DOOM (2016) and DOOM Everlasting had been each among the many finest video games of their respective years, so expectations from the upcoming DOOM: The Darkish Ages are excessive, to say the very least. Based mostly on the whole lot we’ve seen of the sport, nonetheless, it certain seems prefer it’s as soon as once more taking unimaginable form as yet one more unmissable rip-roaring FPS journey.
Not too long ago, we had the possibility to view a behind-closed-doors presentation of the first-person-shooter (which Microsoft went on to showcase as a part of its Xbox Developer_Direct present), earlier than sitting in on a Q&A session with director Hugo Martin and government producer Marty Stratton. Right here, we’re going to go over essentially the most important particulars that we gathered on the sport, from its story and fight to its new weapons, mechanics, bigger ranges, and extra.
STORY DETAILS
As we’ve recognized for some time, DOOM: The Darkish Ages is serving as a prequel to DOOM (2016). Gamers will as soon as once more step into the sneakers of the legendary Doom Slayer, a supersoldier caught within the midst of a medieval conflict towards the forces of hell. Based on id Software program, the sport might be a terrific entry level for newcomer, given the truth that it takes place earlier than each of the fashionable DOOM titles. Its story will, nonetheless, lead instantly into DOOM (2016), which implies veteran followers can even have lots to chew on.
And what precisely is the narrative setup? id hasn’t revealed a lot, however has confirmed that the sport will start with the Doom Slayer imprisoned, along with his powers “coveted by his enemies, however withheld from his allies”. Take from that what you’ll.
NEW APPROACH TO STORYTELLING
DOOM has by no means been too centered on storytelling, with narrative often taking a backseat, even when there may be by no means any scarcity of compelling lore and backstory to dive into. With The Darkish Ages, nonetheless, the sequence is altering its method. Director Hugo Martin says in regards to the sport’s story, “It’s simpler to entry now, as we’ve taken the narrative out of the codex and into the cutscenes, that includes new characters, previous allies, and highly effective new villains.” He has additionally described the story as “large”, and a “summer season blockbuster occasion with the whole lot on the road”. Within the aforementioned Q&A, the devs additionally revealed that the sport has extra cutscenes than both of its predecessors (however didn’t present any specifics).
STAND AND FIGHT
Let’s get to the meat and potatoes right here, as a result of that is DOOM after all- what’s the fight trying like? Properly, it’s trying aggressive- which isn’t shocking for the sequence, but it surely is going about it a unique method. As id Software program describes it, DOOM (2016)’s core loop inspired gamers to “run and gun”, whereas DOOM Everlasting switched it as much as “leap and shoot”. With DOOM: The Darkish Ages, that mantra is altering to “stand and combat”, with id likening this sport’s Doom Slayer to an iron tank. Martin describes it as “a grounded fight system with an emphasis on energy over the acrobatics of DOOM Everlasting“.
SHIELD SAW
On the coronary heart of DOOM: The Darkish Ages’ new method to fight might be various new instruments and mechanics, chief amongst them being the Protect Noticed. Gamers will be capable of block, parry, and deflect incoming assaults, whereas the defend will also be thrown as a weapon, slicing distant enemies with the saws on its perimeter. Each motion taken with the Protect Noticed might be with a single button, all being contextual. Based on the devs, that’s a part of a wider initiative to take away a number of the extreme enter and controls-related complexity of DOOM: Everlasting.
MELEE OPTIONS
The Protect Noticed is finally a defensive instrument. In line with the sport’s extra aggressive nature, nonetheless, gamers can even be inspired to “stand and combat” through the use of a number of new melee weapons. The three new melee choices obtainable to gamers will embrace an iron flail, an electrical gauntlet, and a spiked mace. Like with the defend, there might be one single button devoted to all melee actions, with actions being contextual.
WEAPONS
The weapons are clearly all the time VIPs in any DOOM sport, and The Darkish Ages isn’t turning its again on that custom by any means. Along with its new melee choices and the Protect Noticed, id says the sport can even characteristic “a number of the most ridiculously highly effective weapons” to ever come from the studio. Director Hugo Martin says The Darkish Ages’ roster of weapons might be stuffed with “imply” and “historical” instruments of destruction which can be “constructed to butcher, impale, and shred the minions of hell with.”
“Solely in DOOM. That’s the mission assertion for the design of those never-before-seen, insanely enjoyable to make use of instruments of mayhem,” he says.
