Doom: The Dark Ages Reviews
From the first kill to the last, Doom: The Dark Ages is an undeniably exhilarating ride that rarely comes down from its high. The narrative sets the stage for more, the weapons and the Shield Saw make for potent combinations, and the level and world design tie it all together in one devilishly brilliant package. It has been more than 30 years since the franchise first kicked off the killing spree, and this latest entry represents the continuation of a new golden age for the Doom Slayer.
Doom: The Dark Ages may be my favorite Doom experience throughout the years. Whilst it may be 'slower' than previous Doom's. feeling the weight of Doomguy as I cut my way through waves of demons, using the shield as a weapon as much, if not more than a defense, and some glorious level design that never got boring, I just can't wait to get back into the fight and really give it my all on all the difficulty levels. It's a blast, and any FPS fan should be looking at this. The only drawback is the thin and at times boring story getting in the way of more slaughter, but you can't blame iD for trying something new.
Doom: The Dark Ages is a great game, a fantastic demon slaughter festival, but not exactly the best Doom. There's too much plot, dialogue, side characters, cut-scenes, too much trying to make this campaign feel like Halo and Call of Duty. On the other hand, such an approach may appeal more to people who are unfamiliar with the beginnings of the series, not emotionally attached to the franchise since the 90s.
Doom: The Dark Ages is much more focused than its predecessors and more fun thanks to id Software’s ability to continually refine the Doom formulas to feel different enough that it never gets boring.
This is a brave game that dares to innovate and reinvent an already established and beloved formula. This reinvention breathes new life into the franchise, presenting fresh ideas — some of which are spot on, others not so much.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a bold and visually stunning shooter that captures the franchise’s essence while pushing gameplay forward, though its underwhelming story and some uneven design choices hold it back from matching its predecessors.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
DOOM: The Dark Ages is, for the moment, the best first-person shooter of this year, and I'm afraid that few titles will be able to threaten it in winning the well-deserved awards. It's a phenomenal game that I recommend to any fan of dynamic FPS games. While I love Eternal and it will remain in first place in my heart for a very long time to come, I can't escape the fact that its new, youngest brother is treading on its toes.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Doom Slayer returns in amazing fashion with riveting gameplay, exceptional variety and gorgeous design. It might just be the best iteration of Doom so far, even though some elements pull you out of the game's adrenaline-filled tempo.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Sure, there are some nitpicks, such as the dragon feature being underutilised, but nothing [in Doom: The Dark Ages] ever really pulls you out of the experience. What’s left? A strange, almost reverent love for a game that’s raw, ridiculous, and unnecessarily metal. And I loved every second of it. If this is hell, I’m not just walking in—I’m speed-boosting with a maxed-out Combat Shotgun and Finishing Move blaring at full volume.
“Doom: The Dark Ages” doesn't reinvent the wheel. I get exactly what I expect from the series. Frenetic action against snarling demons. If there's one thing I'd like to see in the next installment, it's a return to horror. Because this Doom Slayer definitely doesn't know fear.
Review in German | Read full review
What’s here is a medieval mosh pit of mayhem that’ll leave you grinning under your helmet, even if it doesn’t quite outshine its elders. Some of the flesh of Doom 2016 and Eternal has been peeled back sensibly in service of a new way; some chunks of epidermis shouldn’t have been extracted at all.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is exactly what fans were craving: a beefy, brutal evolution of the franchise that mixes medieval mayhem with modern polish.
Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t without its demons. Its slower story struggles to keep pace with the chaos, and the metal soundtrack rarely reaches its iconic heights. But when it works, it really works — crushing combat, intricate exploration, and a Slayer who still defines fury in motion.