Why Doom: The Dark Ages’ Parries Are a Game-Changer Without Glory Kills!

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In the heated debate surrounding one of its key aspects, the game “Doom: The Dark Ages” alters the impactful finishing moves, known as Glory Strikes, to quicker but less impressive animations that seem less vivid compared to the creative violence depicted in Glory Kills. Unfortunately, the Glory Kills were significantly reduced or removed entirely in this game, but fortunately, there is a valid explanation behind this change.

In the game Doom: The Dark Ages, swapping Glory Kills for Glory Strikes accelerates combat with quicker animation sequences, yet this could be seen as ironic because the game intentionally slows down by removing dashes to enhance parries and melee attacks. However, the Doom Slayer’s new sprint and shield launch techniques compensate well for this. It would be unrealistic for players to parry every green projectile and attack on screen if they were consistently watching a Glory Kill animation lasting one or two seconds every five seconds. Even though Glory Kills in Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal are highly appreciated, they aren’t sorely missed when all the combat elements of Doom: The Dark Ages harmoniously work together.

Glory Kills are a Core Part of Doom’s Soft Reboots

The Dark Ages – has its own unique playstyle, leading to different parts of the community favoring one game over another, with some preferring a specific gameplay style.

Some gamers might prefer the thrill of Doom Eternal over Doom: The Dark Ages, due to its focus on cat-and-mouse chases and platforming challenges, while others might appreciate the simplicity of Doom (2016) as a sort of neutral bridge between its prequel and sequel games. Each game is like a unique dish, prepared and presented in completely different styles, and the experience can often be replaced with something that complements it better, even if letting go of a key element feels hard.

Doom: The Dark Ages Proves Glory Kills are Gratifying, But Not Essential

In the game titled “Doom: The Dark Ages“, instead of Glory Kills, you’ll encounter Glory Strikes. Unlike the gory finisher animations that accompany Glory Kills in other games, Glory Strikes are more subtle. By default, the Doom Slayer will either kick or strike demons with his Shield Saw (or whatever melee weapon he has equipped). Glory Strikes aren’t just executions, they weaken enemies and restore health to the player. Despite their functional similarity to dazed executions, it’s striking how minimal the Slayer’s violence is when it comes to obliterating demons in this game compared to previous ones.

The most similar action to performing a Glory Kill that players can manage is when they carry out an airborne dazed execution on a demon; during these instances, the Doom Slayer typically splits or beheads demons using the Shield Saw, contingent on the specific demon being executed.

Instead, players are invited to focus on individual confrontations once surrounding resources or spirit-boosting enemies have been managed. Slow-motion combat techniques like parries and melee attacks are included, and these actions naturally provide health, armor, or ammo supplies, ensuring players always have adequate amounts of each during demon battles when following a systematic approach.

In the game “Doom” (2016) and “Doom Eternal”, the Glory Kills are undeniably impressive, but they aren’t sorely missed when all the combat elements from “Doom: The Dark Ages” are harmoniously combined.

Many adversaries can be anticipated and countered with an attack sequence that weakens them swiftly, such as a ‘block, shoot, strike’ combo. However, certain enemies, like the Mancubus from Doom: The Dark Ages or the Arachnotron, can be stunned easily by throwing a Shield Saw and killed almost instantly with one or two additional Super Shotgun bursts, especially when both weapons have been fully upgraded.

Similar to Doom Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages offers a complex gameplay experience with multiple elements happening simultaneously, but it’s more manageable as players are encouraged to deflect projectiles and attack enemies using melee weapons instead of engaging in the chaotic blend of double-jumps, double-dashes, Chainsaws, Flame Belches, Blood Punches, and Crucibles. Glory Kills might have fit seamlessly into Doom: The Dark Ages’ unique mix, but they would have added another lengthy animation to an already crowded gameplay foundation, and the existing epic moments are quite sufficient.

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2025-05-23 15:18