Doom: Dark Ages Inspired by Eternal's Marauder

When director Hugo Martin revealed that the guiding principle for Doom: The Dark Ages was "stand and fight" during Xbox's Developer Direct earlier this year, it immediately captured my interest. This concept directly contrasts with id Software's previous title, Doom Eternal, which thrives on fast-paced, constant movement in combat. However, Doom Eternal introduced one enemy that epitomized the "stand and fight" philosophy—the Marauder. This enemy has sparked intense debate within the community, with many players expressing frustration, while I find it exhilarating. The moment I discovered that Doom: The Dark Ages' combat revolves around reacting to bright green lights—just like defeating a Marauder—I knew I was hooked.

Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn't lock you into a tedious duel with an enemy as swift and tricky as Eternal's Marauder. While the Agaddon Hunter, shielded and equipped with a deadly combo attack, poses a challenge, the spirit of Eternal's memorable battles permeates every encounter in The Dark Ages. The essence of the Marauder has been reimagined, recalibrated, and integrated into the game's core combat mechanics. The outcome is a combat system that captures the strategic essence of facing a Marauder, without the associated annoyances.

The Marauder is a unique adversary in Doom Eternal. Typically, battles in Eternal involve circling the arena, swiftly dealing with lesser enemies while juggling engagements with more formidable foes. The game has been described as a management challenge, not just in terms of resources but also in navigating the battlefield with speed and precision. However, the Marauder disrupts this flow, demanding undivided attention. Encounters with this axe-wielding behemoth often occur in one-on-one scenarios, requiring players to clear out other threats before focusing on the Marauder.

Doom Eternal's Marauder is one of the most controversial enemies in FPS history. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Standing still isn't the strategy in Doom Eternal; it's about mastering the battlefield through strategic positioning. Approaching too closely invites a devastating shotgun blast, while retreating too far results in a barrage of easily dodged projectiles. The key is to provoke the Marauder's axe swing, as his vulnerability window opens only during the wind-up of this attack. His energy shield absorbs all other attacks, so timing is crucial. When his eyes flash bright green, that's your signal to strike within the fleeting moment of opportunity.

In Doom: The Dark Ages, the bright green flash also plays a pivotal role. In homage to the original Doom, enemies unleash volleys of projectiles reminiscent of bullet hell games. Amid these volleys are green missiles that the Doom Slayer can parry with his new shield, sending them back at the attackers. Initially, this is a defensive tactic, but as you progress and unlock the shield's rune system, parrying becomes a potent offensive move. It can stun demons with lightning or trigger your shoulder-mounted, auto-targeting cannon.

Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields feels like a series of focused one-on-one encounters with various formidable demons. While survival isn't solely dependent on reacting to these green lights, mastering the shield runes makes parrying a crucial part of your arsenal. Integrating this into your combat strategy reveals similarities to the Marauder battles in Eternal. Positioning yourself correctly and reacting swiftly to the green orbs is essential, much like timing your attack against the Marauder's swing.

The Marauder's main criticism was its disruption of Doom Eternal's flow. It required a different approach than the tactics used for other challenges, which is precisely why I appreciate it. While Doom Eternal broke the conventional rules of first-person shooters, the Marauder broke those new rules, presenting the ultimate test. I enjoy this challenge, but I understand the frustration it caused for many.

The Agaddon Hunter may be the most Marauder-like enemy in The Dark Ages, but every demon has a little bit of Eternal's most fearsome foe in them. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this issue by incorporating varied "dances" into its combat repertoire. Each major enemy type has its own unique green projectile or melee attack, necessitating a tailored approach. For example, the Mancubus launches energy "fences" with green "pillars" at the ends, requiring side-to-side movement to parry. The Vagary sends out rows of deadly spheres, prompting you to sprint and deflect them like tennis balls. The skeletal Revenant closely mirrors the Marauder, remaining invulnerable until you parry its green skulls.

With each demon demanding unique footwork, introducing new enemies feels seamless. While the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present significant challenges with their intense melee combos, players are already accustomed to adapting their movements and reactions by this point. This was not the case with the Marauder in Eternal, where the game's rules focused on matching the right weapon to the right enemy rather than positioning and reaction tactics.

The Marauder's issue was never its design but the unexpected shift in gameplay it introduced. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares players for similar challenges by embedding reaction-based mechanics throughout the game, rather than presenting them as a sudden change. While this shift reduces the difficulty—the shield's parry window is more forgiving than the Marauder's eye flash—the core concept remains: locking into a rhythm with an enemy, waiting for the perfect moment, and striking when the green light appears. Doom: The Dark Ages reinterprets these ideas in a fresh way, yet they remain unmistakably present. You stand and you fight.