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The Review Geek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Doom: The Dark Ages (2025) Game Review
This new instalment in the long-running FPS franchise has a medieval slant, but despite the 'Dark Ages' setting, it's still the game you know and presumably love. There are still hordes of demons to kill, with an increasingly powerful set of weapons, and the music score is as adrenaline-pumping as ever, to enhance your excitement as you blast monsters into oblivion. The game is a prequel to the last two entries in the series, with a dark, occasionally complicated narrative that leads into the events of the 2016 reboot. Of course, you don't come to a Doom game for a plotline. For the most part, it's very forgettable – a lot of mumbo jumbo about the DoomSlayer being humanity's last hope against the forces of Hell – and a lot of it has been echoed before in previous games in the series. The bolted-on narrative adds some meaning to the run-and-gun gameplay, but whenever a cutscene appears to explain away the plot, you'll probably be itching to hit the skip button, so as to get back into the thick of the very bloody action. And if it's action you want, it's action you'll get, as you battle the hordes of darkness like a medieval badass. Movement is more weighty this time around, so you're not quite as nimble as before (which isn't to say you're particularly slow), but you do have a handy shield that you can fling around the battleground and lay waste to multiple enemies before they swarm to your locale. You also have the ability to shield charge, so even though the Doomslayer is not quite as athletic as he used to be (there is no option to dash or double jump), you can still whiz across the landscape by targeting and jumping to an enemy with your shield. This makes moving around the battleground a lot faster, useful when you're feeling outnumbered, so your chances of survival are increased dramatically. Of course, it's mainly your weapons that do much to boost your survivability. Early on in the game, you're armed with a combat shotgun, the Shredder (the Doom-verse's equivalent of a machine gun), and the Power Gauntlet, a melee weapon that packs a mighty punch. Later on in the game, you're rewarded with more powerful weapons, such as the Accelerator, a pulverising plasma gun that can rip apart the enemies' shields, and the Ballistic Force Crossbow, a limited ammo weapon which is especially useful at taking down the game's bosses. You also get a couple of new melee weapons, including the Flail, a slow but powerful chain weapon that befits the medieval setting, as well as an upgrade to the shield – the Shield Saw – that sticks into and momentarily stuns the enemies, thus boosting your offensive potential. In short, the game lets you be the badass you always want to be in a Doom game as you use your beefed-up armoury to wipe out Hell's minions. Some of these monsters are easier to defeat than others – you should have little trouble ripping apart the slow-walking Zombies and weak-assed Imps. But more of a challenge are the Riders – annoying archers who take pot shots at you while riding giant reptiles – and the Titans, gargantuan beasts that can only be taken down with certain types of weaponry. There are 39 enemy types in total, some of which you'll have seen in other Doom games, and new additions to the franchise that match the medieval setting. So, it's pretty much business as usual for a Doom game then. However, there are a couple of new gameplay additions that will likely prove divisive. The first of these sees you ride on the back of a dragon at various points during the game. Movement via this winged beast is smooth and slick, so you'll have little trouble flying around the corrupted landscape. However, you're required to use this flying lizard to take down building turrets and shields, which can be a little fiddly due to the need to build up a meter by dodging gunfire (easier said than done) before you're allowed to destroy the hellscape's defences. The other new addition is a giant piece of mechanised armour that allows you to tower over the environment and smash your way through obstacles and the minions of Hell below. Unfortunately, this isn't as much fun as it sounds, and like the dragon riding, it proves as a needless distraction to the demon-pulverising at ground level. I can understand id Software's decision to modify the traditional Doom formula – some people will appreciate the variety in gameplay – but franchise purists might get annoyed by these diversions. Despite the occasional change to formula, Doom: The Dark