Doom: The Dark Ages’ Cosmic Realm Deserves Its Own Epic Adventure!

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The following contains story spoilers for Doom: The Dark Ages.

In the game titled “Doom: The Dark Ages“, the captivating medieval ambiance is not just engaging but serves as a seamless transition following the impressive foundation laid by both the 2016 Doom remake and Doom Eternal. Interestingly, this game doesn’t exclude science fiction even in its medieval excursion; instead, it blends science fiction with fantasy to explain ancient spacecrafts and technology within the Sentinels’ civilization, along with the Maykrs they revere. However, despite the potential for this setting to shine, it surprisingly takes a secondary role to another fresh biome that is also new to the Doom universe.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say that the medieval vibe in Doom: The Dark Ages is simply amazing, yet somehow it seems underappreciated. Even though it might not be around for too long, the Cosmic Realm leaves an indelible mark on this game, and that’s a shame for two key reasons. First off, it would be a pity if we don’t delve deeper into this realm in future Doom games. Secondly, should it be revisited in a future Doom installment, there’s a risk that the enigma surrounding it might not hold the same allure in a sequel because players have already gotten a taste of its mysteries.

After The Dark Ages, Doom Can’t Go Back Idly to Pure Sci-Fi

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at how Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal have masterfully mined every ounce of atmosphere from Mars, Earth, and even the depths of Hell. They’ve perfected a unique blend of science-fiction aesthetics that may not be entirely original in other media, but within id’s franchise, it’s nothing short of iconic and brilliant.

What makes this even more exciting is that the Doom Slayer embarks on numerous journeys to Hell, with his visit during the Dark Ages being particularly unforgettable. Even his unwilling trip to Hell when he is resurrected there as a zombie after meeting his demise has been a key part of the franchise’s lore.

In terms of narrative, Doom: The Dark Ages was a breath of fresh air on paper, finally capitalizing on the extensive backstory from its two predecessors and immersing players in a world shrouded in dark fantasy.

As a gamer, I’ve come across numerous games that boast a similar aesthetic to the classic Doom, but The Dark Ages takes it up a notch by blending Doom’s signature sci-fi vibe with its unique elements like Atlans, a Mechanical Dragon, and an array of medieval-inspired weaponry for both shooting and close combat.

In a science-fiction landscape, it’s reasonable to expect apprehension about revisiting familiar territory, especially when the show has delved deeply into it. It wouldn’t be unexpected if “Doom” decides to settle in “Doom: The Dark Ages” within Argent D’Nur for a while. However, even before venturing into its medieval realm, “Doom” introduced a new environment that rivals its previous offerings.

Doom: The Dark Ages’ Cosmic Realm Should’ve Been Worth Its Own Game

In the latter half of “Doom: The Dark Ages“, a significant portion unfolds within the Cosmic Realm, where the Doom Slayer embarks on a rescue mission for Commander Thira. This marks the introduction of the Doom series to Lovecraftian surrealism. Contrary to what might be assumed, the Cosmic Realm was not hidden from players; in fact, details about the Cosmic Realm featured in “Doom: The Dark Ages” were unveiled prior to the game’s release, providing a clear picture of the enemies players would face and the appearance of the setting’s levels.

The Cosmic Realm is undeniably captivating, yet it appears myopic to portray so much of it as the olden times, the Dark Ages, did. Instead, it seems they could have kept it hidden and saved it for a standalone game of its own. However, if a future Doom game were to delve back into the Cosmic Realm, its charm might diminish unless id Software manages to create something fresh and revolutionary with it, surpassing what was accomplished in the Dark Ages.

Doom: The Dark Ages” proved invigorating to read, as it effectively utilized the extensive backstory from its two previous installments and immersed players in a world richly depicted with the broad strokes of dark fantasy.

If it were just hinted at as an afterthought or confined to a small part of the game, maybe this new setting wouldn’t have tried to offer everything while still enjoying its own perks. However, players delve deep into the Cosmic Realm, a biome rich with environmental puzzles that starkly contrasts with the humble medieval setting of The Dark Ages, and engage in an epic battle against the Atlan robot boss, the Old One.

Despite the initial thrill of revisiting the Cosmic Realm, as seen in ‘Doom: The Dark Ages’, may not be quite as impactful this time around, even with additional underwater exploration and demon variant spectacles. It’s unexpected that the connection between the Cosmic Realm and Commander Thira, established in this prequel, would not continue post-‘The Dark Ages’. Depending on the gap between ‘The Dark Ages’ and ‘Doom’ (2016) in the chronology of ‘Doom’, there might be further developments for both the medieval and cosmic horror settings by id Software.

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2025-05-27 19:37