When director Hugo Martin unveiled the mantra for Doom: The Dark Ages as "stand and fight" during Xbox's Developer Direct earlier this year, it immediately captured my interest. This concept stands in stark contrast to Doom Eternal, which thrives on high-speed, fluid combat. However, there's one enemy in Eternal that embodies the "stand and fight" philosophy—the Marauder. This enemy, often the subject of intense debate among fans, is a personal favorite of mine. Realizing that the combat in The Dark Ages revolves around reacting to bright green lights, just like defeating the Marauder, cemented my excitement for the game.
The Dark Ages doesn't force you into frustrating one-on-one battles akin to those with Eternal's Marauder. Instead, it introduces the Agaddon Hunter, who sports a bulletproof shield and unleashes deadly combo attacks. Yet, the spirit of Eternal's challenging encounters lives on, not in a single enemy, but in the redesigned combat system of The Dark Ages. The Marauder's mechanics have been reimagined and integrated into the core combat design, making every fight as strategic and engaging as facing the Marauder, but without the same level of frustration.
The Marauder is a unique adversary in Doom Eternal. While most fights in Eternal involve navigating combat arenas and managing multiple enemies simultaneously, the Marauder demands undivided attention. Typically encountered in isolated battles, it forces players to focus exclusively on it. When it appears in larger skirmishes, the best strategy is to clear the area of lesser threats before engaging it head-on.
Doom Eternal's Marauder is one of the most controversial enemies in FPS history. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda
Engaging the Marauder isn't about standing still; it's about mastering positioning. Too close, and you risk a fatal shotgun blast; too far, and you'll be pelted with easily dodged projectiles. The key is to position yourself where the Marauder attempts an axe swing, the only moment he's vulnerable. When his eyes flash green, that's your signal to strike swiftly and decisively.
Similarly, in Doom: The Dark Ages, bright green lights are crucial. Early on, demons unleash barrages of projectiles, some of which are green and can be parried using the Doom Slayer's new shield, sending them back at the attackers. As the game progresses and you unlock the shield's rune system, parrying becomes a potent offensive strategy, stunning enemies or triggering your shoulder-mounted cannon.
Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields involves a series of focused one-on-one encounters with various powerful demons. While survival doesn't hinge solely on reacting to green lights, mastering the shield runes makes parrying a vital part of your arsenal. The mechanics of parrying in The Dark Ages echo the Marauder battles in Eternal, requiring precise positioning and quick reflexes to execute effectively. This focus transforms your journey into a series of intense, strategic confrontations.
A common critique of the Marauder was its disruption of Doom Eternal's flow. It required a different approach, breaking the game's established combat rhythm. This is why I appreciate the Marauder—it challenges players to adapt radically, much like Eternal itself broke traditional FPS rules. However, I understand why many found it frustrating.
While the Agaddon Hunter may be the closest to the Marauder 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 different combat "dances" into its broader combat system. Each major enemy type has unique green projectiles or melee attacks, requiring varied strategies. For example, the Mancubus fires energy fences with green pillars, demanding side-to-side movement to parry effectively. The Vagary's volley of spheres forces you to sprint and parry specific rows, while the Revenant closely mimics the Marauder with its green skull projectiles.
Because each demon requires a different approach, introducing new enemies feels seamless. Although the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present challenging melee attacks, players are already accustomed to adapting their movements and reactions by the time these foes appear. This contrasts with the Marauder in Eternal, which demanded a new set of tactics that clashed with the game's established rules.
The Marauder's design was never flawed; rather, it was its unexpected rule-breaking that threw players off. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares players for similar challenges by embedding its reaction-based mechanics into the core gameplay from the start. While this makes the game less of a surprise, the generous parry window means the challenge is less intense than with the Marauder. Nevertheless, the essence of the Marauder—timing your moves and striking when the green light signals—is woven into every battle in The Dark Ages. Though the game reinterprets these concepts, they remain unmistakably present. In Doom: The Dark Ages, you stand and you fight.