Ages still hearkens back to the franchise's roots. You're still required to find keys to enter previously impassable areas (and find optional secrets) within the game's expansive map, and you're often confined to specific areas until you destroy the hellspawn that litters each battleground. Fans of the franchise will welcome the familiarity, though newcomers to the series might be frustrated at the game's old-school feel and lack of depth in the puzzle department. Doom: The Dark Ages is a fun game with super-smooth combat and a wide variety of graphically impressive environments from which to unleash all manner of glorious kills on the demonic enemies. New variations to the gameplay will please some while irking others, but for the most part, this is still a traditional Doom game at heart, which will be good news for long-time fans of this loud and bombastic series.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Doom: The Dark Ages' game review
Doom has always managed to stay at the cutting edge of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre — something it practically invented with the original 1993 release. Synonymous with pulse-pounding gunplay, the franchise saw a major revival with 2016's Doom and its follow-up, Doom Eternal. Rather than a direct sequel, Doom: The Dark Ages is iD Software's bold attempt to expand the mythos further. Acting as a narrative bridge between the end of Doom 64 and the opening of Doom (2016), while carefully sidestepping the non-canonical Doom 3,The Dark Ages takes the series in a bold new direction. With a heavier focus on melee combat and medieval fantasy aesthetics, the gamble pays off. The story centres around a key MacGuffin known as the 'Heart of Argent', a precursor to the Argent energy mined by humans in Doom (2016). This mysterious artifact sets the stage for a fierce conflict between the forces of Hell and the Sentinels of Argent D'Nur. You play as the Doom Slayer, a former space marine turned superhuman demon-slayer, now under the control of a third faction: the Maykrs. Enslaved and deployed like a weapon, you are sent to battle Hell with a very short leash. While the plot may initially seem like standard action-game fare, it is clear that iD Software is attempting to weave a more cohesive lore around its dark fantasy setting, albeit with mixed results. At times, the exposition feels overwrought, borrowing the brooding tone and deliberate pacing of Dune. Still, I found its predictability oddly comforting. The art direction is phenomenal, and the slower moments gave my hands a chance to recover before the next burst of ultra-violence. The Dark Ages delivers a near-hypnotic gameplay experience. It is fluid, immersive, and meditative in a way that few shooters manage. Compared to the frenetic chaos of Doom Eternal, this entry feels more controlled, more rhythmic. Once you are locked into the flow of melee-gunplay combat, it is almost like dancing through a storm. Early on, the game arms you with a shield-chainsaw hybrid and introduces parrying as a core mechanic. Time your moves right, and you will deflect green hellfire back at enemies, opening them up for brutal finishers. One standout moment saw me parrying fireballs while surrounded by towering demons, triggering a chain reaction of gory carnage. It was exhilarating and gory. Then come the Kaiju levels. Yes, you get to pilot a mech and take on skyscraper-sized demons with your bare metal fists, Pacific Rim style. Do not worry — this is not a spoiler; it is in the trailers. These levels are a visual and gameplay spectacle. And because no dark fantasy would be complete without dragons, The Dark Ages lets you ride your very own cybernetic flying beast. It is not quite as jaw-dropping as the mech segments, but it is undeniably fun — especially when you are blasting down hellships and boarding them mid-flight. Doom: The Dark Ages Publisher: Bethesda Developer: iD Software Price: ₹4,999 on Steam, Xbox One, Playstation 5 Of course, a Doom game lives and dies by its arsenal. You begin with your trusty shotgun before unlocking the Quake-inspired nailgun. The standout weapon, however, is the Skullcrusher — a monstrous gun that grinds skulls and fires bone shards in wide, devastating arcs. While the guns are slick and satisfying, they serve more as support tools for your melee and shield play. Combat becomes a dance of crowd control, perfectly timed parries, and brutal finishing moves. As you explore massive levels, defeat demon hordes, and collect gold, you will be constantly upgrading your weapons — giving you ample reason to revisit previous stages. Visually, The Dark Ages is a