Doom: The Dark Ages

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.

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.

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.

Took me 12 hours to beat the main story compared to the 14-16 it took to beat Eternal. When there are games coming out like E33 with a 30+ hour main story for under $50, buying games like this for $70+ makes absolutely no sense. Can't help but feel ripped off for spending that much money on a single player only game that can be beat in a few sittings. Surely there are a few more hours to be spent on side quests or the Doom equivalent, but its such a shame these games are taking longer to develop, costing more money, and yet providing far less in what you can actually do in the game. Very disappointing.