It’s impossible to talk about id Software’s Doom: The Dark Ages without tipping one’s hat to the 2016 reboot that redefined the series. That game reintroduced the Doom Slayer as an absurd, unflinching juggernaut—bursting from a sarcophagus, tearing zombies limb from limb in a scientific lab overrun by Satan, with a security monitor to the side flashing “Demonic Invasion in Progress,” hilariously implying that this happens on the regular. The game blended satirical bravado with breakneck, fluid combat across its engaging narrative.
By contrast, 2020’s Doom Eternal stacked an unnecessary mechanical complexity upon the foundation set up by the reboot’s robust and open combat system. Where Doom was empowering and accessible, Eternal was rigid and demanding. Worse, the new writers brought onboard decided that Doom’s preposterous mythology was to be taken seriously, and as such Doom Eternal lost the self-awareness that made the 2016 game such a breath of fresh air.
Set before the reboot and its sequel, The Dark Ages finds the Slayer under the control of the Maykrs, angelic types who are at war with the forces of hell, deployed in combat against the demons for the side of humanity. Consistent with the game’s techno-medieval approach, the Slayer now sports a viking-themed fur coat on top of his space marine outfit (a look that’s admittedly pretty funny) and wields a circular saw shield that block attacks.
It might seem like a nonsensical notion to have this human tank utilize a shield, but its primary function is offensive: to be thrown at enemies as a buzzsaw, used as a battering ram to charge across long distances, and to parry incoming attacks. The Shield Saw and its parry system are among the few positive additions to the series that The Dark Ages brings to the table. Throughout the game’s campaign, the player must not only evade enemy fire but pay attention to visual cues that indicate when attacks can be deflected back, adding an extra dimension to the fast and furious gunfights that take up most of the runtime.
Other additions to the Doom formula are significantly less successful. Mech battles devolve into quick-time fisticuffs with giant demons. Dragon-riding sequences, in what plays like some kind of insipid rhythm game, force the player to lock onto turrets and then dodge their projectiles in order to return fire. Vehicle sections in first-person shooters should be about empowering the player to maximize their destruction, but in The Dark Ages, these segments suffer from uninspired gameplay that more closely resembles that of Punch-Out!! than Titanfall.
This lack of imagination seeps into the missions. During one chapter, the Slayer is tasked with bringing down three enormous demonic cannons in what should have been massive and satisfying explosions; instead, upon defeat, each cannon flops to the ground like a flaccid penis. If this weren’t bad enough, immediately afterward, the Slayer is sent back to home base for a debrief in what amounts to this game’s version of an office meeting. Look at the cover art for The Dark Ages and see if you can imagine the huge space marine with the demon buzzsaw as the kind of guy who attends work functions. Folks, it just doesn’t make a lick of sense.
What frustrates most about The Dark Ages is that there are compelling ideas interspersed with those that flounder. Certain enemies carry shields that specific guns can overheat and detonate, obliterating whole ranks in a cathedral-shaking blast. Spotting an orange-hot shield is a goal of firefights, mixing mobility with tactical nuance. Such features combine both the hilarious excess of Doom with a very capable and recognizable set of mechanics that empower the player, and later become a necessity as the game presents overwhelming hordes of enemies.
Alas, those enemies are drab, pale-skinned eyesores with a bunch of ugly cybernetic crap bolted on them. It’s nothing short of a missed opportunity that the game has failed to provide inventive progenitors of the series’ iconic bestiary. The gory, excessive glory kills that delighted across the previous two games are neutered here; for one, it’s discombobulating to beat down a particularly large enemy, then hit the execution button in order to just kick them in the head. And the soundtrack is a solemn, monotonous affair that occasionally isn’t even heard in combat. At its best, Doom as a series has played like being inside an exuberantly violent heavy-metal music video, so to have parts of this game go unscored borders on criminal.
All of this does make the moments where The Dark Ages rises to the occasion stand out. One highlight is the BFG weapon being reimagined as an oversized medieval crossbow—the BFC, of course—that deals similarly hilarious nuclear-scale destruction as its futuristic counterpart. More of this kind of nonsense would have been welcome. As it stands, what might have been a return to form is instead merely a competent shooter with occasional highs and frustrating lows.
This game was reviewed with access to a pre-existing, now cancelled Game Pass subscription. Slant Magazine stands in solidarity with the BDS boycott of Microsoft gaming products.
Since 2001, we've brought you uncompromising, candid takes on the world of film, music, television, video games, theater, and more. Independently owned and operated publications like Slant have been hit hard in recent years, but we’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or fees.
