Zorck Doom: The Dark Ages Review

I'm not sure about the direction they're taking. After Doom Eternal. I was hoping for something that pushed the speed, aggression, and mechanical depth even further, not something that slows things down. The medieval setting could've worked, but paired with heavier movement and a shield-based combat system, it feels like the identity is drifting. That raw, nonstop flow is that made Eternal stand out. Here, it looks like it's leaning more toward a grounded, cinematic feel. The shield as a weapon mechanic? It sounded interesting in theory, but visually it leans more GOW than Doom, and I'm not sure that fits. My biggest concern is the tone, Doom never needed subtlety, it was unapologetically fast and aggressive. This feels heavier, moodier. That's not what pulled people into Doom 2016 or Eternal, and it definitely didn't work here either. Another thing that stands out in a bad way is the music. Without Mick Gordon, the soundtrack just doesn’t hit. It lacks that aggressive energy that matched the gameplay beat for beat in 2016 and Eternal. So far, it sounds generic, and that’s a problem when Doom’s identity was so tightly tied to its sound.