down a little, and whilst there’s still a bit of tricky traversal here and there, exploration feels more streamlined, a little slower, and demands less death-defying manoeuvres to achieve. I actually liked the platforming elements of DOOM: Eternal a lot, but for those who didn’t, the more methodical approach utilised here will be welcomed.

“DOOM: The Dark Ages is a confident evolution of the modern DOOM formula that is an absolute blast to play.”

DOOM: The Dark Ages has certainly made some changes to the formula then, but there’s one thing that has remained consistent: the f*****g brilliant shooting action. The gunplay is still precise, weighty, and deeply satisfying, with weaponry that is loud, lethal, and perfect for pulverizing the demonic threat. Unlocking and upgrading your arsenal – ranging from medieval melee tools to bombastic futuristic guns – offers meaningful variety, and with the game drip-feeding new weaponry to the player as they progress through levels, there’s a satisfying sense of discovery (and demon devastation) felt as you play.

The enemy variety is excellent too, with improved animations, more aggressive AI, and tweaked designs that give familiar foes new life. Theres an increased sense of danger to be felt from enemies you might have familiarised yourself with before, with their fresh unpredictability felt throughout to keep players on their toes. Some of this is owed to the game’s change of pacing and refined combat mechanics, but credit should be given to the reinvention of existing foes that genuinely makes old faces feel more formidable than before.

Perhaps the best change is the reduced reliance on glory kills. They’re still present and just as gory as ever, but you’re no longer forced into animations constantly, ensuring combat feels more fluid and allows you to stay in control rather than being locked into cinematic finishers every few seconds. The game encourages creative use of your weapons, gadgets, and shield, rather than hitting the melee button constantly whenever you see a glowing foe. After re-playing both DOOM 2016 and DOOM: Eternal ahead of this, it turned out to be one of the most refreshing changes made to the game.

Plus, you get to ride a dragon around the larger levels and face off with giant demons in a big, f**k off mech… yeah, you get to do some awesome things in DOOM: The Dark Ages. And sure, these sequences might not have a lot of depth to them, but they’re still really cool and really up the ante when it comes to the game’s cinematic sense of presence.

Check out some screenshots down below:

While DOOM: The Dark Ages thrives on its new ideas, the slower pacing might not be for everyone (and especially DOOM veterans). The larger levels can see the constant sense of action found in previous games slowed down quite a bit, whilst it also felt like there were more occasions where there just weren’t any enemies left to kill when exploring. The game can also feel much forgiving, letting you coast through encounters without fully engaging with its deeper combat systems. It’s definitely the easiest entry in the series, and whilst you can bump up the difficulty to face a sterner test, it could’ve done with a bit more balancing for those who like to play on the standard difficulty.

Presentation-wise, DOOM: The Dark Ages is superb. The medieval/sci-fi hybrid aesthetic is striking, with gorgeous environments and a heavy metal fantasy vibe that gives the game a distinct visual identity. It’s DOOM, but it’s also… different, in a Quake-like way, I guess? Either way, it’s stunning, whilst the cutscenes and voice acting are more prominent than ever before to complement the more focused narrative. On Xbox Series X, the performance is also rock solid, with the game running smoothly throughout with fast load times and no noticeable bugs or framerate drops.

Developer: id Software
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PC
Website: https://doom.bethesda.net/