New Gameplay Details Revealed for Doom: The Dark Ages

Doom: The Dark Ages – A Medieval Twist on Classic Gameplay

EDGE magazine recently unveiled new details about Doom: The Dark Ages, promising a significant shift in the franchise's established formula. This iteration prioritizes narrative, boasting the largest levels in the series' history, creating a more sandbox-like experience.

Game director Hugo Martin and studio head Marty Stratton highlighted key changes: Unlike previous entries where lore was largely relegated to text logs, The Dark Ages will feature a more direct storytelling approach. The game's aesthetic will embrace a medieval theme, minimizing futuristic elements. Even the iconic weaponry will undergo a design overhaul to maintain thematic consistency.

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While maintaining the series' signature level-based structure, Doom: The Dark Ages introduces significantly larger environments. Gameplay will seamlessly blend dungeon crawling with open-world exploration. The game's chapters are structured into "acts," progressing from confined dungeons to expansive areas. Adding further variety, players will gain control of both a dragon and a mech.

A revolutionary addition to the Slayer's arsenal is a dual-purpose shield and chainsaw. This versatile tool can be thrown at enemies, exhibiting unique interactions depending on the target (flesh, armor, energy shields, etc.). The shield also facilitates a dash attack for rapid maneuvering and incorporates a parry mechanic with adjustable difficulty settings and precise timing windows.

The absence of double jumps and roars from previous games means this shield will be pivotal for battlefield mobility. Parrying serves as a "reload" for melee attacks, while successful melee combat replenishes ammunition for ranged weapons, echoing the chainsaw mechanic in DOOM Eternal. Melee options include a fast gauntlet, a balanced shield, and a slower mace.