Doom: The Dark Ages – A Medieval Twist on Classic Gameplay
EDGE magazine recently unveiled new details about Doom: The Dark Ages, promising a significant shift in the franchise's formula. The upcoming title prioritizes narrative, presenting a more linear storyline compared to its predecessors, where lore was largely relegated to collectible text. This time, the story takes center stage, unfolding within the largest levels ever seen in the Doom series, creating a sandbox-like environment for players to explore.
Game director Hugo Martin and studio head Marty Stratton highlighted several key aspects:
The game's aesthetic embraces a medieval setting, departing from the futuristic elements of previous installments. Even the iconic Doom weaponry will undergo a design overhaul to maintain thematic consistency.
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While retaining the series' signature level-based structure, Doom: The Dark Ages introduces significantly larger environments. Gameplay will seamlessly blend dungeon crawling with open-world exploration, with chapters structured into "acts," progressing from confined dungeons to expansive areas. Adding to the variety, players will gain control of both a dragon and a mech, offering diverse combat options.
The Slayer's arsenal gains a unique addition: a shield that functions as a versatile chainsaw. This transformable 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 traversal, compensating for the absence of double jumps and roars from previous games. Furthermore, the shield incorporates a parry mechanic with adjustable difficulty settings, requiring precise timing.
Parrying serves as a "reload" for melee attacks, while successful melee combat replenishes ammunition for ranged weapons, echoing the chainsaw mechanic in DOOM Eternal. Players can choose from a range of melee weapons, each with distinct characteristics: a fast gauntlet, a balanced shield, and a slower mace.
