Doom: The Dark Agesis id Software’s latest project in the largely successful new era of the iconic shooter IP, with the game’s release on May 15 allowing fans to finally see what the project has to offer. From the very outset of the title’s announcement, it always seemed as ifThe Dark Ageshad something truly unique and memorable to offer to the franchise, with the game’s setting allowing its nature as a prequel to still offer a wide range of fresh gameplay and narrative experiences to the series.
The medieval imagery and inspiration withinDoom: The Dark Agesis quite unlike anything the mainline franchise has seen before, with id Software smartly using this basis to influence a variety of new combat and exploration mechanics that give the project a distinct identity and level of charm away from its predecessors. As many fans noted in the early gameplay footage for the title,The Dark Ages' setting has also lent itself to an expanded arsenal of fresh weapons at the Slayer’s disposal, with the Shield Saw standing out as one of the most useful and instantly iconic. With how integral the Shield Saw is toThe Dark Ages' combat, it seems like the weapon will surely appear in futureDoomprojects, even if not in the same capacity as its major role in the recent release.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Shield Saw Does Well to Compete with the Franchise’s Iconic Weaponry
TheShield Sawis introduced to players early on inDoom: The Dark Ages, and for good reason. It quickly becomes apparent that the Shield is one of the major ways that the player can take control of the expansive battle arenas of the title, with id Software stressing howThe Dark Ageshas some of the highest levels of enemy density that the franchise has ever seen. Using the Shield Saw’s ramming ability, players can target groups of enemies and lunge long distances into the thick of combat, complete with an explosion of power that can annihilate large groups ofDoom’s weaker demon types.
Conversely, the Shield also serves a traditional defensive purpose, being able to block damage during tense situations and even parry certain powerful attacks back at enemies, with the Shield Saw being the major component inThe Dark Ages' new parrying system. When upgraded to its saw form early on in the game’s story, the Shield can additionally be thrown in a deadly arc, stunning tankier enemies while ripping through the metallic shielding of certain pesky demons such as Shield Soldiers.
TheShield also has a wide range of potential upgradesthat can be worked towards inDoom: The Dark Ages, allowing the player to choose from a range of offensive or defensive pathways.
As if the wide utility of the Shield Saw was not enough to win over the hearts of players, it is essentially an ever-present part of the Slayer’s arsenal due to its nature as an off-hand weapon. The Shield Saw can be dual-wielded alongside the vast majority ofDoom: The Dark Ages' weapons, meaning players are constantly open to using the Shield to its full extent throughout most gameplay contexts.
Combination Weapons Like the Shield Saw Could Find a Consistent Place in Doom’s Future
This puts the Shield Saw in a unique position compared to most of the weaponry that players have become familiar with throughout the storiedhistory of theDoomfranchise, making the Shield a difficult piece of equipment to ignore for id Software going forward. While the series has, of course, proven that it has a winning formula without the presence of an off-hand weapon like the Shield Saw, it seems as if a future project would feel emptier without the presence of something that at least somewhat emulates the utility that the Shield Saw possesses.
The Shield Saw seems like a logical extension of past melee weapons likeDoom Eternal’s Crucible sword, with its improved ease of access and larger defensive capabilities opening up a world of combat opportunities for the franchise. While the IP should always strive to innovate on its formula and introduce fresh equipment, the most promising additions deserve to play a future role, and it is clear to see that the Shield Saw is more than deserving of this going forward.
