DOOM: The Dark Ages Hands-on: Medieval Mayhem Meets Demon-Slaying Excellence

We recently had the opportunity to try out DOOM: The Dark Ages, spending approximately 2.5 hours with the highly anticipated prequel to DOOM (2016). Our hands-on session gave us access to four stages which gave us a glimpse of the game’s core mechanics, Atlan mech piloting, and dragon riding.

As the 8th installment of the legendary franchise and 3rd entry in the modern series, The Dark Ages takes players on a journey to the origins of the iconic Doom Slayer. 

Combat Evolution: Shield Mechanics and Varied Destruction

The combat in DOOM: The Dark Ages retains the franchise’s signature fast-paced intensity while introducing fresh mechanics that fundamentally change how players approach demon slaying. At the core of this evolution is the shield system, which serves multiple purposes in both combat and exploration.

When facing enemies, perfectly timed blocks and dodges are immensely rewarding. The shield can be heated up through combat and used to break enemy armor and protective barriers. Beyond defense, it becomes an offensive tool that can be thrown at enemies, creating satisfying strategic options.

One of the most innovative mechanics is the “heat up” system for enemy armor and shields. As your attacks connect, enemy protection gradually glows red with increasing intensity. Once sufficiently heated, you can throw your shield similar to Captain America to shatter their defenses, allowing you to start dealing actual damage. This creates a satisfying rhythm to combat encounters, especially against tougher foes.

The shield mechanics extend beyond simple defense. Throwing your shield leaves you temporarily vulnerable, adding a strategic layer to when you deploy this attack. Against larger enemies, your thrown shield can become temporarily lodged in their bodies, grinding away and stunning them into a vulnerable state. The shield bash—where you dash forward and slam your shield into enemies—is particularly satisfying, closing large distances quickly and contributing significantly to the game’s breakneck pace.

The variety of combat approaches is impressive. From shield bashing to ranged weapons to devastating melee attacks, players have numerous ways to dispatch the demonic hordes. The weapon-swapping mechanics feel particularly fluid, especially when changing between arms in the same category, allowing for seamless combat flow.

Weapons Arsenal and Challenging Encounters

True to the series’ legacy, The Dark Ages offers an extensive arsenal of weapons that significantly enhances the hands-on experience. We encountered multiple shotguns, plasma rifles, and other ranged options, alongside diverse melee weapons including flails and gauntlets.

During our hands-on session, we were able to experiment with approximately ten different weapons including both ranged and melee options. The arsenal features an impressive variety with multiple weapons in each category—we encountered two distinct shotguns, two plasma rifles, and several other uniquely named ranged weapons. Each weapon category has at least two distinct options, each with their own quirks and potential applications. This diversity truly delivers on the promise that there are “many ways to skin a demon” in The Dark Ages.

The weapon upgrade system adds depth to the experience. Scattered throughout levels are shrines where players can enhance their arsenal using various collected resources. Some upgrades present mutually exclusive choices within the same tier, forcing meaningful decisions about combat style.

Some combat sequences provide genuine challenge, particularly against leader-type enemies. These formidable foes employ “morale shields” that require players to defeat either a specific number of minions or key enemies before the leader becomes vulnerable to damage.

The gameplay loop is relentless, with players constantly jumping from one intense fight to another with minimal downtime. This creates an exhilarating rhythm that keeps adrenaline pumping throughout the experience.

Puzzles, Exploration, and Vehicle Sequences

Combat isn’t the only focus of The Dark Ages. Our session revealed puzzle-solving dungeons that break up the action sequences. These puzzles often incorporate the shield mechanic, using it for clever jumping maneuvers and environment interactions.

The shield proves integral to the game’s puzzle elements as well. Many environmental challenges require creative use of your shield’s various functions to progress. These puzzle sections provide a welcome tempo change from the intense combat sequences while still feeling cohesive with the core gameplay mechanics.

The game encourages exploration with secrets scattered throughout levels, rewarding thorough players with additional resources and potential upgrades.

Our hands-on included brief but memorable vehicle segments that dramatically change the gameplay pace and scale. Piloting Atlan, a massive mech, proves exhilarating. While lacking guard capabilities, Atlan compensates with devastating charged punches and dash attacks. 

The dodge window is generously sized, and perfect dodges enable tremendous counter-damage. The experience becomes even more satisfying once the ranged weapon is acquired, adding distance attack capabilities to the mech’s arsenal.

The dragon-riding sequence, while visually impressive, felt less engaging than the Atlan segment. Success in dragon combat heavily depends on executing perfect dodges, with failed attempts resulting in minimal damage output. One interesting mechanic involves boarding hellships mid-flight, dismounting the dragon to personally eliminate enemies inside before continuing aerial combat.

Conclusion

Based on our 2.5-hour hands-on session with DOOM: The Dark Ages, the May 13th rrelease looks to deliver a worthy addition to the esteemed franchise. Available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC, the game successfully balances familiar DOOM intensity with fresh mechanics that meaningfully evolve the series’ formula.

The difficulty system promises unprecedented customization, allowing players to adjust multiple parameters including damage levels, enemy projectile speed, aggression, parry windows, and resource availability. This should make the game accessible to newcomers while still providing the challenge that series veterans crave.

The shield mechanics, varied combat approaches, and vehicle segments create a diverse gameplay experience that should satisfy both series veterans and newcomers. While some elements (particularly dragon combat) may need fine-tuning, the core gameplay loop delivers the satisfying demon-slaying action fans expect, wrapped in an intriguing prequel narrative that promises to shed light on the Doom Slayer’s origins.

If our limited hands-on time is any indication, DOOM: The Dark Ages likely has much more to offer than what we’ve experienced. The fact that we found ourselves thoroughly engaged with just a fraction of the full game speaks volumes about its potential. Even at this pre-release stage, the game delivers an impressive level of polish and enjoyment that bodes well for the final product.

When The Dark Ages releases in its complete form, it will almost certainly provide an even more robust and satisfying experience. The foundations are rock solid, with combat mechanics that feel both familiar and refreshingly new. If id Software can maintain this quality throughout the full campaign while expanding on the promising elements we’ve seen, DOOM fans have every reason to be excited about this medieval journey into the Slayer’s origins.

Check out our hands-on video below

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: id Software

Release Date TBC

Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox Series X|S

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the single-player, action FPS prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal. You are the DOOM Slayer, the legendary demon-killing warrior fighting endlessly against Hell. Experience the epic cinematic origin story of the DOOM Slayer's rage in 2025.

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