DOOM: The Dark Ages

[Juxtapose]

Don't think we have a thread about DOOM: The Dark Ages yet. Curious if people are excited for it or not, since DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal were both excellent games across all platforms.

With the game releasing next Thursday, the launch trailer dropped today:

Digital Foundry also released their review of the console versions, which is the first proper footage of the game on consoles that I've seen:

The gist of it is on console, the PlayStation 5 Pro is at 1800p, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are at 1440p, and Xbox Series S is at 900p. All use dynamic resolution scaling. Aside from the resolution bump, there appears to be no major upgrade on PlayStation 5 Pro over base PlayStation 5. Film grain is mandatory, and there's ray traced global illumination I think, but reflections are screen space on all platforms and not ray traced.

Performance is surprising. Targeting 60 FPS on all consoles, Xbox Series X is the only one that holds this. Xbox Series S comes in next with dips here and there. PlayStation 5 Pro sees more dips in larger battles and PlayStation 5 sees the worst dips.

The game also has some bugs like certain sliders not working properly.

The game looks good, though it'd benefit from a patch across the board.

Right now I think I'm going to wait before picking it up.

 

[PrinceGoro]

When you say a patch across the board do you mean only for the bugs or gameplay aspects included?

Im excited for the game but man the dragon flying looks so goofey to me, like a bit unffiting for the atmosphere.

Wonder if a full meele spec is possible and viable at max difficulties.

 

[FrozenG3oX]

Off topic: the doom xbox controller looks insanely good.

 

[Dankster Morgan]

I’m very excited for this game, I like that all 3 modern doom games are very different.

 

[Eldriken]

It is currently blowing my mind that outside of PC, the only console able to keep a stable framerate is the Series X. Not even the PS5 Pro was able to keep a consistent framerate and would experience dips.

 

[iSuckAtFightingGames]

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst. I am excited that DA is claiming that it is back to a more classic doom style of game with strafe aiming and all that, but it still looks so quick and that it might give me an epileptic attack form all the colour.

Look at the speed of this game at the start of this video... urrgr... that is a way turn off.

Im excited for the game but man the dragon flying looks so goofey to me, like a bit unffiting for the atmosphere.

a small pallet cleaning mini game that only happens a few times in the entire game as a way to break up the constant action is not something to worry about. It is so minimal, and so mch just a "here is a fun little break for you" type thing...

 

[Trustful_Whale]

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst. I am excited that DA is claiming that it is back to a more classic doom style of game with strafe aiming and all that, but it still looks so quick and that it might give me an epileptic attack form all the colour.

Look at the speed of this game at the start of this video... urrgr... that is a way turn off.



a small pallet cleaning mini game that only happens a few times in the entire game as a way to break up the constant action is not something to worry about. It is so minimal, and so mch just a "here is a fun little break for you" type thing...

Go to 9:57 to see a screen full of modifiers you can tweak, game speed is one and can be turned down.

 

[Jynks]

I'm weak... I promised myself I wouldn't pre-order..... I've per-ordered. The hype got me : (

 

[FrozenG3oX]

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst. I am excited that DA is claiming that it is back to a more classic doom style of game with strafe aiming and all that, but it still looks so quick and that it might give me an epileptic attack form all the colour.

Look at the speed of this game at the start of this video... urrgr... that is a way turn off.



a small pallet cleaning mini game that only happens a few times in the entire game as a way to break up the constant action is not something to worry about. It is so minimal, and so mch just a "here is a fun little break for you" type thing...

You can try it on gamepass tho

 

[PrinceGoro]

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst. I am excited that DA is claiming that it is back to a more classic doom style of game with strafe aiming and all that, but it still looks so quick and that it might give me an epileptic attack form all the colour.

Look at the speed of this game at the start of this video... urrgr... that is a way turn off.



a small pallet cleaning mini game that only happens a few times in the entire game as a way to break up the constant action is not something to worry about. It is so minimal, and so mch just a "here is a fun little break for you" type thing...

The big mech sections seem to be just that a nice sequance break, idk ill see how it is ingame but to me from what i saw in trailers it looks strange and a bit over the top with the dragon flying.

 

[Juxtapose]

When you say a patch across the board do you mean only for the bugs or gameplay aspects included?

