Doom: The Dark Ages Arrives – A Deep Dive into Tech, Gameplay, and Achievements
The gates of Hell are about to swing open once again! Doom: The Dark Ages is launching soon, and it's shaping up to be a defining moment for current-generation technology and a thrilling experience for gamers. But what can players expect? From early access details to achievement lists and a deep dive into id Software's latest technological marvel, here's everything you need to know.
Early Access and Launch Details
Eager Slayers can jump into Doom: The Dark Ages early! Players who own the Premium Edition can start their demon-slaying journey with Early Access beginning May 13th. For everyone else, the full launch arrives on May 15th across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Pre-loading begins May 11th, so be sure to clear at least 100GB of space on your system.
Achievement Hunters, Rejoice!
For completionists, the Doom: The Dark Ages achievement list is a streamlined, single-player focused experience. With 28 achievements totaling 1,000 Gamerscore, the list emphasizes exploring the campaign, mastering weapons, and upgrading demonic essence.
Notable achievements include “Toy Collector,” “Gunpletionist,” and various mastery challenges. The focused single-player approach is a welcome change, eliminating the grind often associated with multiplayer achievements in previous games.
A Technological Showcase: id Tech 8
Doom: The Dark Ages marks the debut of id Tech 8, and it's a visual powerhouse. This engine boasts fully ray-traced lighting, robust physics simulations, and a brand-new materials system.
One of the most significant advancements is the shift to fully ray-traced lighting. Ray tracing is also used for impact effects and footsteps, creating a more realistic and immersive experience. According to Billy Khan, Director of Engine Technology at id Software, ray tracing allows for a “What You See Is What You Get” workflow, enabling artists to adjust lighting directly in the editor and see the results instantly.
Furthermore, the game features fully ray-marched volumetrics, adding depth and atmosphere to environments through realistic clouds and fog. The physics engine has also been significantly upgraded, with breakable objects and scenery that react dynamically to player actions.
Gameplay and Atmosphere
Doom: The Dark Ages takes a different approach compared to its predecessors. Expect larger, open areas with higher enemy counts and unique mechanics. The game retains the series' fast-paced combat while adding a darker, more subdued tone reminiscent of classic titles like Heretic or Quake.
Enemies are brought to life with remarkable physics, dismemberment, and animation, recalling the sheer enemy numbers of the original 2D Doom games. The game aims for a high frame-rate experience, even with intense rendering and physics, and hordes of enemies.
PC Specifications
PC players, take note! Doom: The Dark Ages requires a hardware ray tracing-compatible GPU to play, even at minimum specifications. Support for NVIDIA Path Tracing will be available shortly after launch.
Get Ready to Rip and Tear!
Doom: The Dark Ages promises to be a visually stunning and exhilarating experience. With its blend of cutting-edge technology, refined gameplay, and a focused single-player campaign, it's shaping up to be a must-play title for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.
Are you diving into Doom: The Dark Ages with early access, or are you waiting for the full launch? What are your thoughts on the shift to ray-traced lighting and the emphasis on single-player? Share your hype in the comments below!
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Is Doom the Dark Ages on Game Pass?
Yes, Doom: The Dark Ages will be available at launch on Xbox Game Pass, but not for all subscription tiers. It'll only be playable on Game Pass if you've subscribed at the PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tiers. It won't be available at the Core or Standard tiers.
How long is the Doom Dark Ages campaign?
A standard playthrough of Doom: The Dark Ages focused mostly on just beating the game is likely to take around 20 hours. There are 22 chapters this time around, and most will take around a little under an hour to finish.
What is the story of Doom the Dark Ages?
Plot. The Dark Ages is a prequel to the 2016 Doom reboot. According to reports, the game features the Doom Slayer being transported to Argent D'Nur, and will show his integration into Argenta society.
Can you play Doom Dark Ages early?
Owners of the DOOM: The Dark Ages Premium Edition can play the game up to two days before launch with Early Access, which rolls out starting midnight UTC on May 13.
