That is the place The Darkish Ages actually breaks free from expectation. In my closing (and longest) part of the demo, I’m positioned into id’s tackle a sandbox open zone and instructed to method it nonetheless I’d like. My solitary purpose is to shut 5 demon-spewing portals, however how I do it, and what diversions I take, are completely as much as me. Over the course of an hour, I’m repeatedly reminded that I’ve by no means performed a DOOM recreation like this earlier than.
As you’d hope for, this sandbox sequence is stacked with optionally available targets – closely protected artillery batteries to take out, caches of gold to spend on upgrades, and extra. At one level, I’m merely working someplace, when a cathedral-sized tentacle bursts out of the bottom and begins to assault – this isn’t a scripted second, and even an goal I’m given, it’s simply one other shock hidden alongside the best way.
However the core goals themselves maintain surprises, too. In that first story mission, closing portals was merely a case of clearing an area, but it surely’s by no means fairly the identical on this case. Some portals transport me to a dungeon, requiring me to resolve puzzles to be able to discover my method to the power supply powering them. Others introduce Chief enemies – overpowered beasts who’re invulnerable to my assaults till I kill sufficient of their followers, and include everlasting upgrades after your victory. Alongside the best way, I discover new weapons, augmenting my armory with new choices. It’s restlessly, relentlessly ingenious, as if id has been ready for a chance to transplant new concepts into the DOOM format.
And that’s the important thing takeaway from my full session with DOOM: The Darkish Ages – this seems like a developer brimming with enthusiasm, not only for DOOM itself, however for what DOOM might be. I used to be anticipating a brand new story, new weapons, and new demons – I wasn’t anticipating new genres. I can not wait to seek out out what else this group has in retailer.
DOOM: The Darkish Ages launches for Xbox Sequence X|S, PC (by way of the Xbox app for Home windows PC, Steam, and Battle.web), PlayStation 5, and cloud on Could 15, 2025. It will likely be obtainable day one with Recreation Move.