4.5/5 ★ – PhantomKook's review of DOOM: The Dark Ages.
DOOM: The Dark Ages delivers exactly what fans of the franchise have come to expect — adrenaline-pumping action, unrelenting brutality, and a Slayer more savage than ever. Set in a gritty medieval hellscape, this prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal trades sci-fi tech for gothic armor and demonic steel, yet somehow feels just as fast, fluid, and ferocious.
The biggest win here is the new setting. The grim, medieval aesthetic is gorgeously grotesque — towering cathedrals of bone, molten castles, and blood-drenched battlegrounds all give the game a dark fantasy twist that still feels unmistakably DOOM. The addition of brutal melee-focused combat options, including a massive flail and a shield straight out of a nightmare, gives combat a more intimate, weighty feel without sacrificing speed.
The redesigned enemies and new demon types are nightmarish and clever, forcing you to rethink your strategies. And yes, the iconic glory kills are back — more vicious and medieval than ever.
However, the game isn’t without its minor flaws. The shift toward a slightly slower, more deliberate pace might throw off players who crave the hyper-speed chaos of DOOM Eternal. And while the lore expansion is appreciated, some story moments feel a bit undercooked compared to the punch of the gameplay.
That said, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a bold evolution for the franchise. It doesn’t just re-skin DOOM Eternal — it reshapes it. And it absolutely rips and tears while doing so.