4.5/5 ★ – Pixelguy9's review of DOOM: The Dark Ages.

DOOM: The Dark Ages was one of my most anticipated games of 2025. After my incredible experiences with DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, I had no doubt id Software would knock it out of the park once again, and I was not disappointed. DOOM: The Dark Ages excels in almost every area it's predecessors did, with so few compromises made that this may just be the DOOM title I recommend most to newcomers. DOOM: The Dark Ages' combat is wildly different from the previous installments thanks to perhaps the game's best addition; the Shield Saw. Whether you're parrying a Cyberdemon combo before following up with your own flail strikes or hurling it through a horde of imps, the Shield Saw is always satisfying to use, no matter how you choose to use it throughout the levels. DOOM: The Dark Ages opts for more open missions than in any of the previous games, and I think this is the only area in which I can say the game falls slightly short, especially after you've already cleared the enemies are exploring the last corners of the map for all the collectables. This doesn't have too much of an impact on the rest of the game however, as you will still be spending a majority of your time blasting demons into chunks with the Slayers new and improved arsenal. The Super Shotgun is back, and it has never been better, dealing so much damage that after I fully upgraded it, I never used any other weapon for the rest of the campaign. There's plenty of new faces, such as the Skullcrusher and Pulverizer, which use actual skulls as ammo, spitting the bone shards out as shrapnel. The Reaver Chainshot is a fun weapon, launching and then retracting a giant metal ball that can explode on contact. The BFG returns in a new form, as the Ballistic Force Crossbow, one of the best takes on everyone's favourite oversized gun yet. Not only do these weapons all function in amazing and innovative ways, but they fit perfectly in DOOM: The Dark Ages' immaculate art style. The blending of medieval and sci-fi was something that DOOM Eternal flirted with, but DOOM: The Dark Ages takes to heart and puts front and centre. Huge castles, cities, and just about everything in between are always at the forefront of this game's aesthetic, and it is absolutely perfect. DOOM: The Dark Ages doesn't just feature the Slayer on foot however, he has not only a dragon to fly around on, but a mech too. The dragon in DOOM: The Dark Ages is perhaps the game's most criticised feature, as while the flying around is pretty fun, the combat is extremely basic and involves a lot of waiting for the right coloured projectiles to be dodged. The mech is even more mechanically simple, with light and heavy attacks, and occasionally giant weapons. If a few more features were implemented and some of the combat tweaked, these mech sections could reach their full potential, but are currently too short to get that much fun out of. This time around, DOOM: The Dark Ages has placed much greater emphasis on the story then in any previous DOOM game, and by story, I mean lots of seemingly important story stuff happening with little explanation, leaving you completely lost as to what's actually happening. Story has never been the focus of DOOM games, and DOOM: The Dark Ages has proven that it is not needed for the game to shine. That being said, the production quality of the cutscenes is greater than any game I've ever seen, and this whole game might in fact be one of the best looking I've played yet. Finally, the music of DOOM: The Dark Ages has been a contentious subject amongst fans, but I for one, love what Finishing Move Inc. was able to achieve. Mick Gordon's absence is felt deeply, but I feel as though this group was able to craft a distinct sound for this game that feels both new and reminiscent of both modern and classic DOOM. Track highlights for me include 'From the Ashes', 'When the Shadows First Lengthened', 'Unchained Predator', 'Unholy Siege', 'Infernal Chasm', and 'Into the Void'. DOOM: The Dark Ages has managed to defy my loft expectations and crown itself as my new favourite DOOM game, a title that it fought hard for, but thanks to its innovative gameplay, amazing visuals, impeccable sound design. It has never felt better to rip and tear.