The recent release ofDoom: The Dark Agesis shaping up to be a well-received entry in the iconic and massively successful franchise, with the prequel to 2016’sDoomportraying a fascinating era for the series' overall timeline. Of course, players once again find themselves in control of the relentless Doom Slayer, this time during the bloody and chaotic war between the people of Argent D’Nur and the invading armies of Hell.
With the archaic world and culture of Argent D’Nur being at the core ofDoom: The Dark Ages, the game features an eye-catching blend of Medieval and science-fiction themes, giving way to a unique aesthetic that really makes the game pop compared to some of its predecessors. A lot of the classic weapons and demons of theDoomfranchise possess some clear thematic differences compared to their previous forms, with id Software introducing a lot of new period-appropriate weapons and enemies that players can find throughoutThe Dark Ageson top of this. While the prequel setting ofThe Dark Agescan be quite limiting, some of the title’s fresh content perfectly utilizes this aspect of the project, with the Agaddon Hunter being directly linked to the memorable Doom Hunter demons of 2020’sDoom Eternal.
Doom: The Dark Ages' Agaddon Hunter Holds a Fascinating Place in the Franchise’s Lore
Aside from the classic roster ofDoomdemons such as Imps, Cacodemons, Arachnotrons, and Mancubi that appear inThe Dark Ages, some of the fresh enemy additions really stamp a mark on the title. The likes of the reptilian Komodo, the more brutish Imp Stalkers, and the colossal Cyclops Titans really make the world ofThe Dark Agesfeel more alive, yet the Agaddon Hunter already has an established place in the widerDoomlore.
The Agaddon Hunter appears as a Champion boss fight inThe Dark Ages, being one of the game’s more imposing combat encounters, with the Agaddon Hunters being integral fighters within the legions of Hell. As horned warriors of immense strength, the Agaddon Hunters owe their origins to a mysterious far-off realm, being pulled into the servitude of Hell much in the same waythe Slayer found himself allied to the Night Sentinels of Argent D’Nur.
Argent D’Nur appeared quite extensively throughoutDoom Eternal’s story, yetThe Dark Agesportrays the world during its most pivotal and consequential conflict.
Crucially, the Agaddon Hunters were corrupted by Hell to match the combat presence and ferocity of the Night Sentinels, andeven the Slayer himself, with the Hunters standing as one of the most threatening forces that Hell unleashed during the war for Argent D’Nur. Players see the Agaddon Hunters in their earliest form within theDark Ages, although they first appeared in the franchise as the iconic Doom Hunter enemies of 2020’sDoom Eternal.
The Legacy of Eternal’s Doom Hunters Deserves to be Expanded in The Dark Ages
With many Agaddon Hunters falling in battle across many realms and planets during their allegiance to Hell, thedemon-worshiping cultists ofDoom Eternal’s narrativeexcavated Agaddon remains on Earth itself, quickly reanimating these ancient corpses for renewed use. In trueDoomfashion, the cultists augmented the corpses of the Agaddon Hunters with cybernetic improvements, including grafted cannons and saws, a glowing red eye-piece, and tank-like tracks replacing the demon’s legs.
Much like their original purpose, the Agaddon Hunters' renewed role as Doom Hunters was centered entirely around defeating the Slayer, with players encountering several of them throughout the events ofDoom Eternal. Seeing these memorable enemies in their original, largely unaltered forms offers a fantastic call-back that further contextualizesthe Doom Hunters ofEternal, with the Agaddon Hunter being a prime example of the narrative qualities thatThe Dark Ages' nature as a prequel provides the franchise.
