Doom: The Dark Ages Directors Talk Dragons, Atlans, and…

Doom: The Dark Ages aims to throw players back into the hardcore action that fans have come to know and love. However, Doom: The Dark Ages will also switch things up by introducing gameplay twists not yet seen in the long-running series.

Releasing May 13, Doom: The Dark Ages will be a prequel to Doom Eternal and Doom (2016). The Dark Ages will focus on a more grounded form of gameplay, one more reliant on players needing to stand their ground and take advantage of their renewed melee arsenal. In addition, The Dark Ages will also break up this core gameplay loop with new sandbox levels, dragon sequences, and Atlan battles. In an interview with The Best War Games, game directors Hugo Martin and Marty Stratton went into more detail about how Doom: The Dark Ages will keep things fresh with these new elements.

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By LB Beistad

Doom: The Dark Ages Will Bring In New Sandbox Levels, Atlan Fights, and Dragon Riding

New Sandbox Levels

Doom: The Dark Ages combines a more traditional, linear level design with more open sandbox areas. Players can expect the maze-like levels the franchise is known for but also for the game to open up every now and then to ensure the pacing doesn't become repetitive. Again, this is only one way Doom is combining what came before with a few tweaks to make it better than ever. As Martin explained,

"Every few maps we give you what we would call a sandbox, just to break up the pacing. There are plenty of traditional, linear Doom levels that are sort of maze-like, that wind back in on themselves and unlock over time—that are loaded with secrets and are just what you'd expect from a well-crafted, single-player game. But then, every once in a while, we'll put you in a larger sandbox experience, full of the same kinds of secrets and puzzles, pathways to unlock, and abilities to find. It's really just about pacing and creating a varied experience. It's a massive campaign, the largest we've made by far, and we wanted to make sure that we broke up the pace of the game for the players, keeping it interesting."

Another way this approach breaks up the pacing of Doom: The Dark Ages' gameplay is with the Atlan and dragons. From a design standpoint, dragons have a similar pacing purpose compared to the sandbox areas. Martin explained that "Your freedom is flight; you can go achieve these objectives in whatever order, explore the world, take on these little demon shifts, and then land and have an on-foot experience as the Slayer before getting right back on your dragon."

The Dark Ages' Dragon and Atlan Gameplay

Doom: The Dark Ages' dragon riding and Atlan piloting are some of its most exciting features, and they're parts of the game fans are avidly looking forward to. Martin asserts that "We wanted to make a dragon and an Atlan in the game for a long time" and now fans will get to enjoy the fun that it offers. It's always good level design when every component is fun, even if part of its inclusion is to break up pacing. Stratton agreed with Martin and is excited about what dragons will bring to the Doom franchise. These iconic fantasy creatures, married to the action element of Doom, promise fans a ton of fun memories.

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