Recreating the ‘Classic Doom’ Experience with Dark Ages Difficulty Sliders

In a recent discussion, the game director for Doom: The Dark Ages, Hugo Martin, delved into the game’s newly introduced difficulty sliders, a feature sparking lively debate within the gaming community. These sliders are designed to let players tweak the gameplay by adjusting speed, projectile dynamics, enemy aggression, and the damage dealt or received by both the slayer and their foes.

As the eighth major installment in the legendary Doom series, Doom: The Dark Ages follows the journey of the Doom Slayer, a familiar face to fans. Rumors are swirling as well about the game possibly running on the Nintendo Switch 2. With a showcase scheduled by Nintendo on April 2, more details might emerge about whether The Dark Ages could debut as a launch title or be added to the new device’s growing game library later on.

In a short video posted on Doom’s official Twitter, Martin discussed these difficulty sliders, emphasizing their flexibility. He pointed out that players could tailor their experiences, making the game either extremely challenging or more forgiving to suit personal preferences. According to Martin, “If we’re gonna allow you to slow the game down, we have to enable you to speed the game up. And that was a really good policy for everything.” This adaptable design philosophy echoes across other franchise updates, such as the refreshes given to classic Doom games this year, which included enhancements, bug fixes, and new multiplayer mods for Doom 1 and Doom 2.

Martin elaborated that with these sliders, fans of the original Doom can recreate that nostalgic bullet hell intensity if they wish. He cited an example focusing on projectiles, suggesting that slowing them down can enhance their damage and replicate the retro feel of a “shmup,” similar to the traditional Doom series. This medieval-set entry serves as a prequel, and Martin hinted at the possibility of more prequels to follow, extending nods to the franchise’s iconic past through these gameplay adjustments.

Despite the personalized experience these sliders offer, there’s been some debate over whether they might dilute the challenging nature the franchise is known for. Some fans argue this could make combat too easy, impacting the game’s iconic difficulty. However, Martin defended this feature, reassuring that while it can simplify battles for those who prefer a less intense challenge, it can significantly ramp up the difficulty and complexity for seasoned players seeking a tough run.

As we anticipate the upcoming release, set for May 15, 2025, under the publication of Bethesda Softworks and rated M for mature audiences, fans continue to speculate and debate about how these changes will shape the future of one of gaming’s most celebrated franchises.