When director Hugo Martin unveiled that the core philosophy for Doom: The Dark Ages was "stand and fight" during Xbox’s Developer Direct, I was immediately hooked. This approach starkly contrasts with Doom Eternal, which thrives on fast-paced, non-stop movement. Yet, amidst Eternal's relentless pace, one enemy, the Marauder, demanded players to adopt a "stand and fight" strategy. The Marauder, arguably the most polarizing enemy in the series, is a personal favorite of mine. Discovering that The Dark Ages' combat hinges on reacting to bright green lights—the same cue critical for defeating a Marauder—sealed my enthusiasm for the game.
Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn’t confine you to a frustrating duel similar to Eternal's Marauder. While the Agaddon Hunter, with its bulletproof shield and lethal combo attacks, might evoke memories of the Marauder, The Dark Ages reimagines the Marauder's essence across its entire combat system. Every encounter now embodies the strategic depth of a Marauder fight, minus the irritation.
The Marauder stands out in Doom Eternal due to its unique challenge. Typically, Eternal encourages players to navigate combat arenas, swiftly managing hordes of enemies and juggling resources. The Marauder disrupts this flow, demanding focused attention and often requiring one-on-one confrontations. When it appears in larger battles, the best strategy involves clearing the field of lesser enemies before engaging this formidable foe.
Doom Eternal's Marauder is one of the most controversial enemies in FPS history. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda
Facing the Marauder doesn't mean standing still; it's about mastering spatial dominance. Too close, and you're vulnerable to its devastating shotgun blast. Too far, and you're pelted with manageable projectiles, yet out of range for its crucial axe swing. The key moment arrives when its eyes flash bright green during the axe's wind-up—your brief window to deal damage, as its energy shield otherwise repels all attacks.
Doom: The Dark Ages also utilizes this bright green cue, paying homage to the series' origins with demon projectiles resembling bullet hell. Among these volleys, special green missiles can be parried with the Doom Slayer’s new shield, sending them back at the sender. Initially a defensive move, the parry evolves into a powerful offensive tool once you unlock the shield's rune system, allowing stunning lightning strikes or triggering an auto-targeting cannon.
Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields, you engage in a series of one-on-one skirmishes with various powerful demons. While not solely reliant on the green light mechanic, mastering the shield’s runes makes parrying an essential part of your strategy. Positioning yourself correctly to intercept green projectiles mirrors the spatial tactics used against the Marauder, requiring quick reflexes and focus.
The Marauder's detractors often criticized it for disrupting Doom Eternal's flow, forcing players to abandon familiar tactics. Personally, I cherish this deviation—it's like switching from ballet to break dancing within a game that already defied FPS norms. Eternal pushed players to rethink resource management and combat strategies, and the Marauder challenged even those new rules.
While the Agaddon Hunter may be the closest to the Marauder in The Dark Ages, every demon carries a bit of Eternal's fiercest foe. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda
Doom: The Dark Ages integrates these varied combat "dances" seamlessly. Each major enemy type has its unique green projectile or melee strike, necessitating tailored approaches. The Mancubus, for instance, requires weaving between energy fences to parry green pillars. The Vagary challenges you to sprint and deflect deadly spheres, while the Revenant's green skulls demand precise timing akin to the Marauder's vulnerability.
By introducing different combat styles gradually, The Dark Ages avoids the jarring introduction of the Marauder in Eternal. Even challenging enemies like the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo, with their intense melee attacks, feel integrated into the game’s evolving combat dynamics.
The Marauder's issue was not its design but its unexpected challenge within Eternal's established rules. The Dark Ages prepares players for this by embedding the reaction-based mechanics throughout, though the parry window is more forgiving than the Marauder's fleeting opportunity. Nevertheless, the essence of locking step with an enemy, waiting for the perfect moment, and striking when the light turns green persists in every battle.
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