Doom: The Dark Ages Review: Hell Goes Medieval and It Slaps
- NFD NEWS
- May 22
- 2 min read
After the pulse-pounding, sci-fi chaos of Doom Eternal, id Software shifts gears—and centuries—with Doom: The Dark Ages, an armor-plated, demon-slaying trip through a medieval hellscape. The result? A bold, brutal reimagining that doesn’t reinvent the Slayer formula, but absolutely drenches it in blood-soaked style.
⚔️ Gameplay: Still Fast, Still Furious
Combat in The Dark Ages remains true to the series' identity: lightning-fast, rhythm-based, and savagely satisfying. But instead of plasma rifles and BFGs, you're wielding spiked flails, armored gauntlets, and a shieldsaw (yes, a literal chainsaw on a shield). The addition of melee-focused weapons blends surprisingly well with the iconic gunplay, turning every arena into a ballet of blades and bullets.
Enemy design takes a dark turn—grotesque, medieval versions of classic demons haunt catacombs and blood-soaked chapels, each requiring unique tactics to bring down. It's still Doom, but with a grittier, more grounded edge.
🏰 Setting & Atmosphere: A Metal Album Come to Life
This isn’t Mars. This is Mordor-meets-Hell—gothic castles, burning villages, cursed woodlands, and the kind of sky you'd see in an Iron Maiden cover art. The visual direction is jaw-dropping. Everything feels ancient, decayed, and hostile. The environmental storytelling does heavy lifting, with war-torn scrolls, murals, and ghostly echoes fleshing out a surprisingly deep lore.
The soundtrack? Absolute fire. Mick Gordon may be gone, but the replacement team delivers a thunderous, medieval-metal fusion that fits the tone like spiked armor.
🧠 Story: Surprisingly Human
While narrative has never been Doom’s main selling point, The Dark Ages adds more character depth than expected. We get glimpses into the Slayer’s origins—his oaths, his losses, his transformation. It doesn’t drag things down, but it adds context that enriches the carnage. Think more God of War than Halo Infinite—it’s there, but it knows its place.
🧱 Shortcomings: When Grit Gets in the Way
While the new medieval setting is a triumph, it occasionally hampers gameplay variety. Some levels feel too similar—stone corridors and crypts blur together by hour six. Also, the lack of sci-fi gadgets means fewer mobility options, making traversal less exhilarating than Eternal.
Multiplayer is limited to arena duels and PvE challenge modes. It’s fun, but not as expansive or essential as it could be.
✅ Final Verdict
Doom: The Dark Ages is a savage, stylish reinvention that proves Doom can still evolve without losing its soul. It’s less about speed-running across neon Mars bases and more about wading through a medieval apocalypse with a holy chainsaw, and honestly? That works.
It’s not flawless—but it’s loud, mean, and metal as hell.
Score: 8/10
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