“DOOM: The Darkish Ages is a prequel” was mainly the very first thing we heard about DOOM: The Darkish Ages (apart from its identify, possibly, which additionally implied the exact same), so id Software program has clearly given us a primary thought of the place within the sequence’ timeline the upcoming first particular person shooter goes to be positioned. As long-suffering followers will attest to, nonetheless, the DOOM timeline is not any easy timeline- as it’s, nobody can appear to agree on a single constant chronology that encompasses each single mainline launch (to say nothing of the spinoffs), and the truth that id Software program itself has by no means been too keen to offer an official, concrete reply has solely made issues that a lot murkier. So how precisely is DOOM: The Darkish Ages going to be tied to different titles within the sequence?
Let’s do that the sane approach and take issues step-by-step, as a result of the DOOM timeline, like many different gaming franchises on the market, can drive you up the wall if you happen to let it sneak up on you. Let’s begin with what we all know with 100% certainty. We all know that DOOM: The Darkish Ages goes to be a prequel to DOOM (2016), which suggests it’ll be the sooner recreation within the sequence’ chronology that id Software program has developed since delicate rebooting it with the aforementioned title practically a decade in the past.
“Smooth reboot” is, after all, the operative phrase right here, as a result of DOOM (2016) and DOOM Everlasting are nonetheless very a lot set in the identical continuity as and tied to the older DOOM video games. Actually, as confirmed explicitly in DOOM Everlasting, the Doom Slayer, the protagonist of the brand new video games, and Doomguy, the outdated DOOM titles’ protagonist, are one and the identical. That was clearly that many had already broadly assumed nevertheless it was by no means outright formally made clear till Everlasting confirmed that, sure, the Doom Slayer is identical man who fought via the forces of Hell within the unique DOOM, DOOM 2, and DOOM 64.
In fact, that raised some fully new questions- at the least for individuals who have been in search of all of the items to suit collectively completely the place the timeline was involved. DOOM 64 ended with Doomguy deciding to remain behind in Hell and battle towards what he had come to see as his mortal enemies in Hell’s armies. An unspecified time skip later (which can or might not quantity to roughly 20 years), DOOM (2016) begins with the Slayer locked in a sarcophagus and being woke up on Mars to battle again towards invading forces from Hell. So how did he go from the place he was on the finish of Doom 64 to the place he finds himself in 2016?
Whether or not we’ll get that direct tie between these two factors with DOOM: The Darkish Ages, which a good portion of the sequence’ followers are clearly desperately hoping for, stays to be seen, although one factor that we do know is that The Darkish Ages shouldn’t be going to immediately lead into 2016. You might have assumed that the sport would clarify how precisely the Slayer winds up sealed in that sarcophagus, nevertheless it seems that query isn’t one thing that id Software program intends to reply simply but. In an interview with PC Gamer, recreation director Hugo Martin revealed that DOOM: The Darkish Ages gained’t finish with the Slayer being sealed, with id Software program leaving the door open for extra video games within the sequence’ medieval arc. Whether or not we will get direct sequels to The Darkish Ages that proceed to fill out that window within the DOOM timeline isn’t one thing that the studio appears to have concretely determined but (or if they’ve, they’re clearly not keen to publicly discuss it), however both approach, The Darkish Ages isn’t going to guide immediately into DOOM 2016.
The query, then, is how closely it’ll tie into the pre-soft reboot DOOM titles. Will the sport be clear about how the Slayer’s story picks up from the place it left off on the finish of DOOM 64, as an illustration? We’d think about The Darkish Ages gained’t give attention to that particular too closely, as a result of on the finish of the day, id Software program won’t need to make the older titles required studying for the brand new title’s story to be understood- not least as a result of the studio is billing this as an awesome start line for newcomers to the sequence, and due to the higher emphasis being positioned on story and storytelling this time round (at the least compared to what has normally been the established order with DOOM). Both approach, followers will certainly be hoping for at the least some of the narrative to speak about connections to the previous titles. In spite of everything, DOOM Everlasting did simply that, so why shouldn’t The Darkish Ages?
One older DOOM recreation that we will roughly safely assume The Darkish Ages is not going to tie into is DOOM 3. That recreation’s placement within the DOOM timeline is probably the largest query mark associated to the sequence proper now, however most appear to agree on DOOM 3 being its personal separate department of alternate actuality, which suggests it’s, for all intents and functions, not a part of the dialogue. Perhaps id Software program sooner or later figures out how one can change that in a approach that doesn’t really feel pressured or convoluted- or possibly that simply isn’t one thing that the developer is anxious with, at the least in the meanwhile.
Connections to the brand new titles will clearly be rather more prevalent and outstanding. Throughout DOOM (2016) and DOOM Everlasting, we’ve realized lots concerning the world of Argent D’Nur, about its denizens often called the Argent, concerning the elite troopers often called the Evening Sentinels, concerning the Doom Slayer’s time there, about how he turned a legendary warrior when he joined the world’s battle towards the invading armies of Hell. DOOM: The Darkish Ages is ready to give attention to that a part of the sequence’ lore, of the Slayer’s battle, and we’re fairly enthusiastic about it.
Not solely are we going to witness the conflict between Hell and Argent D’Nur – which we all know ended with the latter’s defeat, and far of the planet being sucked proper into Hell – we’re additionally going to get to see the Evening Sentinels in motion, and we’re going to get to study extra about how the Doom Slayer became the broadly feared and revered legend and hero of an historic conflict that he’s often called within the sequence’ current day.
Presumably, the ultimate recreation of this medieval story arc – nonetheless many video games that finally ends up being – will finish with essential occasions which might be already identified within the lore- the Evening Sentinels being betrayed and destroyed, Argent D’Nur being defeated and subjugated by Hell, and the Doom Slayer being captured and sealed. How The Darkish Ages itself will finish is a much bigger thriller, although what it is promising with its give attention to Argent D’Nur, an historic part-medieval-part-futuristic conflict, and the Doom Slayer rising into his legend is thrilling sufficient in and of itself. With id Software program touting a much bigger give attention to storytelling than in previous DOOM titles, we’re greater than somewhat curious to see how The Darkish Ages fares by way of delivering on these guarantees.
