DOOM (2016)andDOOM Eternalwere both among the best games of their respective years, so expectations from the upcomingDOOM: The Dark Agesare high, to say the very least. Based on everything weve seen of the game, however, it sure looks like its once again taking incredible shape as yet another unmissable rip-roaring FPS adventure.Recently, we had the chance to view a behind-closed-doors presentation of the first-person-shooter (which Microsoft went on to showcase as part of its Xbox Developer_Direct show), before sitting in on a Q&A session with director Hugo Martin and executive producer Marty Stratton. Here, were going to go over the most significant details that we gathered on the game, from its story and combat to its new weapons, mechanics, larger levels, and more.STORY DETAILSAs weve known for a while,DOOM: The Dark Agesis serving as a prequel toDOOM (2016).Players will once again step into the shoes of the legendary Doom Slayer, a supersoldier caught in the midst of a medieval war against the forces of hell. According to id Software, the game will be a great entry point for newcomer, given the fact that it takes place before both of the modern DOOMtitles. Its story will, however, lead directly intoDOOM (2016),which means veteran fans will also have plenty to chew on.And what exactly is the narrative setup? id hasnt revealed much, but has confirmed that the game will begin with the Doom Slayer imprisoned, with his powers coveted by his enemies, but withheld from his allies. Take from that what you will.NEW APPROACH TO STORYTELLINGDOOMhas never beentoofocused on storytelling, with narrative usually taking a backseat, even if there is never any shortage of compelling lore and backstory to dive into. WithThe Dark Ages,however, the series is changing its approach. Director Hugo Martin says about the games story, Its easier to access now, as weve taken the narrative out of the codex and into the cutscenes, featuring new characters, old allies, and powerful new villains. He has also described the story as big, and a summer blockbuster event with everything on the line. In the aforementioned Q&A, the devs also revealed that the game has more cutscenes than either of its predecessors (but did not provide any specifics).STAND AND FIGHTLets get to the meat and potatoes here, because this isDOOMafter all- whats the combat looking like? Well, its looking aggressive- which isnt surprising for the series, but itisgoing about it a different way. As id Software describes it,DOOM (2016)score loop encouraged players to run and gun, while DOOM Eternalswitched it up to jump and shoot. WithDOOM: The Dark Ages,that mantra is changing to stand and fight, with id likening this games Doom Slayer to an iron tank. Martin describes it as a grounded combat system with an emphasis on power over the acrobatics ofDOOM Eternal.SHIELD SAWAt the heart ofDOOM: The Dark Agesnew approach to combat will be a number of new tools and mechanics, chief among them being the Shield Saw. Players will be able to block, parry, and deflect incoming attacks, while the shield can also be thrown as a weapon, cutting distant enemies with the saws on its perimeter. Every action taken with the Shield Saw will be with a single button, all being contextual. According to the devs, thats part of a wider initiative to remove some of the excessive input and controls-related complexity ofDOOM: Eternal.MELEE OPTIONSThe Shield Saw is ultimately a defensive tool. In keeping with the games more aggressive nature, however, players will also be encouraged to stand and fight by using multiple new melee weapons. The three new melee options available to players will include an iron flail, an electric gauntlet, and a spiked mace. Like with the shield, there will be one single button dedicated to all melee actions, with actions being contextual.WEAPONSThe weapons are obviously always VIPs in anyDOOMgame, andThe Dark Agesisnt turning its back on that tradition by any means. In addition to its new melee options and the Shield Saw, id says the game will also feature some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons to ever come from the studio. Director Hugo Martin saysThe Dark Agesroster of weapons will be filled with mean and ancient tools of destruction that are built to butcher, impale, and shred the minions of hell with.Only inDOOM.Thats the mission statement for the design of these never-before-seen, insanely fun to use tools of mayhem, he says.CHANGED GLORY KILLSYes, obviously Glory Kills are coming back inDOOM: The Dark Ages, but theyre taking a different form. id Software is clearly heavily focused on ramping up the tempo of the action, and inThe Dark Ages,that will be reflected in the new, un-synced Glory