Bugs and performance. Personally I wouldn't judge gameplay yet since the game isn't out and I have yet to play it.

Off topic: the doom xbox controller looks insanely good.

I was tempted to buy one, but held off.

It is currently blowing my mind that outside of PC, the only console able to keep a stable framerate is the Series X. Not even the PS5 Pro was able to keep a consistent framerate and would experience dips.

I expect that will be tightened up in future patches. id Software traditionally does excellent optimization. Keep in mind though, DOOM (2016) on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox Series X did have slight dips into the mid-50's.

I'm weak... I promised myself I wouldn't pre-order..... I've per-ordered. The hype got me : (

Yeah, I'm still holding off, but I'm tempted. Granted, I can get the Premium Edition simply through my Microsoft Reward Points alone, thus the temptation.

 

[Mikemetroid]

This won't be no doom eternal but I am hype regardless

 

[kabelfritz]

It is currently blowing my mind that outside of PC, the only console able to keep a stable framerate is the Series X. Not even the PS5 Pro was able to keep a consistent framerate and would experience dips.

well ID is part of microsoft, so its safe to say that xbox was their lead platform in developement and it would be best optimized for that.

 

[Jynks]

This won't be no doom eternal but I am hype regardless

Doom eternal sucked. That mario bouncing, weapon swapping insult to doom was a travesty.

 

[Juxtapose]

... I like that all 3 modern doom games are very different.

I personally don't mind when a franchise does this. I think it's great when developers try different things instead of just rehashing the same game over and over. The previous games aren't going anywhere and can still be enjoyed while we try something new. Of course this means that not every game will resonate with every player.

well ID is part of microsoft, so its safe to say that xbox was their lead platform in developement and it would be best optimized for that.

Not necessarily. There have been instances before where a first party title performs better on PlayStation 5 over Xbox Series X. Overall it's to the title's benefit to perform the best it can on each individual platform, and I do expect id will get the game there. Since these reviews are being done on a review build, there could already be a patch waiting that will resolve things.

@Jynks How large is the game?

 

[Jynks]

How large is the game?

dunno.. like 85gigs or something... I read people are really pissed as the physical disc is like 5 meg or w/e

 

[Juxtapose]

dunno.. like 85gigs or something... I read people are really pissed as the physical disc is like 5 meg or w/e

85 GB isn't so bad for a modern game. The disc must be a download token, then?

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst.

I didn't like it at first either and couldn't believe how far id dropped the ball. Then I started watching some of the director playthrough's with Hugo Martin and listening to their design decisions and reasoning so I gave the game another chance. Instead of playing it how I wanted to, I started playing it how it was designed to be played, and my opinion changed. The game is fantastic. To each their own, of course.

 

[Jynks]

85 GB isn't so bad for a modern game. The disc must be a download token, then?

no... the actual disk you buy is 85megs... I looked it up... but yes.. it is basically just a download code you are buying and some plastic.

 

[PrinceGoro]

This won't be no doom eternal but I am hype regardless

Im kinda glad that its not eternal.

On first playthrough of eternal i was like damn this might be the best most epic fps ever, it was sick and i was super excited for the dlc.

But i just cant play that anymore, its too cracked out, after playing ancient gods part 1 i was totally over the that cracked out gameplay.
They took the speedrunners weapon switching tech of doom 2016 and decided to trun it up to 11 and make the whole gameplay ultra fast and centered around the weapon switching and combos. Finished dlc part 2 and i never touched the game since and i originally tought after the main campaign ill be playing it alot.

Dark ages seems to be much slower and closer to doom 2016 style, hugos comment of: if you were a ferrari in eternal then you are a tank in dark ages is all i needed to hear. As fun as eternal was im totally burnt out from that gameplay style.

 

[Mikemetroid]

Doom eternal sucked. That mario bouncing, weapon swapping insult to doom was a travesty.

skill issue lmao all dooms are great, I'm sure you hate the flashlight in doom 3 as well. You can just not like the game you know, Doom is always innovating, who are you to determine what's an insult to doom or not lol.

Im kinda glad that its not eternal.

On first playthrough of eternal i was like damn this might be the best most epic fps ever, it was sick and i was super excited for the dlc.

