The recently revealed DOOM The Dark Ages has sparked mixed reactions — and one of the most scathing critiques has come from Kazuma Hashimoto , a former narrative designer at Sweet Baby Inc.

Hashimoto shared his thoughts on id Software’s upcoming entry in the legendary DOOM franchise, expressing disappointment with the game's tone shift and gameplay direction:

Doom (2016) was set in a grim, technocapitalist future where demons pour out of hellish portals faster than humanity can respond. In contrast, The Dark Ages pulls you into a medieval setting, pitting two factions against each other that feel like cheap knock-offs or imitators of franchises like Warhammer — grotesque, sure, but without any soul.

He goes on to criticize the change in pacing and core gameplay elements:

The frenetic, pulse-pounding action that defined DOOM and DOOM Eternal is completely dulled here. There’s too much focus on plodding around with a chainsaw shield and unnecessary additions like flying segments where Doomguy mounts a dragon — which sounds cool in theory, but feels tacked-on and sluggish.

Hashimoto argues that DOOM The Dark Ages falls into the trap of trying too hard to innovate while losing what made the previous games special. He compares the experience unfavourably to mid-2000s Xbox 360 shooters — describing the game as "experimentally hollow, clumsy, rough, and full of unrealized potential."

He draws a parallel to later entries in long-running series like Gears of War , developed after the franchise’s prime:

Flying feels like dragging your feet through mud. The screen edges blur to simulate speed toward an objective, but there’s no real momentum — just a dull march toward four different assault battleships without purpose or excitement.

While some fans were excited by the medieval-meets-demonic aesthetic teased in early reveals, Hashimoto’s comments raise concerns about whether id Software has strayed too far from what made DOOM great — fast-paced gunplay, tight level design, and relentless energy.

His critique resonates with a growing segment of the community that worries The Dark Ages might be more style over substance — a nostalgic throwback not to DOOM Eternal , but to the clunky, experimental shooters of the past.

Main image: reddit.com

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