Kills. Rather than each Glory Kill having an unskippable animation that takes you out of the action,The Dark Ageswill feature completely seamless Glory Kills that you can trigger from any direction, allowing you to unleash a string of them in quick succession (should the opportunity arise).ATLAN MECH AND CYBERNETIC DRAGON SECTIONSDOOM: The Dark Agesreveal trailer last year showed glimpses of the Doom Slayer controlling a cybernetic dragon in gameplay sections, and now we have more info on that. The shooter will not only allow players to pilot a fire-breathing cybernetic dragon wielding a gatling gun, but also building-sized Atlan mechs. And these wont just be one-off set-piece sections either. Says Hugo Martin, Neither of these are one-and-done features. They have a full suite of abilities and even minibosses. The spectacle is epic, the power fantasy is unlike anything weve made at id, and the combat systems behind these features are deep and tons of fun.EXPLORATIONDOOM: The Dark Agesis also placing a much greater emphasis on exploration. Still very much a level-based game (executive producer Marty Stratton explicitly stated during the Q&A that itsnotopen world), the shooter is still at least asemi-open world game. That means players can expect larger levels with a host of exploration and optional content to engage with. Director Hugo Martin says, Explore what is the largest play space ever in a DOOMgame., discovering secret caves and dungeon-like mines in search of vital resources. You control the pace of the game- where you go, who you fight, and the objectives you pursue. Its aDOOMsandbox full of war and riches.PROGRESSIONExploration inDOOM: The Dark Ageswill yield plenty of collectibles (and toys are confirmed to be returning), but in the Q&A, Martin also stated that the rewards for exploration would now be more deeply tied to progression and upgrades. Specifics on what progression mechanics will entail are scarce, but id has said that through exploration, players will constantly be unlocking new abilities and powers. The games recent presentation also showed brief glimpses of skill trees where players will be upgrading their tools by spending Runes- including the Shield Saw and (presumably) their melee weapons.LOCATIONSThe full extent of details on the locations that players will explore inDOOM: The Dark Agesare obviously yet to be revealed, but id has already offered some enticing teases. The developer says players will visit the far reaches of theDOOMuniverse, which will include mysterious worlds from the Slayers past, dark forests, dungeons, ancient hellscapes, battlefields, and worlds beyond.id SOFTWARES LARGEST GAME YETGiven the fact that this is going to be a semi-open world experience, it should come as no surprise that id Software is touting this as its biggest and most ambitious game to date. That means it will also be the longest. Exactly how much longer thanDOOM Eternal(which was a 15-25 hour experience) it is going to be hasnt been confirmed, but you can expect it to be notably longer. Executive producer Marty Stratton said during the Q&A, It kinda depends on how youre playing, like any game. But its the biggest game, the biggest campaign weve ever made by a good bit. If youre exploring those levels, theres just tons.NEW DIFFICULTY OPTIONSFor those who foundDOOM Eternala bit too difficult (and there were plenty out there who did), id Software will attempt to makeThe Dark Agesmore accessible with some new features. Multiple difficulty options are obviously returning, but this time, players will also be able to customize their gameplay experience exactly how they want, with a number of difficulty sliders included. These sliders will let you tweak your damage output, how much damage you take, how aggressive enemies are, what the speed of the game is, how freely you get resources, the timing windows for parries, and more.MUSICThe heavy metal music ofDOOMis a big part of the experience, but with acclaimed composer Mick Gordon and id Software having parted ways (apparently under acrimonious circumstances) after having worked together forDOOM (2016)andEternal,The Dark Ageswill see new talent stepping forward. id Software has revealed that the games music will be composed by video game music production company Finishing Move, which has worked on titles such asBorderlands 3, The Callisto Protocol, Halo Wars 2, Grounded,and more.LAUNCH DETAILSAnd when exactly can we get our hands onDOOM: The Dark Ages? Its not too far away. The first-person shooter launches on May 15, and it will be available day and date for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5. Like all first-party Microsoft titles, it will also be available via Game Pass at launch.