Doom The Dark Ages: Worth It for Revelations & Slaughter Mode?
Yes, for players primarily interested in the post-campaign Revelations chapter and the horde-style Slaughter Mode, Doom: The Dark Ages is worth buying, provided you already enjoy the core combat loop. These two modes add substantial replay value beyond the main campaign, but they don’t fundamentally change the game, so if you didn’t like the base combat, they won’t convert you.
What Are Revelations and Slaughter Mode?
Revelations is a post-launch story expansion that continues the Slayer’s journey after the main campaign’s ending. It introduces new environments, a handful of new enemy variants, and a new boss encounter. It’s structured similarly to the base game’s levels, with a mix of exploration, platforming, and combat arenas. Slaughter Mode, on the other hand, is a separate gameplay mode that strips away the story and focuses purely on wave-based combat. You fight increasingly difficult waves of demons in a series of fixed arenas, with the goal of surviving as long as possible and climbing leaderboards. It’s a pure test of your combat skills and resource management.
How Revelations Expands the Story
The expansion picks up after the events of the main game, offering a more self-contained narrative that fleshes out the lore of the Slayer and the origin of the Doom Slayer’s armor. It doesn’t retcon anything but adds context to some of the more cryptic elements of the base game’s codex entries. The new enemy variants are not just recolors; they have distinct behaviors that force you to adjust your tactics. For example, one variant might be resistant to a particular weapon type, encouraging you to swap your loadout more often. The new boss is a multi-phase fight that requires you to use all the movement and weapon mechanics you’ve learned, making it a fitting capstone for the expansion’s challenge.
How Slaughter Mode Works
Slaughter Mode is designed for quick, intense sessions. You select a difficulty level, and then you’re dropped into an arena. The mode tracks your score based on kill speed, combo multipliers, and how much damage you take. Between waves, you can spend points earned from kills to buy temporary upgrades, like increased damage or a one-time shield. This creates a risk-reward dynamic: do you save points for a powerful upgrade later, or spend them now to survive the current wave? The mode is fully integrated with the game’s progression, so you can use your unlocked weapons and upgrades from the main campaign, but it also offers a separate set of challenges that reward you with exclusive cosmetic items for your armor and weapons.
Is the Base Game Good Enough on Its Own?
Before considering the add-ons, it’s important to note that the base game of Doom: The Dark Ages is a full, meaty experience. The campaign typically takes 15-20 hours to complete on a standard difficulty, and it features the series’ signature fast-paced, arena-based combat. The game introduces a new shield-saw mechanic that adds a layer of strategy to both offense and defense, and the level design is more linear than Doom Eternal, but it still offers plenty of secrets and optional challenges. If you’re a fan of the 2016 Doom reboot but found Eternal too demanding, The Dark Ages strikes a balance that many players find more accessible. The base game alone is a solid purchase for FPS fans, but the question is whether the extra modes justify the full price.
Comparing to Doom Eternal’s Post-Launch Content
Doom Eternal had two major story expansions, The Ancient Gods Part One and Two, which were widely praised for their difficulty and narrative depth. The Dark Ages‘ Revelations is similar in scope to one of those parts, but it’s arguably less essential to the overarching story. Slaughter Mode, however, is a new addition that doesn’t have a direct equivalent in Eternal. The closest thing was the Horde Mode in Eternal, which was a wave-based mode that many players enjoyed. Slaughter Mode is a more refined version of that concept, with better scoring mechanics and more varied arena layouts. If you played and enjoyed Horde Mode, you’ll likely find Slaughter Mode to be a worthy successor.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
One common misconception is that Slaughter Mode is just a re-skinned version of the campaign’s combat arenas. In reality, the arenas are specifically designed for the mode, with more verticality and multiple chokepoints to create interesting tactical decisions. Another issue some players have reported is a difficulty spike in Revelations, particularly on the higher difficulty settings. The new enemy variants can be overwhelming if you haven’t mastered the parry timing for the shield-saw. It’s recommended to play through the main campaign on a comfortable difficulty first, and then tackle Revelations with a fully upgraded character. Another minor complaint is that Slaughter Mode doesn’t have a cooperative option; it’s strictly single-player. For players who enjoyed the multiplayer aspects of previous games, this might be a downside.
How to Decide: Which Mode Suits You?
Your decision to buy the game for these modes should be based on what you value in a shooter:
- If you love lore and story: Revelations is a must-play, as it adds significant context to the Slayer’s motivations and the world’s history.
- If you love replayable combat challenges: Slaughter Mode offers near-endless replayability with its leaderboards and scoring system.
- If you’re short on time: Slaughter Mode is perfect for 20-30 minute sessions, while Revelations requires a few hours to complete.
- If you’re a completionist: Both modes offer exclusive unlockables that will keep you busy for a while.
Cost and Value Considerations
The game is typically sold as a standard edition and a deluxe edition that includes the Season Pass, which gives you access to Revelations and Slaughter Mode. If you’re only interested in the base campaign, the standard edition is fine. However, if you know you’ll want the extra content, the deluxe edition is often a better value than buying the DLC separately. Keep in mind that the price of the game and its DLC can vary depending on sales, so it’s worth waiting for a discount if you’re not in a rush. As a rough guide, the deluxe edition often goes on sale for about 20-30% off within a few months of release, which makes the extra modes a much more attractive proposition.
Safety and Technical Performance
From a technical standpoint, Doom: The Dark Ages runs well on current-generation consoles and mid-to-high-end PCs. The game uses id Tech, which is known for its excellent optimization. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date to avoid crashes.
- On PC, the game has a high VRAM usage on ultra settings, so check your system requirements.
- There are no known game-breaking bugs in Revelations or Slaughter Mode, but as with any game, patches are released periodically to fix minor issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Slaughter Mode available from the start? No, Slaughter Mode is unlocked after you complete the first level of the main campaign. This ensures you have a basic understanding of the controls and combat before diving into the horde mode.
Can I play Revelations before finishing the main game? Technically, you can select it from the main menu, but it’s heavily recommended to finish the campaign first. The expansion assumes you have all your weapons and upgrades, and the difficulty is tuned for a fully leveled Slayer.
Do I need to buy the Season Pass to get Slaughter Mode? Yes, Slaughter Mode is part of the post-launch content included in the Season Pass. It is not available as a standalone purchase. The Season Pass also includes Revelations and some cosmetic items.
Does Slaughter Mode have any online multiplayer features? Slaughter Mode is strictly single-player. However, it does feature online leaderboards where you can compare your high scores with friends and other players worldwide.
How long is the Revelations expansion? The main story of Revelations takes about 4-6 hours to complete, depending on your skill level and how much you explore. There are also several collectibles and secrets that can add another couple of hours if you’re a completionist.
Is there any new game plus in The Dark Ages? The base game does not have a traditional New Game Plus mode. However, after completing the campaign, you can replay any level with your full arsenal, which is useful for finding missed secrets or improving your performance.
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