DOOM: The Dark Ages is now available, and fans are enjoying the overall gameplay loop. Shooting is still a good time, the bigger levels lead to more exploration, and the Shield Saw is immaculate. Unfortunately, this also led to id Software removing the Glory Kill system introduced in the 2016 reboot.
Because the Shield Saw destroys everything in its path, DOOM: The Dark Ages removing Glory Kills is sadly understandable. The game’s focus on faster-paced action means this feature would have hindered the pacing. Still, killing glowing enemies with the R3 button was fun, and this feature will be missed.
Glory Kills aren’t a brand-new feature, as games like the original God of War have used a similar system for ages. However, those were often relegated to third-person action games, and you rarely saw them in a first-person shooter. Outside of melee-focused first-person games like Chronicles of Riddick, most of these titles just have you gun down opponents.
That’s why having this feature in DOOM 2016 and Eternal was so refreshing, since it made killing enemies more satisfying and strategic. Glory Kills often lead to more ammo and some health packs, so players can shoot enemies, wait for them to glow, then activate that mechanic. Not only does it feel good, but the extra benefits will help you survive and gain some ammo.
Everything we’ve seen in DOOM: The Dark Ages ensures players can get ammo and health without relying on Glory Kills. Since the feature is gone, enemies drop a healthy amount of these through the Shield Saw and even shooting. What’s more, the focus on exploration will ensure that you find more ammo and health as you go along, which is good.
Based on the positive reviews and glee from fans online, it’s clear that the Glory Kill system wasn’t needed for this entry. Continuing a series like DOOM can be risky, and you have to take risks to evolve the gameplay. The devs at id Software wanted to take a different approach with The Dark Ages, and it’s clear that this was a success.
Maybe it’s because we love character-action games, but we’ll still miss the Glory Kill system. That doesn’t make DOOM: The Dark Ages a bad game; it was just a cool feature. We don’t need it to return for the next game, unless id Software finds a fun way to bring it back.
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