Doom: The Dark Ages Honors the Franchise’s Long History of Melee Weapons

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In spite of introducing some bold modifications, Doom: The Dark Ages maintains its familiar franchise structure, providing players with an array of weapons to tactically employ across swift-moving battlefields. Although the game’s emphasis on its innovative parry system has sparked debate, it continues to deliver a rewarding combat experience by pitting players against both classic demons and novel adversaries.

In “Doom: The Dark Ages,” the atmosphere of Argent D’Nur is skillfully integrated with fresh content. The battlefields reminiscent of the Middle Ages on this planet, embroiled in a fierce war against Hell, provide weapons that suitably bear the title of “The Dark Ages.” While it introduces more historically accurate ranged weapons, “The Dark Ages” prioritizes melee armaments in its combat, reflecting the esteemed history of melee weapons within the broader “Doom” series.

Doom’s Long History of Melee Combat is Worth Celebrating

From the start, the Doom series has been characterized not just by powerful weapons like rocket launchers, plasma rifles, and the mighty BFG9000, but also by significant hand-to-hand combat. In the original Doom games, players would resort to using their fists when ammo was depleted, while the chainsaw served as a more advanced option for close-quarter fights.

Indeed, power-ups have significantly influenced the combat and exploration in the game Doom. The well-known Berserk power-up dramatically increases the Slayer’s ability to inflict damage with his fists, making them a stronger and more practical choice. The contemporary version of Doom, such as Eternal, has embraced this aspect with moves like Blood Punch melee and Crucible sword, and the newly released Dark Ages expands upon this concept even further.

Regrettably, “The Dark Ages” omits the frequent and dramatic Glory Kills seen in “Eternal,” but it substantially enhances melee combat in other aspects instead. Notably, the Shield Saw in “Doom: The Dark Ages” emphasizes the significance of melee within the game, serving as a primary tool to quickly approach enemies while slicing through hordes of lesser demons.

How Doom: The Dark Ages’ Range of Melee Weapons Adds Depth to its Combat

In The Dark Ages game, you can utilize the Shield Saw alongside various melee weapons that players acquire and select as they progress. Later on, the Power Gauntlet is replaced by the Flail, followed by the Dreadmace. Each of these melee weapons, including the Shield Saw, offers numerous upgrade options, empowering the player to decide which weapon to focus on and how it behaves in battle.

In the game, the shield called “Shield Saw” has a unique feature – it can be hurled at foes to immobilize them and pierce through their scorching armor, which makes it an exceptionally adaptable weapon in the game.

In this game, known as The Shield, there’s a sophisticated rune upgrade system for the parrying mechanic in close-quarters combat that offers players a wealth of options. While it also promotes similar upgrade paths for its various ranged weapons, the diverse array of choices for melee weapons mirrors the significance of melee combat in Doom’s extensive and triumphant past, providing players with a logical expansion of their tactical possibilities in battle.

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2025-05-20 05:34