<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
As I dove into <em>Doom: The Dark Ages</em>, I was excited to explore this prequel to the 2016 reboot, hoping it would serve as a great introduction to the franchise. Although I love high-octane first-person shooters, <em>Doom</em> and its 2020 sequel, <em>Doom Eternal</em>, surprisingly slipped through my radar (though I’ll always have a soft spot for the hilariously bad 2005 film and its iconic first-person-shooter sequence). Eager to consume the lore and continue my journey through the series, I stepped into <em>The Dark Ages</em>, which acts as an origin story for the Slayer and his battle against the forces of Hell.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
After finishing its approximately 10-hour, 22-chapter campaign, I can confidently say: it makes no sense. But honestly, who cares? We have demons to vanquish.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
In <em>The Dark Ages</em>, you play as the Slayer, a formidable fighter who excels at demon extermination, far surpassing the human warriors around him. Why is he the ultimate demon slayer? <em>Just silent your thoughts; there are demons to dispatch!</em>
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
The Slayer is held in reserve by a mysterious alien group known as the Maykrs (pronounced like "makers"), residing in a ship hovering over the chaotic human-demon battlegrounds. Much like The Winter Soldier, he’s kept as a sort of captive, only to be unleashed for missions of demon annihilation.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
In the early stages of the game, while he is "loaned" out, he assists techno-medieval humans in their fight against ravenous demon hordes. Are these even demons? Is this game set on Earth? Honestly, there are demons to blow away with a shotgun.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
During his temporary service, the Slayer outshines all the inadequate demon fighters, dispatching hundreds of foes with ease, sometimes while leaping from great heights (it’s epic). He teams up with a human kingdom to prevent a MacGuffin from falling into the hands of a major demon antagonist. The adventure takes him to Hell and maybe even an alien world… or not? Who can really tell? You’ll be too preoccupied dodging attacks with your chainsaw shield or piloting a mech suit to worry about such details.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
While the plot might not win any literary accolades, the gameplay of <em>Doom: The Dark Ages</em> certainly has potential. With parrying mechanics and a focus on melee combat, the combat becomes diversified and dynamic, allowing you to feel like an unstoppable force as you escalate your arsenal. By the end, as you unleash the might of the BFC—big fucking crossbow—the demons' doom feels inevitable.
</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _11x6rb9i ku7vx11 ku7vx10 t0irya1">
Although the story might lack coherence (and significance), by the conclusion of <em>The Dark Ages</em>, you’ll grasp why
