Doom: The Dark Ages Owes a Lot to Eternal’s Marauder

When director Hugo Martin unveiled the mantra for Doom: The Dark Ages as "stand and fight" during Xbox's Developer Direct earlier this year, it immediately captured my attention. This approach starkly contrasts with Doom Eternal, which thrived on fast-paced, constantly moving combat. Yet, Doom Eternal introduced one enemy that embodied this new philosophy—the Marauder. This enemy, perhaps the most divisive in the Doom series, is both loathed and adored, and I fall into the latter camp. The realization that Doom: The Dark Ages combat hinges on reacting to bright green lights, a mechanic crucial to defeating the Marauder, sealed my enthusiasm for the game.

Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn't confine you to a frustrating duel akin to the Marauder's in Eternal. While it introduces the Agaddon Hunter, shielded and wielding a lethal combo attack, the essence of Eternal's challenging encounters permeates every enemy in The Dark Ages. The game reimagines, refines, and reinvents the Marauder's principles, embedding them into the core combat system. The outcome? Every battle feels as strategic as facing the Marauder, but without the irritation.

The Marauder stands out in Doom Eternal. Typically, Eternal's combat involves circling arenas, dispatching weaker foes, and juggling larger threats. Often dubbed a management game, Eternal requires you to juggle speed, space, and weaponry to control the chaos. But when the Marauder appears, all bets are off. This formidable foe, with his axe and relentless aggression, demands your undivided attention, often in isolated one-on-one confrontations. In larger skirmishes, the best strategy is to dodge his attacks, clear the area of lesser enemies, and then engage him head-on.

Doom Eternal's Marauder is one of the most controversial enemies in FPS history. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Standing still isn't the answer in Doom Eternal—it's about mastering the battlefield through strategic positioning. Too close, and the Marauder's shotgun blast is nearly unavoidable. Too far, and you're pelted with projectiles, though easier to dodge, you're out of range for his axe. You want him to swing that axe because it's the only moment he's vulnerable—during the wind-up. His energy shield absorbs all your shots, so you must find the perfect spot where he'll lower his guard. When his eyes flash bright green, that's your signal: a fleeting window to strike.

Doom: The Dark Ages also uses bright green as a key visual cue. In homage to the original Doom, demons unleash volleys of projectiles, among which are special green missiles that can be parried with the Doom Slayer's new shield, sending them back at the sender. Initially, this is a defensive tactic, but as you unlock the shield's rune system, parrying becomes a powerful offensive move, stunning enemies with lightning or triggering your auto-targeting cannon.

Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields involves a series of focused one-on-one encounters with various formidable demons. Unlike the Marauder fights, survival isn't solely dependent on reacting to green lights. Effective use of your basic tools can lead to victory, but the shield runes elevate parrying to a crucial part of your arsenal, encouraging frequent use. Integrating this into your combat strategy reveals the shared DNA between The Dark Ages' parry system and Eternal's Marauder battles. You must find the optimal distance, as demons won't fire at close range, and when green orbs appear, you need to position yourself correctly to parry. Quick reflexes are essential, just as when countering the Marauder's swing. This focus transforms your journey into a series of intense, strategic duels. You stand and you fight, echoing the Marauder's challenge.

The Marauder's primary criticism was its disruption of Doom Eternal's flow. It demanded a different approach than the techniques used for other challenges, which is why I appreciate it so much. While Eternal asked for balletic movement, the Marauder required breakdancing. Eternal broke the rules of first-person shooters, and the Marauder broke Eternal's rules, presenting the ultimate test. Though I enjoy this challenge, I understand why many found it frustrating.

While the Agaddon Hunter may resemble the Marauder the most in The Dark Ages, every demon carries a bit of Eternal's most fearsome foe. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this by integrating various "dances" into its combat. Each major enemy type has its unique green projectile or melee attack, requiring different strategies. For example, the Mancubus fires energy "fences" with green "pillars" at the ends, necessitating side-to-side movement to parry. The Vagary sends out volleys of deadly spheres, prompting you to sprint and deflect them like tennis balls. The Revenant, reminiscent of the Marauder, is invulnerable until you parry its green skulls.

With each demon requiring unique footwork, introducing new enemies feels seamless. The Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present a challenge with their intense melee attacks, but by then, you're accustomed to adapting your movements and reactions. This wasn't the case with the Marauder, as Eternal's mechanics focused on matching weapons to enemies, not the positioning and reaction tactics needed for the Marauder.

The Marauder's issue wasn't its design but its unexpected rule-breaking nature, which players weren't ready for. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares you for similar challenges by making reaction-based mechanics a fundamental part of the game, rather than a sudden twist. This shift means the challenge is less intense—the parry window is more forgiving than the Marauder's eye flash, even on higher difficulties. Yet, the core concept of the Marauder—synchronizing with an enemy, waiting for the right moment, and striking when the green light appears—remains integral to every fight. Doom: The Dark Ages offers a fresh take on these ideas, but they're unmistakably present. You stand and you fight.