DOOM The Dark Ages: Unexpected Trailer Drop Reveals New Details
Well, that was not expected. Bethesda and id Software caught everyone off guard. They unleashed the second official trailer for DOOM: The Dark Ages on a Sunday evening, around Easter. It was a pleasant surprise, at least. Fans are well and truly hyped. The trailer is racking up huge views in a few hours.
Now, if you were craving raw gameplay, this particular trailer is heavy on the cinema. It is extremely narrative-heavy. This aligns with what id Software initially mentioned when they first discussed the game. Get ready for a DOOM title where the story takes center stage more than ever before.
A World Bigger Than Ever
But relax, it is DOOM through and through. Though not an open-world game in and of itself, id Software promoted The Dark Ages as the series’ largest yet. You will get the feel of being on a gigantic conflict map. You will constantly alternate between classic linear DOOM paths and wider, more expansive sandboxes. These areas give more freedom to explore, accomplish multiple objectives in whatever order. You can even find upgrades for the Slayer. Because why would not anyone want to become powerful.
Combat Refined: Power, Strategy, and Glory
Discussing power, the combat is founded on the high-intensity speed of DOOM Eternal. You will still be using finishing moves to receive health and ammo, keeping that essential flow intact. There is a greater focus on progression and an improved economy. It takes lessons from prior versions to eliminate unnecessary confusion.
Initial impressions from players who have gotten hands-on have the more open level layout working well with the underlying combat. It is less about being corralled down corridors. It is more about having space to set up. Perhaps even dropping out of an undesirable position to rearm and then wading back in.
Weapons also look totally cool too. The trailer showed us an all-around utilizable Shield Saw. It showed what seems to be a big-hitting BFG crossbow. And, yes, you can pilot a giant Atlan mech. You even have the ability to ride a frickin’ dragon. How cool is that.
Some chatter has also been occurring regarding the Glory Kill system. While they are still present in the game and in some way have been refined, it does seem that those wonderfully varied and gory animations that we loved from previous games will be less frequent on normal enemies. Maybe even restricted to more prominent demons or specific situations. Something to keep an eye out for.
Entering The Dark Ages: Release Date and Platforms
Get ready to step into this dark medieval-inspired world earlier than you might think. DOOM: The Dark Ages is arriving on May 15th. You will get to play it on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. And yes, day one it launches to Xbox Game Pass.
PC players will appreciate cutting-edge tech support. This includes NVIDIA DLSS 4 Frame Generation and path tracing. And oh, word is, that there could be a Nintendo Switch 2 version down the line. This would not be surprising given the tradition of DOOM on Nintendo’s console.
This prequel traces the history of Doom Slayer’s mythical rage. It immerses him into a dark fantasy world serving kings and gods. He fights against masses under the command of a new and frightening enemy. Graphic combat on ruined castles, black forests, and ancient hellscapes in levels to be id Software’s biggest ever.
So, if you are a DOOM fan, or just a fan of in-your-face action and surprisingly deep lore, mark May 15th on your calendar. The Dark Ages are coming. And they do not appear to be peacefully pleasant.