If you like what we do, please consider subscribing to our Patreon or making a donation.
“This game was reviewed with access to a pre-existing, now cancelled Game Pass subscription. Slant Magazine stands in solidarity with the BDS boycott of Microsoft gaming products.”
What is this all about? Why are you boycotting Microsoft’s games?
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement boycotts companies that support Israel.
I, too, support mass rape and torture as a form of resistance and completely renounce disgusting Jewish deterrence, hostage retrieval and self-defense. good on you
Wasn’t this published in Rolling Stone as well?
So ridiculous
Wow, did you just miss the whole freaking point of the story line. The 2016 Doom IS NOT a reboot like everyone says. It’s actually a continuation of the series after Final Doom. Upon destroying the Icon of Sin, the Doom guy is sent through a portal landing in a parallel universe and into the hands of the Mykers who saw that he killed of the demons in our universe to decided to use him as a weapon against Hell in their universe. After the events of Doom: The Dark Ages and it’s squeal(s), since the Mykers. Had embued him with the power to continue to fight and never need food, drink, sleep or rest, the demons had no choice but to trap him since they couldn’t kill him, hence that’s when Doom 2016 starts. I think Carmack said it was like 1000 years he was sealed.
Mykers? Squeals? huh??
It actually take place after doom 64
the only thud is your review
Oh look, another Bethesda apologist who thinks thry can do no wrong
Boots still tasty for now?
so having the correct opinion makes someone a boot licker, then I might as well start eating my steel toes
The minority opinion is rarely the “correct” one…
bethesda didn’t make this game bud, so I don’t know what your talking about.
They merely published it which is totally different, also nobody is an apologist for bethesda so why are you acting like its still 2018 w that shit.
“Slant Magazine stands in solidarity with the BDS boycott of Microsoft gaming products”
LOL What a joke 😂
sure, reviews are subjective, but this one objectively got it wrong. Better luck next time.
I’m sorry but this review was terrible. This editor clearly doesn’t know what a quick time battle is if you thought the mech battles were and nothing about the dragon sequences played like a rhythm game. I can go on but every point of this review was just bad.
Entitled to your opinion, as wrong as it may be.
This guy got it so wrong.
I wasn’t going to getting this because Mick Gordon wasn’t involved in the soundtrack and that choice seems very validated
same
Engagement bait from an incompetent reviewer, I’m sorry I’m falling for it.
Doom Eternal is by far my favorite. This review is a little to catty and overly critical for my taste. Like, prickish. Doom: Dark Ages does fall short in a couple areas though. The demons don’t seem to be as visually stimulating as usual for a Doom game. There were parts where the destruction could have been more impactful. I dont hate it but I don’t love it either.
lol this dude is a fucking clown. relax terrorist supporter, no one cares about your boycott.
More and more people are becoming aware of the genocide that’s happening thanks to BDS. Children are being slaughtered by the thousands to steal land.
The game’s fun, but the dragon parts really suck, kinda like a dumbed down Doom guitar hero LOL! :D
This is a bad review. The scope through which this article is written is incredibly biased and inaccurate. The game is a lot of fun, someone just didn’t want to give it a chance.
Hate to say it but I totally agree with this. Granted I’m only a few hours in but it already feels like quite a flop. The mechanics are less fun, the turrets and mechs are incredibly unsatisfying, and the fact that the franchise has started taking the story seriously feels so tone-deaf and a move towards a generic ass experience. Good review
I mean, I don’t think it’s a terrible game, but the demons don’t vary very much , and it becomes tedious fighting the same ones over and over again. but I don’t think it’s a terrible game
I 100% agree with your analysis…Doom 2016 was a homerun and perfect homage to gameplay and graphics and horror and story…the last two were such mediocre dorks.
Bad review, dude, did you even play the games? The whole article was cringe. Try again.
You are so dramatic. I disagree with this review. Looks like all you’re good at is complaining.
Apparently the missing music is a bug that they’re fixing, but as it stands I agree that the music is underwhelming. Hopefully that changes with a fix. Also agree that the flight and mech sections are a tad dull. But the combat in Doom has never felt this dynamic and powerful, and you didnt even mention the incredible environments. Calling the Slayer’s fur cape goofy is objectively incorrect.
Overall, I like the game. However, the dragon-riding segments are by far the worst part of the game. If they were left out completely, the game would be better for it.
I agree, I’ve not gotten too far yet, but I’m already underwhelmed. I nearly 100%’d Doom 2016, loved it, but I felt the same way you did about Eternal and now Dark Ages. I’m going to keep playing, but it really doesn’t hit the same, and is disappointing for the price.
