‘Doom: The Dark Ages’ Honors The Series With Demons And Destruction
by Frank Martin
It’s hard to overstate Doom‘s place in video game history. It was a first person shooter that threw players into a horrific world of demons and cool weapons. Of course, the original graphics were very much a product of their time. But the Doom franchise withstood the test of time and carried on its action-horror legacy with new installments. This latest reboot has officially become a trilogy with Doom: The Dark Ages, and despite retreading a tired gameplay format, the series remains an excellent source of entertainment and art.
Developed by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game is effectively a prequel to the most recent releases as it takes place many years earlier, before Hell invaded Earth and Mars. Following its subtitle, the game’s gameplay and aesthetic closely resembles a more medieval theme. Players get to ride a dragon and use a powered up crossbow. Perhaps the game’s most fitting medieval accessory is a shield that becomes key to both combat and traversing the game’s dynamic levels.
Doom isn’t meant to be a hugely philosophical exercise. There are many games that use their storytelling to tell a deep and meaningful plot with compelling characters. Doom certainly has that. If a player is looking to dive deep into the mythology, there’s tons of history to explore for players that are looking to get immersed into the world. But that’s not the series’s appeal. The series puts action above all else. In that regard, The Dark Ages succeeds immensely. Players can simply turn their brains off and revel in demon slaying with an assortment of amazing weapons. So this latest release undoubtedly honors the Doom legacy fueled by rock music and gnarly monster designs.
Doom: The Dark Ages is now available on Xbox Game Pass.