CHANGED GLORY KILLS
Sure, clearly Glory Kills are coming again in DOOM: The Darkish Ages, however they’re taking a unique type. id Software program is clearly closely centered on ramping up the tempo of the motion, and in The Darkish Ages, that might be mirrored within the new, un-synced Glory Kills. Fairly than every Glory Kill having an unskippable animation that takes you out of the motion, The Darkish Ages will characteristic utterly seamless Glory Kills which you could set off from any path, permitting you to unleash a string of them in fast succession (ought to the chance come up).
ATLAN MECH AND CYBERNETIC DRAGON SECTIONS
DOOM: The Darkish Ages’ reveal trailer final yr confirmed glimpses of the Doom Slayer controlling a cybernetic dragon in gameplay sections, and now now we have extra data on that. The shooter is not going to solely permit gamers to pilot a fire-breathing cybernetic dragon wielding a gatling gun, but additionally building-sized Atlan mechs. And these gained’t simply be one-off set-piece sections both. Says Hugo Martin, “Neither of those are one-and-done options. They’ve a full suite of skills and even minibosses. The spectacle is epic, the ability fantasy is in contrast to something we’ve made at id, and the fight techniques behind these options are deep and tons of enjoyable.”
EXPLORATION
DOOM: The Darkish Ages can be inserting a a lot better emphasis on exploration. Nonetheless very a lot a level-based sport (government producer Marty Stratton explicitly acknowledged throughout the Q&A that it’s not open world), the shooter continues to be at the very least a semi-open world sport. Meaning gamers can anticipate bigger ranges with a bunch of exploration and non-obligatory content material to interact with. Director Hugo Martin says, “Discover what’s the largest play house ever in a DOOM sport., discovering secret caves and dungeon-like mines in quest of important sources. You management the tempo of the game- the place you go, who you combat, and the targets you pursue. It’s a DOOM sandbox stuffed with conflict and riches.”
PROGRESSION
Exploration in DOOM: The Darkish Ages will yield loads of collectibles (and toys are confirmed to be returning), however within the Q&A, Martin additionally acknowledged that the rewards for exploration would now be extra deeply tied to development and upgrades. Specifics on what development mechanics will entail are scarce, however id has mentioned that by means of exploration, gamers will always be unlocking new skills and powers. The sport’s latest presentation additionally confirmed transient glimpses of talent timber the place gamers might be upgrading their instruments by spending Runes- together with the Protect Noticed and (presumably) their melee weapons.
LOCATIONS
The complete extent of particulars on the places that gamers will discover in DOOM: The Darkish Ages are clearly but to be revealed, however id has already supplied some engaging teases. The developer says gamers will go to “the far reaches of the DOOM universe”, which can embrace “mysterious worlds from the Slayer’s previous, darkish forests, dungeons, historical hellscapes, battlefields, and worlds past.”
id SOFTWARE’S LARGEST GAME YET
Given the truth that that is going to be a semi-open world expertise, it ought to come as no shock that id Software program is touting this as its greatest and most bold sport so far. Meaning it’s going to even be the longest. Precisely how for much longer than DOOM Everlasting (which was a 15-25 hour expertise) it’s going to be hasn’t been confirmed, however you possibly can anticipate it to be notably longer. Govt producer Marty Stratton mentioned throughout the Q&A, “It kinda depends upon the way you’re enjoying, like all sport. But it surely’s the most important sport, the most important marketing campaign we’ve ever made by a great bit. In the event you’re exploring these ranges, there’s simply tons.”
NEW DIFFICULTY OPTIONS
For many who discovered DOOM Everlasting a bit too troublesome (and there have been lots on the market who did), id Software program will try and make The Darkish Ages extra accessible with some new options. A number of issue choices are clearly returning, however this time, gamers can even be capable of customise their gameplay expertise precisely how they need, with various issue sliders included. These sliders will allow you to tweak your harm output, how a lot harm you’re taking, how aggressive enemies are, what the velocity of the sport is, how freely you get sources, the timing home windows for parries, and extra.
MUSIC
The heavy metallic music of DOOM is a giant a part of the expertise, however with acclaimed composer Mick Gordon and id Software program having parted methods (apparently underneath acrimonious circumstances) after having labored collectively for DOOM (2016) and Everlasting, The Darkish Ages will see new expertise stepping ahead. id Software program has revealed that the sport’s music might be composed by online game music manufacturing firm Ending Transfer, which has labored on titles akin to Borderlands 3, The Callisto Protocol, Halo Wars 2, Grounded, and extra.
LAUNCH DETAILS
And when precisely can we get our fingers on DOOM: The Darkish Ages? It’s not too distant. The primary-person shooter launches on Could 15, and it will likely be obtainable day and date for Xbox Sequence X/S, PC, and PS5. Like all first-party Microsoft titles, it’s going to even be obtainable by way of Recreation Go at launch.
