Fans are finally getting their hands on the latest portrayal of demon-slaying action with the recently releasedDoom: The Dark Ages, and the title is living up to its pre-release expectations of being a truly unique entry to the longstanding franchise. Through the game finally shining a light on one of the most mysterious parts of the series' wider timeline and leaning heavily into medieval themes,The Dark Agesexplores a truly unique aspect ofDoomwhile still working around the IP’s modern successful formula.
While ambitious in terms of how they deviate from previous games, the stark gameplay changes ofDoom: The Dark Ageshave been received quite well by fans, with distinct identities clearly being present betweenDoom(2016),Doom Eternal, and it. Many of the changes to things like combat and exploration have been welcomed by players, but the game’s soundtrack was seemingly doomed to be the source of a lot of scrutiny. Of course,The Dark Ages' soundtrack still does very well to capture the major expectations of a franchise where music has always been so important, yet it is hard to escape the lingering shadow of how Mick Gordon left the franchise.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Stellar Soundtrack is Inherently Tied to Past Controversies
id Software had a huge task ahead of itself with the soft-reboot of theDoomfranchise in 2016, with the studio having to move away from the far-too-different gameplay of 2004’sDoom 3while modernizing the chaotic and high-octane feel of the series' earliest roots.2016’sDoomdid extremely well to stamp the franchise back on the mapin terms of giving players something to look forward to, with 2020’sDoom Eternaldoing a very respectable job at continuing this.
While the core themes and gameplay of both of these titles played a huge role in their respective levels of success, both projects were undoubtedly given a massive boost by composer Mick Gordon, who quickly became a fan-favorite figure thanks to his award-winning work on the soundtracks forDoomandDoom Eternal. The majorsuccess that Gordon found following 2016’sDoommade his involvement in the game’s successor a no-brainer, yet the troubled development ofDoom Eternalled to some major internal conflicts in relation to the game’s soundtrack that spilled over into the public eye.
Following the game’s release, Mick Gordon took to social media to tell his side of the story following public comments from Marty Stratton, an Executive Producer at id Software.Gordon alleged that the soundtrack forDoomEternalwas rusheddue to shifting deadlines and poor communication, additionally citing a culture of abusive behavior as well as significant amounts of unpaid work. This back-and-forth left a very noticeable stain onDoom Eternal’s reputation, with it quickly becoming clear that Mick Gordon and id Software’s working relationship had sadly come to an end.
In his statement, Mick Gordon alleged that id Software had only paid him for half of his work that was used forDoom Eternal’s soundtrack, only adding to the wild controversy that surrounded the game.
Doom Eternal’s Soundtrack Controversies Are Unlikely to Go Away Any Time Soon
This placed another layer of unwanted attention onDoom: The Dark Agesin terms of how id Software would handle the game’s soundtrack, with it quickly becoming clear that Finishing Move would be composing for the title. Finishing Move is a music production team that has previously worked onwell-received soundtracks for games likeBorderlands 3andHalo Wars 2, with the group doing a great job at stepping up and delivering on such a daunting creative process.
Many fans have praised Finishing Move’s take onDoommusic withThe Dark Ages' soundtrack, yet the way in which Mick Gordon left his composer role following such memorable work is hard to overlook for many players. It always seemed as if thepublic fallout between Mick Gordon and Marty Strattonmight leave some lasting stigma around the otherwise beloved new era ofDoom, and it is safe to say that this has sadly spilled over to the recentDark Ages.
