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.
