Ever since 2016's Doom and 2020's Doom Eternal, modern Doom games have masterfully revived the old-school retro series. These games honored the original Doom's look and feel while updating gameplay to avoid feeling outdated. However, by the end of Doom Eternal, the gameplay started to feel a bit overwhelming. Managing ammo, health, and armor, along with numerous weapons and a complex movement system, could be a lot to handle.

That's where Doom: The Dark Ages comes in. The team at id Software wants to make things simpler but keep the challenge level the same. They've gone back to the '90s Doom games for inspiration. The original Doom is praised for its accessible single-player campaign and streamlined combat. To achieve this, they've simplified the controls in The Dark Ages.

You'll still have a standard weapon trigger and a melee button, but now you can choose from three different melee weapons with a single input. The new shieldsaw, a chainsaw-edged buckler on your left arm, is a game-changer. Controlled by a single context-sensitive button, it can block and parry attacks, deflect projectiles, throw at enemies, and even act as a grappling hook. This simplicity aims to bring back the fun and accessibility of the old-school Doom games.

Return to Classic Doom: Simplifying the Modern Blast

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