In my final session with The Dark Ages demo, something truly unexpected unfolded. The moment I stepped into the open sandbox zone crafted by id, I felt a refreshing departure from anything I had experienced in a DOOM game before. My mission was straightforward: close five demonic portals. However, the way I tackled this task, along with the paths I chose to explore, was entirely my call. Over an intense hour, I repeatedly marveled at the unique twist this game took on the traditional DOOM experience.
The sandbox environment brims with enticing side tasks—massive artillery positions to dismantle, secret stashes of gold ripe for enhancing my arsenal, and much more. There was a moment when I was just making my way along when, out of nowhere, a mammoth tentacle exploded from the ground to launch an attack. This wasn’t a planned event or even part of a mission; rather, it was just one of those thrilling surprises lurking on my journey.
Yet, even the main objectives came with their own share of twists. The initial mission involved closing portals by wiping out enemies, but now, each portal brought its own unique challenge. Some whisked me away to dungeons, prompting me to solve intricate puzzles to locate the energy sources powering them. Others threw formidable Leader enemies into the fray—beasts so powerful they were immune to my attacks until I took out enough of their minions. Victory here didn’t just mean a cleared path; it meant gaining lasting upgrades, not to mention discovering new weaponry to diversify my combat options. The game felt like a nonstop cascade of innovation, suggesting that id had been eagerly awaiting the chance to infuse new ideas into the DOOM form.
The most vital insight from my deep dive with DOOM: The Dark Ages is this: it feels like a project crafted by developers overflowing with excitement. It’s clear they’re driven not only by a passion for DOOM itself but also for what DOOM can evolve into. I was ready for a narrative twist, a few new weapons, and fresh demonic foes. What caught me off guard was the leap into new genres. I am incredibly eager to see what other surprises this creative team has lined up.
Mark your calendars, as DOOM: The Dark Ages is set to launch on May 15, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PC (through the Xbox app for Windows, Steam, and Battle.net), PlayStation 5, and the cloud. Plus, it’s hitting Game Pass right from day one.
