DOOM: The Dark Ages Hands-on Preview – Metal, mayhem, and medieval carnage

DOOM is back, and it’s going medieval. I had the opportunity to go hands-on with an early build of DOOM: The Dark Ages at a press event in Sydney hosted by Bethesda and POWER UP PR. Our event kicked off with a virtual introduction from id Software’s Hugo Martin and Mary Stratton, who guided us through the four intense chapters we were about to demo of the upcoming prequel. Playing the opening mission, getting to use the towering Atlan mech, flying the skies on the Slayer’s dragon, and experiencing the open-world segment, it’s safe to say DOOM: The Dark Ages is looking promising.

Raw and brutal slaughterfest

Unlike its fast and frantic predecessor DOOM Eternal, The Dark Ages slows things down. If DOOM Eternal is thrash metal, The Dark Ages is black metal. The Doom Slayer is now more of a tank than a super-speed death ninja, wielding a brutal arsenal that includes a shield-saw hybrid and a devastating flail. But don’t worry, the raw power and aggression that define the franchise are very much intact.

Our session kicked off with the opening mission, where the Doom Slayer is unleashed against the demonic hordes invading the Sentinel capital. Right from the start, the sheer scale of the battle was overwhelming. Legions of demons, giant machine gun turrets, and the Slayer carving through everything in his path with ruthless efficiency. The shield isn’t just a defensive tool; it’s an offensive powerhouse, capable of parrying enemy attacks and delivering crushing counterblows. Parrying isn’t usually my go-to, but in DOOM: The Dark Ages, it’s incredibly satisfying, especially when landing a perfect counter against a massive demon.

The combat retains the series’ signature rhythm, blending precision, aggression, and resource management. But the real standout for me was the customisation. Players can tweak everything from game speed (I cranked it up to 150% because I thrive on chaos) to parry timing and enemy health. It’s clear id Software wants everyone to tailor their Doom experience to their own level of brutality.

One of the biggest shifts in The Dark Ages is its approach to storytelling. Unlike previous games, where most of the lore was buried in codex entries, DOOM: The Dark Ages unfolds its story through in-game cutscenes and dialogue. So far, the production quality is epic. These cinematics help flesh out the Doom Slayer’s origins without slowing down the action, meaning that even lore-averse players can appreciate the medieval madness unfolding before them.

The Atlan and the Dragon

We also got to test two of the game’s more unique features: piloting a towering Atlan mech and soaring through the skies on the Slayer’s dragon, Serrat. The Atlan section delivered a sense of scale and destruction, but the brief snippet we played left me wanting more depth in its mechanics. The dragon flight segment was visually stunning, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that both might end up as flashy set pieces. Hopefully, the full game expands on these mechanics in meaningful ways.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the hands-on was DOOM: The Dark Ages’ open-world component. While previous DOOM games thrived on tight, claustrophobic arenas, this entry introduces larger, more explorable zones where you can hunt down bosses, solve puzzles, and collect upgrades. The boss fights felt reminiscent of the classic room lockdowns from past games but with more freedom in how you approach them. It felt fantastic to carve through demonic strongholds, securing powerful upgrades before moving on to the next battle.

The raw, medieval brutality of DOOM: The Dark Ages is reflected in its soundtrack from musicians Finishing Move. Moving away from the more electronic-infused sounds, the music here feels heavier, grittier, and more organic. The guitars snarl with aggression, and the orchestral elements give it a unique, almost primal edge that perfectly complements the setting. This fresh direction makes the soundtrack stand out, and I’m looking forward to hearing more from the new composer. Hopefully, there’s a vinyl release in the works because this one deserves to be played loud.

My time with DOOM: The Dark Ages left me pumped for its release on 15 May 2025. While I have some reservations about the Atlan and dragon sections, the core gameplay is as brutally satisfying as ever, and the open-world elements feel like a natural evolution for the series. The ability to fine-tune the experience to your liking is a fantastic addition, and I can already tell that cranking up the game speed and diving into the carnage will be my go-to setup.

Checkpoint Gaming was flown to Sydney as a guest of Bethesda ANZ for the purpose of this preview.