Doom: The Dark Ages Unleashes New Gameplay Revelations

Doom: The Dark Ages – A Medieval Twist on Classic Gameplay

EDGE magazine recently unveiled fresh gameplay details for Doom: The Dark Ages, promising a significant shift in the franchise's formula. The upcoming title will prioritize narrative, boasting the largest levels in the series' history, creating a more expansive, sandbox-like experience.

Game director Hugo Martin and studio head Marty Stratton highlighted key changes: Unlike previous entries where lore was largely confined to text logs, The Dark Ages will feature a more direct and engaging storyline. The game's aesthetic will embrace a medieval setting, toning down futuristic elements and redesigning iconic weapons to fit the new era.

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While retaining the series' signature level-based structure, Doom: The Dark Ages will introduce significantly larger environments. Gameplay will seamlessly blend dungeon crawling with open-world exploration, with chapters structured into "acts," progressing from confined dungeons to vast, explorable areas. Adding further variety, players will gain control of both a dragon and a mech.

A revolutionary addition to the Slayer's arsenal is a versatile shield that functions as a throwable chainsaw. Its impact varies depending on the target (flesh, armor, energy shields, etc.), adding a strategic layer to combat. 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 allows for parrying, with adjustable difficulty settings to cater to different skill levels.

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 will have a choice of melee weapons: a swift gauntlet, a balanced shield, and a powerful mace.