DOOM: The Dark Ages - Early Reviews Point to a Fiery Return
Five years in development, the Doom Slayer is back in DOOM: The Dark Ages, and by the looks of early reviews, he's returning with a bang and a blaze. Review embargos have been lifted, and gaming mags are printing their in-depth impressions of this highly anticipated sequel.
Overwhelmingly Positive Response, Core Combat Praised
Overall, the response is overwhelmingly positive. The crux of what makes DOOM, well, DOOM – the manic, gut-thumping combat – has seemingly hit its target with even the harshest critics. It seems the game does deliver that classic adrenaline fix fans crave. That being said, it is not all warm and fuzzy. Some of the new gameplay and set-piece moments have stirred up some controversy.
New Gameplay Features: A Mixed Bag
While the addition of more close-quarters combat options has generally been embraced, or at least seen as a natural evolution, other new features have fared less well. Most notably, sequences of dragon riding and mech piloting have disappointed many critics, often being reported as feeling awkward or simply not quite up to the standard of the rest of the shooting.
High Scores Despite Criticisms
Even with these criticisms, the shooter has been able to achieve high scores, coming in at about 84 on Metacritic and 86 on OpenCritic. This indicates that although not perfect, the game's positives are strong enough to push through.
A Glimpse of What Reviewers Are Saying:
"DOOM: The Dark Ages distills the very essence of AAA gaming at its best. It's a game where memorable moments and jaw-dropping visuals are seamlessly woven into each stunningly crafted level, elevating slickly honed gameplay even further. [.] The DOOM classic has been reimagined and melted into a techno-medieval slaughter, as our legendary warrior cuts a path through devilish hordes, raising the entire series to a whole new level."
"By the series' own high standards, DOOM: The Dark Ages is an adequate addition. The new shield system introduces some intriguing tactical possibilities, though I wasn't entirely sold on the changes to the combat rhythm, which played out a little more deliberately than I'm used to. The absence of Executions variety and the soundtrack were also small let-downs. However, if you're a die-hard fan, [The Dark Ages] is going to be right up your street."
"This latest reimagining of the first-person shooter' s forebear, while maybe not so involved or demanding as DOOM Eternal, is a worthy sequel to the excellent original."
"The strongest point of DOOM: The Dark Ages is its phenomenal combat system. The combat itself is some of the finest we've ever seen. But in attempt to improve on the winning formula, id Software failed to meet the high standards set by DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal."
Release Details
Remember, DOOM: The Dark Ages is set to bring hell on May 13th. This giant of a shooter will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. It seems that fans have a lot to look forward to, though there are some new concepts that might not appeal to all.
