Generic in visuals and tone, Bethesda's medieval prequel slows down the action and confusingly strips the game of everything that makes modern Doom great

Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to Doom 2016. The forces of hell are invading a realm heavily inspired by the medieval era, and the Doom Slayer is summoned to do what he does best: Rip and tear through demons.

Doom: The Dark Ages feels closer to the sweet spot. It plays less like Eternal’ s offspring and more like its weird younger sibling. Another, different evolution of 2016’s design, built fresh atop its foundation.