But i just cant play that anymore, its too cracked out, after playing ancient gods part 1 i was totally over the that cracked out gameplay.
They took the speedrunners weapon switching tech of doom 2016 and decided to trun it up to 11 and make the whole gameplay ultra fast and centered around the weapon switching and combos. Finished dlc part 2 and i never touched the game since and i originally tought after the main campaign ill be playing it alot.

Dark ages seems to be much slower and closer to doom 2016 style, hugos comment of: if you were a ferrari in eternal then you are a tank in dark ages is all i needed to hear. As fun as eternal was im totally burnt out from that gameplay style.

I am also glad its not doom eternal 2. I enjoyed the fast gameplay and challenging combat. It's honestly easy once you learn the dance. However, Eternal just needs to stay like it does with that game just like all the other dooms do in their retrospective eras. Doom Eternal was huge for me during the pandemic, so its steep learning curve was welcomed. But you know, To the future, so I am also looking forward to roleplaying an iron tank in DOOMDA, parrying tf outta demons and thwacking them with a flail.

 

[PrinceGoro]

skill issue lmao all dooms are great, I'm sure you hate the flashlight in doom 3 as well. You can just not like the game you know, Doom is always innovating, who are you to determine what's an insult to doom or not lol.



I am also glad its not doom eternal 2. I enjoyed the fast gameplay and challenging combat. It's honestly easy once you learn the dance. However, Eternal just needs to stay like it does with that game just like all the other dooms do in their retrospective eras. Doom Eternal was huge for me during the pandemic, so its steep learning curve was welcomed. But you know, To the future, so I am also looking forward to roleplaying an iron tank in DOOMDA, parrying tf outta demons and thwacking them with a flail.

Hell yeah, im very curiose also how effective a potential full melee spec is and if its even possible.

 

[Eji1700]

It is currently blowing my mind that outside of PC, the only console able to keep a stable framerate is the Series X. Not even the PS5 Pro was able to keep a consistent framerate and would experience dips.

Doubly so because Doom 2016 is a mastercourse in game optimization.

Eternal was so terrible, I am defiantly going to wait for a sale on this one. All that bouncing around and weapon swapping and stuff was just the worst.

Doom eternal sucked. That mario bouncing, weapon swapping insult to doom was a travesty.

The irony of people on a competitive fighting game forum complaining about weapon swapping in doom is just fantastic.

I get it's not for everyone, but fucking hell doom IS weapon swapping as is basically most of the boomer shooter genre. The only thing more reliant on it is probably Quake. This is the "throws are cheap" of FPS takes.

 

[Jynks]

skill issue lmao all dooms are great, I'm sure you hate the flashlight in doom 3 as well. You can just not like the game you know, Doom is always innovating, who are you to determine what's an insult to doom or not lol.

doubt it is a skioll issue, the game is very forgiving and super easy. Even nightmare mode dose not have respawning like in classic. I would say most people play ultraviolence for their first ever run and never have any issues.

The games problem is that it is not fun, like at all.

 

[Dankster Morgan]

Doom eternal was about optimizing dps through weapon switches, positioning, and mobility. You had a lot of options to stay moving and needed to on nightmare or even ultra violence.

TDA seems to be more about predicting your needs before you fight stronger demons and standing your ground. Since it looks like you can’t use the saw shield while switching guns and therefore can’t parry.

You absolutely were not forced to weapon swap constantly in eternal. SSG/Ballista and PB/Rocket were obviously really useful and should be used but you can stagger demons in many ways and kill them efficiently without going crazy on the combos. I beat the game on nightmare on Xbox, and was far from optimized. There’s tons of room for creativity.

 

[Jynks]

You absolutely were not forced to weapon swap constantly in eternal. SSG/Ballista and PB/Rocket were obviously really useful and should be used but you can stagger demons in many ways and kill them efficiently without going crazy on the combos. I beat the game on nightmare on Xbox, and was far from optimized. There’s tons of room for creativity.

What are you talking about? The entire design of that game is based on rock-paper-scissors. The game had no freedom in combat at all, it was completely dictated by the mechanisms of the monster you were facing. There was no choice, you see an enemy you act EXACTLY the same every time. It is like the most famous thing about that game is the weapon swapping. The game was on rails, and on top of that you bounced around like a rubber ball. It was hella-stupid.