This looks like the best modern Doom yet.
There’s plenty to praise here - as well as a few caveats that are worth bringing up.
First, the engine.
This looks nice, with more watery levels showing off full RT reflections with atmospherics layered on using SSR.
You also get an interesting effect when swimming below the surface which I liked quite a bit.
The point is that The Dark Ages combines cutting-edge tech with very high levels of performance.
How high remains to be seen, but this demo suggests we’re in for a real treat.
In Doom: The Dark Ages, this has changed completely.
Similarly, chainsawing enemies is not necessary for regaining ammo.
As a result of these changes, battles flow more smoothly.
It actually feels like a marriage between classic Doom and modern Doom combat, which really impressed me.
One thing that doesn’t really return is aerial moves and platforming, which is minimised here.
The shield mechanics are also very interesting.
The options menu is also incredible, with prefs to dial in gameplay exactly the way you like it.
you might adjust things like game speed, enemy agression, particle speed and so on.
I played most of the demo at 150 percent speed and had a blast.
The game also changes quite a bit from level to level.
There are also mech levels, where you’re smashing city buildings and fighting giant demons.
It reminds me of vehicle missions in Halo orTitanfall 2.
There’s also a large open map.
I still have a lot of questions about how the game will play out.
I do have some nitpicks about certain elements of the game as I played.
There’s also no dot crosshair, which I prefer.
The entire screen staying red while your health drops below a certain level is also annoying.
I guess we’ll have to wait until May to be sure.