technical marvel. Running on iD Tech 8, the game renders massive levels and colossal enemies with breathtaking clarity. From detailed ground-level skirmishes to epic aerial battles atop dragons, the scale is immense and fluid. One flying level, which has you soaring through a demon-infested city, is a standout set piece. The Dark Ages may be the best-looking game of the year, with a unique visual identity that makes many Unreal Engine titles look generic by comparison. Doom: The Dark Ages is an absolute must-play for fans of fantasy, action, or first-person shooters. It is a triumphant reminder that one of the genre's founding fathers still knows how to innovate, stay relevant, and deliver unforgettable experiences. Without question, one of the games of the year.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
DOOM: The Dark Ages review… This cacophony of chaos impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender
HELL YEAH DOOM: The Dark Ages review… This cacophony of chaos impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIKE a beloved old pet dog, DOOM: The Ages is impossible to put down. It's a demonic drug, a hit of horrifying annihilation that makes you want more and more. Because it slays more than Taylor Swift in a glitter hat factory. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Hell hath no fury... like a Doom Slayer with loads of guns Credit: Bethesda Softworks Care must always be taken when trying to improve a cult classic - and the original Doom rightfully belongs among the icons of gaming history. So it's a huge relief to see that idSoftware has not only been respectful in making this DOOM, they've also been really smart. But is The Dark Ages the best game since the original release? Hell yeah! 10 There's an impressive array of weaponry to dispatch demons with Credit: Bethesda Softworks First off, there's a more involved plot than previous follow-ups like DOOM (2016) and 2020's DOOM: Eternal. Read more Gaming News WHIPS DON'T LIE Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is out on the PS5 and is a rare gem You play the heavy-footed Doom Slayer called upon by the Night Sentinels of Argent D'Nur and the mysterious Maykrs in their battle against the dark forces of Hell. Your job? To save humanity. The Maykrs have a strange hold over the Slayer who gradually starts to think, and fight, on his own terms. Previous follow-ups to this mega franchise were decent nods to the original but they weren't truly great games. They lacked what makes a DOOM game utterly brilliant - an intense, mind-blowing run-and-gun experience which takes your breath away. Literally. The Dark Ages, however, achieves this in bundles. 10 The 22 chapters are bold and intense Credit: Bethesda Softworks Because you become so engrossed in dispatching the multitude of enemies spawning all around you that you forget to breathe. I lost count of the times where I finished a chapter (there are 22 to smash through), let out an exhausting breath… and noticed that I was two feet away from my gaming chair. Such is the intensity of The Dark Ages. 10 Jumping into a giant mech suit feels like Power Rangers but, you know, better Credit: Bethesda Softworks It's not just a blast and dash game either. This time round you have to be more tactically astute in your demon-slaying ways. The sheer number of enemies that bear down on you during battle is daunting, but this just increases the adrenaline rush you get when your planned destruction works. This immersive action results in hours lost wiping the floor with growling Pinky Riders and horrible Hell Knights. 10 Plan your battles wisely as you'll need to be smart as well as sharp Credit: Bethesda Softworks The arsenal is as kick-ass as it is clever. And each new weapon brings slightly different whoops of joy as you learn more about what can be achieved when you pull the trigger. For example, the Impaler is brilliant for headshots and once you get your upgrades to a certain point, it can then slow down time to get the perfect hit. 10 Enemies vary in difficulty and there are some cool close-up melee options Credit: Bethesda Softworks The Shredder can dispatch hordes of Imp Stalkers all at once and again, use your upgrades wisely, and it can auto-charge to a more destructive ammo when following a melee attack. 