Doom: Dark Ages is a game that will either win you over or leave you cold. The game has only been out for a short time, but it has already made a strong impression. It is quite different from Doom Eternal. If you can't adapt to the new style, you might struggle with Dark Ages.

The game's core mechanic revolves around parrying and melee combat, rather than the fast-paced running and shooting of its predecessor. This shift in focus might be a deal-breaker for some players. However, if you enjoy close-quarters combat, you might find Dark Ages to be a refreshing change.

The shield is the star of the show in Dark Ages. It's a new addition to the Doom Slayer's arsenal, and it's used in a variety of ways. You can throw it like a frisbee to stun enemies, or use it to dash towards them for a powerful strike. This dash move is what makes the game feel fluid and fast. It allows you to cover large distances quickly, so you don't need the super-fast run speed from Doom Eternal.

The shield-bash move is particularly satisfying. It's a new traversal mechanic that lets you zip towards enemies instantly. This move is what makes the game feel fluid and fast, once you learn the rhythm of it. Because the shield-bash involves this dashing move that can zip you across huge distances, you don’t necessarily need the super-fast run speed you had in Doom Eternal.

The game's combat design is all about up-close-and-personal fighting. You can parry certain incoming attacks to build up charges for a powerful melee attack. This might feel weird at first, especially since the guns in the game often feel like they have infinite bullets. But the melee attack is so powerful and satisfying that it makes sense to have a limit on it. Having to rebuild melee charges by using the parry mechanics feels good, because you’re already parrying with your new shield, anyway, so whenever you really need to land a trio of big punches on a big guy, you’re ready.

The story of Doom: Dark Ages is still unfolding. The Doom Slayer is under the control of a mysterious religious organization, but he's still doing what he does best: brutally killing demons. It's too early to say how the rest of the game will play out, but the combat has already made a strong impression. If you're willing to let go of your Doom Eternal muscle memory, you might just find Dark Ages to be a thrilling experience.

Doom: Dark Ages - A New Twist on Classic Combat

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