The upcoming DOOM The Dark Ages has caught the attention of Digital Foundry, renowned for their deep analysis of gaming technology. After gaining early access to the project, the team was thoroughly impressed by the shooter’s technical execution, though they also had a few playful "complaints" about its near-perfect performance.

One standout feature highlighted by Digital Foundry is the game’s destructible environments. They noted:

Wooden structures can be blown up until they collapse under their own weight, leaving debris that can be further chopped into even smaller pieces. This makes the arenas in the game much more dynamic, with constant changes and destruction as you battle enemies. Later episodes featuring the massive DOOM mech take it even further, allowing you to stomp through and obliterate an entire urban environment—absolutely incredible.

This level of interactivity adds a new layer of immersion, keeping players engaged as the environment evolves during combat.

While the technical aspects were largely praised, the team pointed out a few areas for improvement. These included:

  • The soundtrack, which they felt could be more impactful.
  • The overly bright screen effect when health is low, which might disorient players.
  • The intensity of bonus item colors, which they suggested could be toned down.

However, one of their most amusing critiques was about the game’s exceptionally fast load times on PC:

It’s an odd complaint, but the game loads so quickly on PC that loading screens feel almost pointless—even faster than Doom (2016) , which is mind-blowing. It might make sense to completely bypass loading screens and just fade to black instead of requiring a button press after 1-2 seconds.

The speed at which DOOM The Dark Ages operates is a testament to the developers’ dedication to optimizing the game’s technical foundation. From destructible environments to near-instantaneous loading, the game pushes the boundaries of what modern hardware can achieve.

While some minor tweaks could enhance the experience, Digital Foundry ’s overall impression of DOOM The Dark Ages is overwhelmingly positive. With its blend of technical innovation and immersive gameplay, the title is shaping up to be a must-play for fans of the series and action enthusiasts alike.

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