10 Saving humanity has never been so exhaustively exhilarating Credit: Bethesda Softworks But id Software's addition of a shield is a masterstroke - this can rip through multiple foes or deflect attacks. It's upgradable too and becomes an essential tool at your side. That is until you get the ball and chain - talk about an epic flail! Each chapter is gorgeous in its detail and impressive in scope. The map is easy to read and offers a clear pathway to cute collectables, gold chests and secret areas you won't want to miss in your 20+ hours of the game. 10 A banging soundtrack helps immerse you in the depths of Hell Credit: Bethesda Softworks Even the soundtrack is gloriously DOOM-esque. A head-banging barrage of heavy metal which delights the senses when blasted through decent headsets - I couldn't help but ramp up my Turtle Beach Stealth 700s to complete the experience. It all makes for an epic romp in Hell - you won't just dip your toes in the Lake of Fire, you'll want to go skinny-dipping and plunge in head-first. 10 A deep plot gives DOOM: The Dark Ages an extra edge over predecessors Credit: Bethesda Softworks The Dark Ages is intense - a cacophony of chaos that impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender. 10 A dragon! Yes, you can ride a dragon Credit: Bethesda Softworks
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
DOOM: The Dark Ages review… This cacophony of chaos impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender
LIKE a beloved old pet dog, DOOM: The Ages is impossible to put down. It's a demonic drug, a hit of horrifying annihilation that makes you want more and more. Because it slays more than Taylor Swift in a glitter hat factory. 10 Care must always be taken when trying to improve a cult classic - and the original Doom rightfully belongs among the icons of gaming history. So it's a huge relief to see that idSoftware has not only been respectful in making this DOOM, they've also been really smart. But is The Dark Ages the best game since the original release? Hell yeah! 10 First off, there's a more involved plot than previous follow-ups like DOOM (2016) and 2020's DOOM: Eternal. You play the heavy-footed Doom Slayer called upon by the Night Sentinels of Argent D'Nur and the mysterious Maykrs in their battle against the dark forces of Hell. Your job? To save humanity. The Maykrs have a strange hold over the Slayer who gradually starts to think, and fight, on his own terms. Previous follow-ups to this mega franchise were decent nods to the original but they weren't truly great games. They lacked what makes a DOOM game utterly brilliant - an intense, mind-blowing run-and-gun experience which takes your breath away. Literally. The Dark Ages, however, achieves this in bundles. 10 Because you become so engrossed in dispatching the multitude of enemies spawning all around you that you forget to breathe. I lost count of the times where I finished a chapter (there are 22 to smash through), let out an exhausting breath… and noticed that I was two feet away from my gaming chair. Such is the intensity of The Dark Ages. It's not just a blast and dash game either. This time round you have to be more tactically astute in your demon-slaying ways. The sheer number of enemies that bear down on you during battle is daunting, but this just increases the adrenaline rush you get when your planned destruction works. This immersive action results in hours lost wiping the floor with growling Pinky Riders and horrible Hell Knights. 10 The arsenal is as kick-ass as it is clever. And each new weapon brings slightly different whoops of joy as you learn more about what can be achieved when you pull the trigger. For example, the Impaler is brilliant for headshots and once you get your upgrades to a certain point, it can then slow down time to get the perfect hit. 10 The Shredder can dispatch hordes of Imp Stalkers all at once and again, use your upgrades wisely, and it can auto-charge to a more destructive ammo when following a melee attack. But id Software's addition of a shield is a masterstroke - this can rip through multiple foes or deflect attacks. It's upgradable too and becomes an essential tool at your side. That is until you get the ball and chain - talk about an epic flail! Each chapter is gorgeous in its detail and impressive in scope. The map is easy to read and offers a clear pathway to cute collectables, gold chests and secret areas you won't want to miss in your 20+ hours of the game. 10 Even the soundtrack is gloriously DOOM-esque. A head-banging barrage of heavy metal which delights the senses when blasted through decent headsets - I couldn't help but ramp up my Turtle Beach Stealth 700s to complete the experience. It all makes for an epic romp in Hell - you won't just dip your toes in the Lake of Fire, you'll want to go skinny-dipping and plunge in head-first. 10 The Dark Ages is intense - a cacophony of chaos that impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender.
