When director Hugo Martin unveiled 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 concept starkly contrasts with id Software's previous title, Doom Eternal, which thrived on fast-paced, relentless movement in combat. However, Doom Eternal introduced one enemy that forced players to "stand and fight"—the Marauder. This enemy has sparked significant debate within the gaming community, with many players disliking it, while I personally find it exhilarating. My interest in Doom: The Dark Ages deepened when I learned that its combat system also hinges on reacting to bright green lights, a mechanic crucial to defeating the Marauder.

Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn't confine you to a static showdown with an enemy as challenging and precise as the Marauder from Eternal. While it does introduce the Agaddon Hunter, who is shielded and attacks with a lethal combo, the essence of Eternal's iconic battles is woven into the fabric of every encounter in The Dark Ages. The game reimagines and refines the Marauder's principles, applying them to its core combat mechanics. The outcome? Every battle feels as strategic as facing the Marauder, but without the associated irritation.

The Marauder presents a unique challenge in Doom Eternal. Typically, you're navigating the combat arena, juggling lesser foes and targeting bigger threats. Eternal is often described as a game of management, not just of resources but of the battlefield itself, using speed, positioning, and weaponry to control the flow of combat. However, the Marauder disrupts this flow, requiring full attention and often encountered in isolated battles. When it appears amidst other enemies, the best strategy is to clear the area of lesser threats before engaging in a direct confrontation.

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

This doesn't mean you stand still in Doom Eternal—it's about mastering the space through strategic positioning. Get too close, and the Marauder's shotgun blast is almost impossible to evade. Stay too far, and you'll be pelted with projectiles, though easier to dodge, you'll be out of range for his axe swing. The key moment is during the axe's wind-up, when his eyes flash bright green, signaling a brief window for attack. His energy shield absorbs all other attacks, so positioning yourself to capitalize on this moment is crucial.

Similarly, in Doom: The Dark Ages, bright green signals are pivotal. Paying homage to the original Doom, demons unleash a barrage of projectiles, with special green missiles that can be parried using the Doom Slayer's new shield, sending them back at the sender. Initially, this is a defensive maneuver, but as you unlock the shield's rune system, parrying becomes a vital offensive strategy, stunning enemies with lightning or triggering an auto-targeting cannon.

Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields involves a series of focused, one-on-one encounters with formidable demons. While not solely reliant on green light reactions for survival, mastering the shield runes turns parrying into a powerful tool. Integrating this into your combat strategy reveals the shared DNA with Eternal's Marauder battles. You must find the optimal distance, as demons won't launch projectiles at close range, and when green orbs appear, you need to position yourself correctly to parry them. This requires quick reflexes, much like timing a strike against the Marauder's axe swing, turning your journey into a series of intense, focused battles.

The Marauder's primary criticism was its disruption of Doom Eternal's flow, demanding a different approach than the game's usual tactics. This is precisely why I appreciate the Marauder—it forces a shift from ballet to breakdance in a game that already breaks the norms of first-person shooters. Eternal challenges players to rethink resource management, weapon choice, and combat engagement, and the Marauder challenges even those new rules.

While the Agaddon Hunter may resemble the Marauder most closely in The Dark Ages, every demon carries a bit of Eternal's most fearsome foe. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this by integrating various "dances" into its combat system. Each major enemy type has its unique green projectile or melee attack, requiring different strategies. For example, the Mancubus launches energy "fences" with green "pillars" that you must dodge and parry, while the Vagary sends out volleys of deadly spheres, challenging you to sprint and deflect. The Revenant, reminiscent of the Marauder, is invulnerable until you parry its green skulls.

With each demon demanding unique movement and reaction, introducing new enemies feels seamless. The Agaddon Hunter and Komodo may present a challenge with their melee attacks, but by the time they appear, you're already accustomed to adapting your tactics. This contrasts with the Marauder in Eternal, where the game's established rules didn't prepare players for such a unique threat.

The Marauder's design wasn't flawed; it was its unexpected rule-breaking that caught players off guard. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares you for similar challenges by making reaction-based mechanics a fundamental part of the game from the start. While this shift makes the challenge less intense—the parry window is more forgiving than the Marauder's eye flash—the core concept remains: locking into a rhythm with an enemy, waiting for the perfect moment, and striking when the green light appears. Doom: The Dark Ages reinterprets these ideas but keeps them recognizable. You stand and you fight.