Doom: The Dark Ages – A Medieval Twist on Classic Gameplay
EDGE magazine recently unveiled new details about Doom: The Dark Ages, promising a significant shift in the franchise's formula. This iteration prioritizes narrative, boasting the largest levels in the series' history, creating a more sandbox-like experience.
Game director Hugo Martin and studio head Marty Stratton highlighted key changes:
Unlike previous entries where lore was primarily delivered through text logs, The Dark Ages will feature a more direct storytelling approach. The game's atmosphere will be distinctly medieval, toning down futuristic elements and even redesigning iconic weapons to fit the new setting.
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While retaining the series' signature level-based structure, Doom: The Dark Ages introduces the largest levels yet, seamlessly blending dungeon crawling with open-world exploration. The game's chapters are structured into "acts," progressing from confined dungeons to expansive environments. Adding further gameplay variety, players will gain control of both a dragon and a mech.
A groundbreaking addition to the Slayer's arsenal is a versatile shield that functions as a chainsaw. This throwable weapon interacts differently with various materials (flesh, armor, energy shields, etc.). 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 and precise timing requirements.
Parrying effectively reloads melee attacks, while melee combat replenishes ammunition for ranged weapons – echoing the chainsaw mechanic in DOOM Eternal. Melee combat options include a swift gauntlet, a balanced shield, and a heavier mace.