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
DOOM: The Dark Ages review… This cacophony of chaos impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender
LIKE a beloved old pet dog, DOOM: The Ages is impossible to put down. It's a demonic drug, a hit of horrifying annihilation that makes you want more and more. Because it slays more than 10 Hell hath no fury... like a Doom Slayer with loads of guns Credit: Bethesda Softworks Care must always be taken when trying to improve a cult classic - and the original Doom rightfully belongs among the icons of So it's a huge relief to see that idSoftware has not only been respectful in making this DOOM, they've also been really smart. But is The Dark Ages the best game since the original release? Hell yeah! 10 There's an impressive array of weaponry to dispatch demons with Credit: Bethesda Softworks First off, there's a more involved plot than previous follow-ups like DOOM (2016) and 2020's DOOM: Eternal. Read more Gaming News You play the heavy-footed Doom Slayer called upon by the Night Sentinels of Argent D'Nur and the mysterious Maykrs in their battle against the dark forces of Hell. Your job? To save humanity. The Maykrs have a strange hold over the Slayer who gradually starts to think, and fight, on his own terms. Previous follow-ups to this mega franchise were decent nods to the original but they weren't truly great games. They lacked what makes a DOOM game utterly brilliant - an intense, mind-blowing run-and-gun experience which takes your breath away. Literally. The Dark Ages, however, achieves this in bundles. Most read in Gaming 10 The 22 chapters are bold and intense Credit: Bethesda Softworks Because you become so engrossed in dispatching the multitude of enemies spawning all around you that you forget to breathe. I lost count of the times where I finished a chapter (there are 22 to smash through), let out an exhausting breath… and noticed that I was two feet away from my gaming chair. Such is the intensity of The Dark Ages. 10 Jumping into a giant mech suit feels like Power Rangers but, you know, better Credit: Bethesda Softworks It's not just a blast and dash game either. This time round you have to be more tactically astute in your demon-slaying ways. The sheer number of enemies that bear down on you during battle is daunting, but this just increases the adrenaline rush you get when your planned destruction works. This immersive action results in hours lost wiping the floor with growling Pinky Riders and horrible Hell Knights. 10 Plan your battles wisely as you'll need to be smart as well as sharp Credit: Bethesda Softworks The arsenal is as kick-ass as it is clever. And each new weapon brings slightly different whoops of joy as you learn more about what can be achieved when you pull the trigger. For example, the Impaler is brilliant for headshots and once you get your upgrades to a certain point, it can then slow down time to get the perfect hit. 10 Enemies vary in difficulty and there are some cool close-up melee options Credit: Bethesda Softworks The Shredder can dispatch hordes of Imp Stalkers all at once and again, use your upgrades wisely, and it can auto-charge to a more destructive ammo when following a melee attack. 10 Saving humanity has never been so exhaustively exhilarating Credit: Bethesda Softworks But id Software's addition of a shield is a masterstroke - this can rip through multiple foes or deflect attacks. It's upgradable too and becomes an essential tool at your side. That is until you get the ball and chain - talk about an epic flail! Each chapter is gorgeous in its detail and impressive in scope. The map is easy to read and offers a clear pathway to cute collectables, gold chests and secret areas you won't want to miss in your 20+ hours of the game. 10 A banging soundtrack helps immerse you in the depths of Hell Credit: Bethesda Softworks Even the soundtrack is gloriously DOOM-esque. A head-banging barrage of heavy metal which delights the senses when blasted through decent headsets - I couldn't help but ramp up my It all makes for an epic romp in Hell - you won't just dip your toes in the Lake of Fire, you'll want to go skinny-dipping and plunge in head-first. 10 A deep plot gives DOOM: The Dark Ages an extra edge over predecessors Credit: Bethesda Softworks The Dark Ages is intense - a cacophony of chaos that impales itself firmly as a Game of the Year contender. 10 A dragon! Yes, you can ride a dragon Credit: Bethesda Softworks DOOM: The Dark Ages FORMATS: PS5 (reviewed) , Xbox, PC PRICE: £69.99 PUBLISHER: Bethesda Softworks DEVELOPER: id Software RELEASE DATE: Out now AGE RATING: 18+ SCORE: 66/6 (erm, 5 out of 5)
