"Doom: The Dark Ages Inspired by Eternal's Marauder"

When director Hugo Martin announced that the guiding principle for Doom: The Dark Ages was "stand and fight" during Xbox’s Developer Direct earlier this year, I was immediately captivated. This approach starkly contrasts with Doom Eternal, known for its high-speed, constantly moving combat. However, one enemy in Doom Eternal embodies this "stand and fight" philosophy—the Marauder. This enemy, perhaps the most divisive in the Doom series, is loathed by many but adored by me. Realizing that Doom: The Dark Ages combat hinges on reacting to bright green lights, a technique crucial for defeating the Marauder, sealed my excitement for the game.

Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn't trap you in a frustrating duel with an enemy as swift and tricky as Eternal's Marauder. While the Agaddon Hunter, with its bulletproof shield and deadly combo attacks, presents a challenge, the essence of Eternal's notorious battles permeates every encounter in The Dark Ages. The game reinterprets, adjusts, and enhances the Marauder's mechanics, embedding them into the core combat system. The outcome is battles that embody the strategic depth of Marauder fights without the same level of frustration.

The Marauder stands out in Doom Eternal. Typically, you'd be dashing around arenas, slicing through lesser foes and juggling larger ones. Eternal has been dubbed a management game, not just for resources but also for handling enemies through speed, positioning, and weaponry. However, when the Marauder appears, it demands undivided attention, often resulting in one-on-one showdowns. In larger battles, the best strategy is to dodge its attacks, clear out other enemies, and then confront it head-on.

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

Standing still isn't what "stand and fight" means here; in Doom Eternal, it's about controlling the battlefield with precise positioning. Get too close, and the Marauder's shotgun blast will likely hit you; too far, and you'll be pelted with easily dodged projectiles, but you'll be out of range for his axe swing. The key moment is when he prepares to swing his axe—his only vulnerable moment. His energy shield blocks all other attacks, so you need to find the perfect spot where he'll lower his guard. When his eyes flash bright green, that's your signal to strike.

Similarly, in Doom: The Dark Ages, bright green signals are crucial. Paying homage to the original Doom, demons launch barrages of projectiles, among which are special green missiles that can be parried with the Doom Slayer's new shield, sending them back to their sender. Initially a defensive maneuver, this parry evolves into a potent offensive tool once you unlock the shield's rune system, enabling you to stun demons with lightning or activate your auto-targeting shoulder cannon.

Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields feels like a series of focused, one-on-one skirmishes with formidable demons. While survival isn't solely dependent on these green signals, mastering the shield's runes makes parrying a vital part of your arsenal. Integrating this into your combat strategy reveals the shared DNA between The Dark Ages' parry system and Eternal's Marauder battles. You must position yourself correctly, as demons won't fire projectiles up close, and when the green orbs appear, you need to be in the right spot to parry them. Just like timing your shot against the Marauder, quick reflexes are essential for a successful parry, demanding your complete focus.

The Marauder's biggest criticism was its disruption of Doom Eternal's flow, requiring a different approach than the game's usual tactics. This is precisely why I find the Marauder so compelling: it challenges you to switch from ballet to breakdance within the same game. Doom Eternal broke the conventions of first-person shooters, pushing players to rethink resource management, weapon choices, and combat strategies. The Marauder breaks these new rules, presenting the ultimate test. While I enjoy this challenge, I understand why it frustrates many players.

Though the Agaddon Hunter may resemble the Marauder most closely in The Dark Ages, every demon incorporates elements of Eternal's formidable foe. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this issue by integrating various "dances" into its combat system. Each major enemy type has its unique green projectile or melee attack, requiring you to adapt your tactics for each encounter. For instance, the Mancubus launches energy "fences" with green "pillars" that you must dodge left and right to parry. The Vagary sends out a volley of spheres, compelling you to dash towards the deflectable rows. The skeletal Revenant closely mimics the Marauder, becoming vulnerable only when you deflect its green skulls.

Because each demon demands unique movement and reaction patterns, introducing new enemies with different tactics feels natural. While the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present significant challenges with their intense melee attacks, you're already accustomed to adapting by the time they appear. This wasn't the case with the Marauder in Eternal, where players were used to using specific weapons for different demons rather than positioning and reaction-based strategies.

The Marauder's design wasn't flawed; its introduction was simply unexpected. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares players for similar mechanics by making reaction-based gameplay a fundamental part of the experience, not a surprising twist. This shift means the challenge is less intense—the parry window in The Dark Ages is more forgiving than the Marauder's eye flash timing, even on higher difficulties. Yet, the core idea of syncing with an enemy, waiting for the right moment, and attacking when the green light appears remains intact across all encounters. Doom: The Dark Ages may reinterpret these concepts, but they're unmistakably present. You stand and you fight.