I noticed the political comment at the end of your review and want to thank you for that. It gives a new light to the rest of your review, as in, it was obviously tainted and dishonest, with ulterior objectives.
Also, I’m boycotting your website, it supports terrorists. VICTORY TO ISRAEL!
**** isreal puppet state of the us. genocidal maniacs
Terrible review. This “dude” uses pronouns on his X account so I’m not surprised.
Hey maybe wanna learn the lore before a review cause they’re demons not zombies, Doom 2016 is not a reboot and adds to the story of the previous games, and Doom, Eternal, and Dark ages are all 10/10 games with some of the coolest story telling I’ve seen in a while. Doom Slayer also is a canonical nerd who would absolutely attend a meeting especially if it helps him do his task to rip demons apart, and if you had actually payed attention glory kills are still quite abundant in The Dark Ages and just not used for every minor imp and weakling. So how about you become gamers before game reviewers.
Thank you. TBH I 100% Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal last year so the experience was still fresh on my mind playing Doom The Dark Ages and I had more fun playing The Dark Ages, which I also 100%. Contrary to popular opinion though, I didnt hate the Dragon sequences. I enjoyed chasing the hell ships and finding landing all the landing zones that would have a segment of fighting within each one.
This review is hilariously bad. You lost all credit when you mentioned boycotting Microsoft products. You were already biased before you reviewed the game, what an absolute joke.
One of the worst reviews I have ever read genuinely. This is why game journalists get laughed at by actual gamers. Thinking Doom Eternal is too hard and complicated is laughable.
Typical moronish review wrote by 18 years old anime boy (look at Twitter) that using pronouncs :)
lol you’re so butthurt. run to the defense of your favorite game dork. you need to touch some grass dildo
This game is great . Your review is trash.
This game is dogshit
well that was a joke… right? This is a very fine example of crappy gaming journalist.
So many angry Bethesda fan boys here, eager to defend that which they themselves have not already played.
Notice how your whiny defense contains no substance, so you lash out at unrelated aspects about the writer?
It’s going to be hilarious to see your childish rage parrot the other tune when popular opinion shifts against the game after realizing it’s a diluted Doom wannabe
You humor me greatly with your arrogance and contempt, a flood of accusations born from the poison of envy and smite of disrespect.
Fully agree. The game had so much promise, but ultimately fell short. The charm of previous installments just wasnt there. It didn’t feel like a labor of love anymore. While prior Doom games oozed personality, this just felt so corporate and stale. Especially with level design. Pretty though they might have been, the arenas were flat, repetitive and sadly, completely uninspired.
Imagine living in a world where someone gives Doom The Dark Ages a bad review because they support terrorism. Unbelievable.
The guys dropping the bombs on kids are terrorists, not the other way around.
What a surprise, a game journalist is bad at a game and blames the game for it. Doom 2016 was their favorite because it coddled them the most out of these newer entries.
Yeah not a great review. Saying that you don’t like to “pay attention to the visual cues” just means the game was too hard for you. Difficulty does not translate to quality. I bet you would rate Dark souls a “thud” too. Go review easy games if you can’t handle it.
I got early access to the game and I was PUMPED!!! However, I’m only a few chapters in and I am VERY disappointed. I haven’t played any of the original games, I did play the 2016 one and DOOM ETERNAL. That’s where my love for the franchise started. Number one, I don’t care about the lore, I’m here for the gore, glory kills, heavy metal music, and the badass aura the Slayer gives off. The music in Dark Ages is UNDERWHELMING AND SO ARE THE GLORY KILLS. I am really hoping that I turn out to love the game by the end, first impressions, not impressed at all. So I agree to disagree (simply for the fact that I haven’t finished the game) with this review.
Wasn’t this posted in Rolling Stone as well?
Was thinking about subscribing to your magazine until I saw the woke virtue signal at the end about standing with BDS. Disgusting.
Oh look, a dude that enjoys and supports watching genocide. There is absolutely nothing you can say to justify what Israel has done for the last two years and you’re a monster if you even try. Zionists are literal cancer on earth and need to spend some time in space without a suit or helmet.
Another terrible example of “journalism” by someone who has no real idea about what gamers want or love.
They weren’t entirely wrong.
This game is just plain awful.
I’ve played both Doom 2016 and & Eternal on ultra-nightmare and had a blast getting my ass handed to me.
This title is so bland and boring. Nothing in it felt good and everything could be cheesed with a simple shield throw. I really wasted 8 hours of my life with this awful game