Doom: The Dark Ages just announced

[SpyderTracks]

Bethesda have announced the next Doom title, Doom: The Dark Ages

Does look seriously cool, due for release next year, it's a prequel to the 2016 reboot.

 

[Steveyg]

YES YES YES YES YES

Hope it's more like 2016 than Eternal to be honest

Eternal didn't grab me like '16. I loved it when I felt "I" was optimising the combat to be most effective by frantically switching weapons but Eternal making that basically a necessity and the core gameplay loop was just exhausting to be honest

I loved it when panic mode set in and I could just whip out the super shotty and widdle enemies down with good movement, as opposed to having to use the most optimal weapons at all times or you're basically shooting spit balls at demons

 

[SpyderTracks]

Ok, so it's been officially listed on Steam with a release date of May 15th.

Pre-purchase DOOM: The Dark Ages on Steam

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage. Players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell.

store.steampowered.com

I'm not liking the pricing, but I know across the industry prices are on the increase, if you've seen Switch 2 announcements you'll see it's quite a sharp increase too!

Doom was always a franchise that was priced quite low compared to most AAA's.

So here we go:

Standard version: £69:99

Premium version (just gives you 2 days pre-release access and campaign DLC when it's released and the Divinity Skin Pack): £99:99!!!!

I certainly won't be buying it for a few years yet at those prices! God I'm getting old!

For some context, Doom Eternal was launched on March 20th 2020 for the base game at £50 but there were loads of offers after the first week at £30 and then the Year One DLC was £25. The Deluxe was £60ish, then of course you had the insane collectors edition at £200ish quid or something that included the helmet.

Maybe we'll get lucky and there will be heavy discounts again soon after release, I certainly hope so.

 

[SpyderTracks]

YES YES YES YES YES

Hope it's more like 2016 than Eternal to be honest

Eternal didn't grab me like '16. I loved it when I felt "I" was optimising the combat to be most effective by frantically switching weapons but Eternal making that basically a necessity and the core gameplay loop was just exhausting to be honest

I loved it when panic mode set in and I could just whip out the super shotty and widdle enemies down with good movement, as opposed to having to use the most optimal weapons at all times or you're basically shooting spit balls at demons

I know it's rather a lot later, but I hadn't invested enough time into the game then to comment, but I feel very much the same as you.

Doom 2016 I WAS UTTERLY HOOKED ON, I was so engrossed, and even though cut scenes were pretty minimal, I felt there was a definite progression from level to level, and so as a result I just played it from start to finish with very few gaps in between.

Eternal, I just feel it's one level to the next with a bit different scenery, I'm not feeling the story progression in the same way and as a result I just haven't remained connected to it to see it through to completion. I love the gameplay, that's not the issue, just feels a bit meh as a complete game.

With what you say though, I’m definitely dying a lot more and there are parts of the game where navigating wall scales and other things are just so utterly unclear that I’ve had to refer to a guide. I expect that from something like a Fallout game but not from Doom! Maybe that has increased the lack of flow

 

[AgentCooper]

Agree with you both, lads. Eternal altered the vibe for a Quake-like experience which I know some people absolutely loved but it didn’t sit right with me. Dark Ages looks to change up the formula again and it seems more up my street.

I saw a comment from the devs that said something like ‘in Doom we asked you to run and gun, in Eternal it was jump and shoot, now you’re going to stand and fight’

Count me in, I was sold the moment I saw a gun that used crushed skull fragments as ammunition.

 

[lousmaczylo]

You can't beat a nice game of Doom, it makes you feel at home. Ha! I agree with the comments about Doom Eternal, I wasn't that keen on it.