Doom: The Dark Ages

I've finished Doom: The Dark Ages after around 11 hours of gameplay, and I have to say: it's a good game - but definitely the weakest entry in the modern Doom trilogy. Not because it lacks quality, but because the gameplay takes a completely different turn.

Let's start with the bad: the PC launch was a mess. Crashes, performance issues, and those annoying tutorial pop-ups that would literally crash the game - I had to tinker around just to get it running stable. After getting past that hurdle, it ran okay, but stuff like this simply shouldn't happen with a AAA title.

Gameplay-wise, you quickly notice: Dark Ages is slower, heavier, and far less frantic than its predecessors. The focus is now on parrying and melee combat, which is cool at first, but starts to lose its appeal over time. You barely have to switch weapons - I made it through most of the game with just the Ball & Chain and the Super Shotty. Especially if you're used to Doom Eternal, this feels like a serious step back.

I played on "Nightmare" and even that felt surprisingly forgiving - maybe even too easy. There are difficulty sliders, sure, but even with those, the game never really pushes you hard. If you're looking for a brutal challenge, you'll only get that to a limited extent.

The most disappointing parts? The mech and dragon sections. They looked epic in the trailer, but in reality, they play like a dull arcade game from the early 2000s. Repetitive, sluggish, and completely lacking in tension. I honestly wish they had just left those moments as cutscenes.

And yet... I had fun. Really.

Because when Doom: The Dark Ages shines, it shines. The story is by far the best in the series. There are more cutscenes, more world-building, more character - and yeah, it's totally over-the-top, but in the best way. The boss fights are also a major highlight - especially the final boss: epic presentation, long, challenging, and incredibly satisfying.

Level design is a mixed bag. The linear levels with clear structure? Fantastic. Great arena layouts, intense fights, and a cool medieval vibe. But those semi-open levels where you constantly hunt for keys and run around in circles? Total buzzkill. Confusing, sluggish, and just not fun.

The soundtrack... meh. It's there. But that's about it. After Mick Gordon, the bar is just insanely high - and this doesn't even come close. Not a single track stuck with me. Nothing on the level of a workout playlist banger like in Doom 2016 or Eternal.

Despite everything: I still think Doom: The Dark Ages is worth buying. It's bold, different, experimental - and even if that stings a bit for fans of the old formula, I respect the attempt to try something new instead of recycling the same thing again.

I've been paying Doom since the original back in the day and feel compelled to leave a review in the small hope the developers see it and receive my thanks and respect. This game is polished, fun, well designed, smooth, playable and a worthy addition to the Doom series. I'm on my second play through, trying to locate all the secrets and bonus content. I just love how refined and well thought out it is. This is how you do video games!

I'm playing on a series S on a 4k TV and everything is smooth and clear. I enjoyed the map design, the enemies, and the story too. Just enough of each and the battles feel so much fun with the balancing of the weapons and power ups being just right to increase the fun, you really feel like an unstoppable titan of demonic destruction. Thank you for such a beautiful game!

Doom: The Dark Ages does what the prior two games in the series does best; giving a think thrilling experience with new innovative combat, exclusive iconic weaponry and a fresh new game flow that absolutely destroys, desecrates and empowers the player like it's no one's business. This is the power trip of all power trips, and the most weighty Doom game to date. I've never played a video game that carries across such power and immense control over any and all scenarios that befall me, i was not locked in with demons, the demons were locked in with ME. This is an absolutely legendary new addition to the masterclass series that is new generation Doom, i couldn't ask for more, its brilliant Hugo Martin, you killed it once again.

The ones of us, that have played all titles of the franchise, know that DOOM can be many things and some reincarnations are better than others. But this DOOM won't be mine.

Don't get me wrong. The ID tech 8 engine delivers stunning graphics and a vivid game play. As for the dragon rides and titan battles, well they are okayish, but the time could have been better put elsewhere. But my biggest beef is with the core of it all: the game play.

DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal where fast paced and had epic battles. Key was that you kept moving and deal damage while trying to receive as little as possible. Blood and gore everywhere. With doom eternal they introduced that thing where one was required to follow certain patterns to subdue an enemy or rather better subdue an enemy. But one was still rather free on how to approach this. Some guns or combos just worked better than others. But now it feels fully enforced. One must follow the dance and get the queues in order to fight properly. It just feels very restrictive and not DOOM-like at all. More like Bayonetta or other games of that genre.

The sound is admittedly not as epic as the recent predecessors, but still enjoyable. Solid delivery.

Yet the price is way to high considering playtime and the competition. In my region it's 80 euros. 60 would have been steep, but still acceptable. Feels really greedy, Bethesda!

The initial review was done after 8 hours. Now, that I completed the campaign on nightmare, I can say, that it definitely grew on me. After some more weapon and shield updates, it feels a lot better. However, the necessary parry actions disrupt the flow and make you vulnerable for enemies in your back when compared to it's predecessor DOOM Eternal.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a bold, cinematic reimagining that does the impossible - it makes Doom feel fresh again. It's unapologetically violent, artistically fearless, and soaked in atmosphere. For fans of epic dark fantasy, pulse-pounding action, and metal-as-hell storytelling, this is a must-play experience. If the original Doom was a shotgun blast to the face, The Dark Ages is a warhammer through the skull - slower, heavier, and just as satisfying. The game is amazing from the beginning to the end and if you're new to this type of game give it a try you won't regret it! Favorite game of 2025 so far.