Released in 1993, on a disk, in version shareware (First free levels, paid continuation), “Doom” was a first -person milestone PC game, in the same way as “Wolfenstein 3D”, released in the same format some time earlier.
It was a question of embodying a heavily armed navy and shooting demons that were introduced into our reality via infernal portals. It was not subtle, but terribly effective. At the time, it was also a very first -rate technical demonstration. Then there was a “Doom 2” and a “Doom 3”, a (very mediocre) cinema feature, variations and variant on consoles and, in 2016, a reboot (“Doom”) and, in 2020, a suite: “Doom Eternal”.
Always designed by the legendary ID Sofware Studio (today in hand of Bethesda, therefore of Microsoft), “Doom – The Dark Ages” is positioned as prequel of the last two titles. In other words, the action is supposed to take place before the facts shown in the “doom”, vintage 2016. In our humble opinion, it has little importance, so much, in all subjectivity, we contrafe to know how the zigue which clears faster than its shadow has become The Slayer. We nevertheless salute the effort.
We discover that the action takes place on a distant planet, that demonic portals are always open and that a large little causing arm seems to be the only effective bulwark against the hordes of hairy creatures that will collapse at its feet, the hoses in the air.
“The Dark Ages” is therefore essentially an action game made up of a single solo campaign divided into chapters. On the technical side, it is high -end, with richly fed graphics, impeccable animations and remarkable fluidity (60 images per second on all floors) and a professional sound system. It is also undoubtedly a man’s game (it will not surprise anyone) with a martial atmosphere that expresses a fascination supported for armor, heavy weapons and brutal masculinity. Here, the fantastic medieval goes with the coarse terror. Delicate souls and friends of subtlety, go your way.
Again, no surpriseit is in terms of gameplay that “The Dark Ages” excels. The playability is in our eyes cooked with small onions. It adapts which more is at all levels, to the player the responsibility to transform the journey into a health walk or into a barely surmountable challenge by selecting the appropriate options. The game also has elegance (finally, way of speaking) to offer welcome variations. In combat on foot, in corridors or in arenas, follow phases in a gigantic “mecha” (change of radical perspective) or on a dragon, also disproportionate. We will not say that it rests, but it changes ideas.
In short, ID Software’s know-how is once again demonstrated. The studio has a reputation to maintain, “The Dark Ages” completes the file without bringing the carbon paper too much. It is completely “mottletous”, of course, but the bolts are machined with the expected know-how.
We tested “Doom – The Dark Ages” on Xbox Serie X. The game is released on May 15 also on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. It will also be offered in “Day One” On the GamePass, the Netflix of Microsoft’s video game.
