DOOM: The Dark Ages Review — Metacritic 85, A Bold Medieval Reinvention

# DOOM: The Dark Ages Review — Metacritic 85, A Bold Medieval Reinvention

id Software did it again. DOOM: The Dark Ages arrives with a rock-solid Metacritic score of 85, and this time the backdrop isn't a UAC facility or the corridors of Hell — it's a medieval fantasy world of dark castles, fire-breathing dragons, and knights clashing with demonic hordes. The Doom Slayer now carries a shield. When that was first revealed, the reaction was split: bewilderment from some, trust from others. Now that it's here, the verdict is clear — this gamble pays off.

Game Info

The Medieval Setting — Why This Gamble Works

When the first trailers dropped, the most common question was simple: why medieval? DOOM has always lived in the tension between sci-fi horror and demonic chaos. Swapping that for stone towers and dragon wings felt jarring on paper. In practice, the setting works better than almost anyone expected.

The dark fantasy backdrop delivers the series' trademark sense of overwhelming dread through a completely new visual language. Darkened battlements lit by torchlight, skies blackened by demonic armies, ancient fortresses crumbling under supernatural siege — it all hits harder than you'd expect. The scale feels enormous, and the id Tech engine renders every detail with exceptional fidelity: the texture of weathered stone, the gleam of enchanted armor, the sickly glow of magical effects in deep shadow.

The dragon-riding sequences deserve special mention. Flying combat set-pieces are a series first, and they land with genuine spectacle. Soaring above a burning fortress while raining fire down on demon legions is exactly as cinematic as it sounds.

The Shield Parry System — The Dark Ages' Defining Mechanic

The single biggest mechanical departure in The Dark Ages is the shield parry system. In DOOM 2016 and DOOM Eternal, survival was rooted in constant movement — dash, jump, airstrafe, never stop. The Dark Ages introduces a fundamentally different defensive option: active, timing-based blocking.

Land a shield parry at the correct moment and you open a counter-attack window. Against certain enemies, a perfectly timed parry triggers an instant kill finisher. This transforms combat from pure kinetic chaos into something with genuine rhythm — offense, defense, counter, repeat. It takes adjustment, but once it clicks, the system is genuinely addictive.

It isn't flawless. Parry windows feel inconsistently telegraphed on some enemy types, and when multiple threats converge simultaneously, committing to a parry can feel punishing rather than rewarding. There's a real learning curve here, and it steepens in the back half of the campaign.

Dark Ages vs. DOOM Eternal — Which Fits You Better?

This is the comparison every DOOM fan will make, so let's lay it out directly.

If Eternal's manic speed was your favorite thing about modern DOOM, the opening hours of The Dark Ages will feel sluggish. That's honest. But if Eternal felt overwhelming — too many systems, too many plates spinning at once — The Dark Ages is a significantly more approachable entry point. These aren't competing for the same crown; they're different games with different goals, sharing a name and a mythology.

What Critics Are Saying

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"DOOM: The Dark Ages takes a genuine risk and mostly delivers. The shield system adds strategic depth the series has never had, and the medieval setting fits far more naturally than anyone had a right to expect."

— IGN

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"A deliberate step back from Eternal's frantic pace in favor of something heavier. Not every fan will welcome the change, but the result is undeniably accomplished."

— PC Gamer

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"id Software managed to keep DOOM's DNA intact while delivering an experience that feels genuinely fresh. The medieval setting has no business working this well."

— Eurogamer

Community Voices

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"Eternal was too much for me and I quit after a few hours. Dark Ages I finished on day one. The accessibility improvement is real."

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"Went in skeptical about the setting, then the dragon sequence happened and I was completely sold. id never disappoints."

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"As a hardcore Eternal fan I was disappointed at first, but playing it as its own thing — there's something genuinely great here. Different, but great."

Verdict — Pros and Cons

Pros

• ▶Stunning medieval fantasy visuals powered by a refined id Tech engine
• ▶Shield parry system adds meaningful strategic depth to combat
• ▶Dragon-riding sequences are a spectacular series first
• ▶Lower barrier to entry than DOOM Eternal
• ▶Available on Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost for subscribers

Cons

• ▶Fans of Eternal's relentless speed may find early pacing sluggish
• ▶Parry timing windows inconsistent on some enemy types
• ▶Reduced mobility compared to Eternal can feel restrictive
• ▶Late-game difficulty spike is sharp and abrupt

A Metacritic score of 85 is an honest reflection of what The Dark Ages is: not quite perfect, but confidently excellent. It's a strong recommendation for newcomers to the series, anyone who bounced off Eternal's difficulty, and DOOM veterans willing to meet the game on its own terms. Game Pass subscribers have zero reason not to try it right now.

Buy on Steam — $59.99