Doom: The Dark Agesis coming in hot, and it’s shaping up to be a worthy successor to 2020’s incredibleDoom Eternal. WhileThe Dark Agesstill follows the iconic Doom Slayeras he rips and tears his way through hordes of vicious demons, it’s setting itself apart from its predecessors in key ways, including a new and unique medieval setting.
Yes,Doom: The Dark Agesis a prequel, set centuries before the events of 2016’sDoom, which opens the door to fresh narrative opportunities. But while this setting promises to offer a distinct overall experience, it’s not the biggest shake-up Id Software has implemented:Doom: The Dark Ageshas been repeatedly described as a slower, more brutal take on the modernDoomformula, and this guiding principle has infiltrated every aspect of the Doom Slayer’s deadly tool kit. Much has been said about the likes of the Slayer’s new Shield Saw, which allows players to slice through enemies like an X-rated Captain America, but another change is garnering almost as much attention, and not all of it is positive.
Doom: The Dark Ages’ Glory Kill Changes Have Sparked Mixed Reactions
Glory Kills Are Less Cinematic In Doom: The Dark Ages
Glory Kills have been an essential part of modernDoomsince 2016, when they were introduced as an elegant and satisfying way to top up the player’s stores of ammo and HP. The mechanic has more or less been the backbone ofDoom’s aggression-centric gameplay, rewarding fearless violence and lending the combat loop a strong sense of momentum. Aside from mechanical function, Glory Kills also look and feel powerful, furthering the fantasy of the ruthless, superhuman Doom Slayer.
Now, many fans feel thatDoom: The Dark Ageshas taken the “Glory” out of Glory Kills. Rather than a juicy, gory animation paired with each Glory Kill,The Dark Ageshas assimilated the mechanic into the moment-to-moment gameplay. Players willuse one of Doom Slayer’s weapons, like the flail, to perform these kills, getting their ammo and health pickups this way rather than through the locked-in, mini-cutscene presentation featured in the previous two games. This is smoother, but it comes at the cost of flair and series-appropriate brutality, at least in the eyes of some fans.
Doom: The Dark Ages’ Reworked Glory Kills Facilitate a New Gameplay Loop
On the other side of this debate are proponents of the new Glory Kill mechanic, who argue that it’s a smoother, more flexible, and more interactive spin on the original system, retaining its most important qualities. And while many would agree that the original Glory Kill animations are satisfying and elevate the game’s power fantasy, there’s also a case to be made that they get a bit old after a while. After all, while there area handful of animationsfor each enemy type, and unique animations for new and elite enemies, they are finite by nature. After so many hours of the same visual content, Glory Kills can definitely lose a bit of their luster.
Moreover, Glory Kills can make the flow of combat choppy, as players essentially have to stop playing the game for a few seconds each time they initiate one. This is another element of the system that isn’t much of an issue at first, but gets old over time. With the new Glory Kill system,Doom: The Dark Agescan strike the same balanceof risk and reward, but without pausing the action. Hopefully, this will contribute toDoom: The Dark Agesfeeling less sporadic than its predecessors, while also granting players flexibility by altering the scripted, on-rails nature of Glory Kills inDoomandDoom Eternal.
WHERE TO PLAY
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELLDOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.REIGN IN HELLAs the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.STAND AND FIGHTExperience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMSIn his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id’s largest and most expansive levels to date.
