Last June, Bethesda left a mark at the Xbox Showcase 2024 with the announcement of a new Doom, a far cry from the series’ usual ambience, a world away from previous entries such as Doom 2016 and 2020’s Doom Eternal. This time, Id Software’s developers have opted for a bold turn, filling the universe of the famous fast-FPS with dark fantasy.
A risky choice, to be sure, but far from surprising when you consider the series’ ability to evolve. Doom has mutated on numerous occasions to keep pace with gamers’ expectations and avoid obsolescence. Where the franchise has succeeded in reinventing itself, other pillars of the genre, such as Quake, have not had the same success.
Doom, a saga with a thousand and one facets
After revolutionizing the shooter genre in 1993 with a groundbreaking first opus, then confirming its leadership in 1994 with a second title, the universe imagined by John Romero and John Carmack has made the right choices to endure. Not without its share of critics, but always proving that it knew what it was doing to move the saga forward.
It’s impossible not to mention Doom 3, released in 2004, which took the risk of radically changing the gameplay: farewell to twitchy movement and fun-filled confrontations, say hello to a heavier, darker atmosphere, all without a good story to support it. With this third opus, Id Software chose to set the scene, build the atmosphere and branch out into the survival-horror genre.
So, yes, action scenes were never far away, but the developers didn’t hesitate to plunge the player into darkness, leaving him disoriented in the face of a threat that could emerge at any moment.
But for long-time fans, this change had the effect of a small earthquake. Some adhered to this bold proposal, while others remained totally resistant to it, regretting the disappearance of their frenetic outlet born a decade earlier.
A long silence followed: more than ten years without any news from the Doom Guy. It wasn’t until 2016 that Id Software and Bethesda Softworks signed a reboot of the license, soberly called Doom.
With this new version, the developers seek to reconnect with the very essence of the saga, all while breathing new life into this legendary fast-FPS. The gameplay is stronger than ever, the soundtrack is punchy, the graphics are in keeping with the standards of the time, and the verticality is much more pronounced than before.
And the mad lads did it again. So much so, that in 2020, they’re went one step further with Doom Eternal. Admittedly, the surprise effect is no longer there, and the title doesn’t have the same impact as the 2016 reboot, but Id Software once again delivers a solid experience.
Doom Eternal retains its twitchy, frenetic gameplay, and even attempts to introduce a few novelties, such as platforming phases where the player has to climb and jump from one point to another, breaking with the very grounded feel of Doom Guy of yesteryear.
Doom: The Dark Ages, a tempting new proposition
So you can see why Doom: The Dark Ages seems to be taking the same approach: breathing new life into an old license, taking a few risks all while respecting its original essence.
We’re back to lively, ultra-violent confrontations with various monsters from the underworld, while adding a few unusual mechanics for the license, such as the ability to parry with a shield and deflect opposing attacks.
There are phases aboard giant robots or even on the back of a dragon, further immersing us in this very fantasy universe. Finally, where the teams in charge of the project are taking a real risk is in proposing a more open world, less linear than what Doom has accustomed us to.
Of course, we’ll have to wait and see if this proposal is this is as well done as before, and if the scenery, admittedly larger, doesn’t end up feeling devoid of life and even useless. So far, the series has risen from the ashes time and time again, offering quality games. Let’s hope that id Software and Bethesda keep up the momentum with this new one.
Doom: The Dark Ages will land on Xbox Series X/S, PC and even PlayStation 5 on May 15, 2025, and will also be available in the Game Pass catalog upon release.
Don’t hesitate to share your expectations – and perhaps even your apprehensions – about this title with us in the comments!
