Doom: The Dark Ages throws the iconic Slayer into an unforgiving and heavy metal-inspired medieval setting, bringing a unique twist to the long-running franchise. Since the beginning of the series, Doom has aimed to put action and bloody carnage front and center, and Doom: The Dark Ages continues this legacy.
There are several changes made to Doom: The Dark Ages that set it apart from Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, and it helps the game stand on its own in the franchise's new era. However, there is one feature from both Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal that Doom: The Dark Ages actually improves upon, and that's increased health drops when players are low on health.
The Pros and Cons of Doom: The Dark Ages' Glory Kill Changes
Doom: The Dark Ages makes a variety of changes to the franchise, with one of the most notable being its approach to Glory Kills.
Doom: The Dark Ages Continues to Encourage Players to Charge Head First Into Hell
In Doom: The Dark Ages, Low Health Isn't a Death Sentence
When a player's health gets low, enemies drop more health orbs, ultimately saving gamers from an untimely death. Doom: The Dark Ages is at its best when it brings unrelenting action to players, and addressing health drops this way incentivizes running into the conflict instead of retreating. There are some truly harrowing fights in Doom: The Dark Ages, and it's easy to panic when one's health dips below 50%, but id Software's approach flips low health on its head.
Once players realize that lower health brings more health drops, it can be a game-changer. When a player's health plummets, it now becomes an opportunity to truly jump into some serious chaos. The Doom franchise has maintained its reputation as a non-stop gore-fest, and turning low health into the ultimate chance to put the pedal to the metal keeps up the heart-racing pace of fights.
Doom: The Dark Ages features 6 difficulty presets; Aspiring Slayer, Hurt Me Plenty, Ultra-Violence, Nightmare, Pandemonium, and Ultra-Nightmare.
Other Games in the Action Genre Should Follow Suit
Since the Doom games give players a chance to have a hardcore power fantasy as the Slayer, it can really affect how one approaches playing. The more frequent health drops during low health moments only make sense, but there are other franchises that could benefit from this method just as much. Games like Halo, God of War, and Gears of War could potentially have a similar system that encourages players to fight on in spite of being on the verge of death.
While these three franchises are quite different to Doom, they all lean into power fantasies in different ways. Halo's Master Chief is the best Spartan around, while God of War's Kratos is a literal demigod. Gears of War taking the Doom: The Dark Ages approach could be a great way to immerse players in the role of Marcus Fenix, as charging forward despite the threat of certain death would be on brand. However, there are also plenty of reasons for these franchises to keep their current health systems, as they're important to their overall identity, but Doom: The Dark Ages at least has a strong second option if their developers ever wanted a change.
Doom has aimed to put action and bloody carnage front and center, and Doom: The Dark Ages continues this legacy.
Players can even customize enemy aggression and how much damage they inflict on the Slayer.
Doom: The Dark Ages Balances New Ideas With Staple Features
Since the series was rebooted back in 2016, Doom has introduced some fresh features, like Glory Kills, but each new entry has also had fun with experimenting. When taking on enemies in Doom: The Dark Ages, a blend of being as aggressive as possible while also being methodical is key, and the franchise's use of health drops makes combat a far more balanced and fun experience. Doom: The Dark Ages may not be the first in the series to use health drops this way, but it feels like the franchise's most satisfying implementation yet.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- May 15, 2025
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda Softworks
WHERE TO PLAY
BECOME THE SLAYER IN A MEDIEVAL WAR AGAINST HELL
DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.
DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy/sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the incomparable DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine.
REIGN IN HELL
As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while also wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for.
STAND AND FIGHT
Experience an epic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage in this cinematic and action-packed story. Bound to serve as the super weapon of gods and kings, the DOOM Slayer fends off demon hordes as their leader seeks to destroy the Slayer and become the only one that is feared. Witness the creation of a legend as the Slayer takes on all of Hell and turns the tide of the war.
DISCOVER UNKNOWN REALMS
In his quest to crush the legions of Hell, the Slayer must take the fight to never-before-seen realms. Mystery, challenges, and rewards lurk in every shadow of ruined castles, epic battlefields, dark forests, ancient hellscapes, and worlds beyond. Armed with the viciously powerful Shield Saw, cut through a dark world of menace and secrets in id's largest and most expansive levels to date.
- Engine
- id Tech
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
