Preview: DOOM: The Dark Ages Aims to Be a Summer Blockbuster
Bethesda and id Software gave us the opportunity to have a hands-off preview of DOOM: The Dark Ages ahead of its release date later this year. It, like the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 segment, fully broke down what is likely to be the most unique entry in the series yet. Id Software described DOOM: The Dark Ages as a “summer blockbuster” for 2025, and I can see where the team is coming from after watching the showcase. The goal of the hands-off video preview seemed to be to provide an overview of DOOM: The Dark Ages ahead of its newly announced release date. Set to come out on May 15, 2025, the upcoming third entry in the reboot trilogy is a prequel that follows the Doom Slayer protagonist as he battles it out in a medieval origin story. I feel this fascinating premise is leading to easily the most unique entry in the entire DOOM franchise to date. The world is a fascinating one, seeing the mixes of the realms of heaven and hell as always alongside ancient castles and dragons. There seems to be a huge fantastical element to the FPS experience that may prove to be the most alluring part of this prequel. Image via Bethesda Softworks This is even seen in the gear the player uses, based on what's been shown. Alongside the usual selection of wild and ridiculous guns, there are now melee weapons. There are three distinct melee weapons players will be able to use alongside the signature Shield Saw. This particular shield is always in the protagonist’s left hand. At any point, you can throw it at enemies to slice them up a la God of War’s Kratos. At the same time, though, it seems the Shield Saw is your main line of defense. You can block, parry, and duke it out in close range. This adds an intriguing level of depth to the FPS. Sure, you can fire away from afar, but melee is even more viable than ever. That said, I have some concerns over the way the protagonist will feel. The developers noted Doom Slayer will be more of a walking tank in this prequel. That is a far cry from the run-and-gun and acrobatic nature of past titles. Sure, he will be more powerful than ever before. But I could see myself missing some of the flashier and faster movement from before. Image via Bethesda Softworks Thankfully, footage suggests there will be some other radical additions this time around. This includes a new massive mech vehicle. Players will be able to pilot this Gundam-like mech to take on gigantic demons and monsters. In addition to that, there is the teased dragon players can ride. There were glimpses of both of these in the preview. Honestly, they seem like the most thrilling part of the upcoming game. That said, I am excited by the more open spaces. We only got a short slice of one of the missions at a medieval castle. However, it appears to be the largest open mission space in the franchise’s history. There are plenty of secrets and goodies to find in the area. Players have optional objectives they can explore on the way to the main mission target. If there are a lot of missions like this in the game, it should be more appealing to a wider audience. What will also help with this is the story. Finally, we are getting full-on story cutscenes and characters. This heavy story approach could turn off some players, but I like the idea. This helps to lend to the “summer blockbuster” path this game is taking. Image via Bethesda Softworks Overall, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the best chance of me giving this series another shot after DOOM 3 and DOOM 2016. I wish we saw more during the hands-off preview of the castle mission. That said, the story cutscenes, mech vehicle, and dragon all have me wanting to see more. I just hope the slower, more powerful take on the demon-slaying hero works out in the end. DOOM: The Dark Ages will release for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on May 15, 2025. The post Preview: DOOM: The Dark Ages Aims to Be a Summer Blockbuster appeared first on Siliconera.
Bethesda and id Software gave us the opportunity to have a hands-off preview of DOOM: The Dark Ages ahead of its release date later this year. It, like the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 segment, fully broke down what is likely to be the most unique entry in the series yet. Id Software described DOOM: The Dark Ages as a “summer blockbuster” for 2025, and I can see where the team is coming from after watching the showcase.
The goal of the hands-off video preview seemed to be to provide an overview of DOOM: The Dark Ages ahead of its newly announced release date. Set to come out on May 15, 2025, the upcoming third entry in the reboot trilogy is a prequel that follows the Doom Slayer protagonist as he battles it out in a medieval origin story. I feel this fascinating premise is leading to easily the most unique entry in the entire DOOM franchise to date. The world is a fascinating one, seeing the mixes of the realms of heaven and hell as always alongside ancient castles and dragons. There seems to be a huge fantastical element to the FPS experience that may prove to be the most alluring part of this prequel.
This is even seen in the gear the player uses, based on what's been shown. Alongside the usual selection of wild and ridiculous guns, there are now melee weapons. There are three distinct melee weapons players will be able to use alongside the signature Shield Saw. This particular shield is always in the protagonist’s left hand. At any point, you can throw it at enemies to slice them up a la God of War’s Kratos.
At the same time, though, it seems the Shield Saw is your main line of defense. You can block, parry, and duke it out in close range. This adds an intriguing level of depth to the FPS. Sure, you can fire away from afar, but melee is even more viable than ever. That said, I have some concerns over the way the protagonist will feel.
The developers noted Doom Slayer will be more of a walking tank in this prequel. That is a far cry from the run-and-gun and acrobatic nature of past titles. Sure, he will be more powerful than ever before. But I could see myself missing some of the flashier and faster movement from before.
Thankfully, footage suggests there will be some other radical additions this time around. This includes a new massive mech vehicle. Players will be able to pilot this Gundam-like mech to take on gigantic demons and monsters. In addition to that, there is the teased dragon players can ride. There were glimpses of both of these in the preview. Honestly, they seem like the most thrilling part of the upcoming game.
That said, I am excited by the more open spaces. We only got a short slice of one of the missions at a medieval castle. However, it appears to be the largest open mission space in the franchise’s history. There are plenty of secrets and goodies to find in the area. Players have optional objectives they can explore on the way to the main mission target.
If there are a lot of missions like this in the game, it should be more appealing to a wider audience. What will also help with this is the story. Finally, we are getting full-on story cutscenes and characters. This heavy story approach could turn off some players, but I like the idea. This helps to lend to the “summer blockbuster” path this game is taking.
Overall, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the best chance of me giving this series another shot after DOOM 3 and DOOM 2016. I wish we saw more during the hands-off preview of the castle mission. That said, the story cutscenes, mech vehicle, and dragon all have me wanting to see more. I just hope the slower, more powerful take on the demon-slaying hero works out in the end.
DOOM: The Dark Ages will release for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on May 15, 2025.
The post Preview: DOOM: The Dark Ages Aims to Be a Summer Blockbuster appeared first on Siliconera.
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