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Review of DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part OneAA
DOOM Eternal was one of the biggest surprises of 2020, delivering a flawless experience in terms of story, gameplay, graphics, and performance. But id Software didn’t stop there—they released an expansion titled “The Ancient Gods Part 1.” Today, we’ll dive into what this DLC adds to the base game. If you haven’t read our original DOOM Eternal review, we recommend checking it out first for more context. You can read it here.
The story of “The Ancient Gods Part One” picks up immediately after the events of DOOM Eternal. In the main game, you defeated the Icon of Sin and cleansed much of Earth from demonic presence. However, in doing so, you broke the seal between Hell and Heaven (Urdak). Your goal in this DLC is to awaken the Seraphim, an angel who can help resolve these problems.
Like the base game, the story of “The Ancient Gods” is told through cinematic scenes, but the main narrative is expanded through the Codex, which you can read to better understand the events. The expansion isn’t very long, taking about 4 to 5 hours to complete. While that’s a decent length, I personally wished it was longer.
The story includes some incredible plot twists and ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you eagerly awaiting “The Ancient Gods Part 2.”
“The Ancient Gods” introduces three new main stages, each with unique themes and gameplay styles. One stage focuses heavily on puzzles and parkour, while another is all about non-stop combat against hordes of demons. This variety, combined with the stunning visuals, adds a fresh layer to the DOOM series.
The DLC introduces three new demons. First is the Spirit, returning from DOOM 2016. This demon can possess other demons, boosting their strength and health significantly. You need to kill it quickly before it inhabits another enemy.
The second new demon is the Turret, a small eye-like creature that can only be killed with specific weapons. It exists purely to disrupt your experience, so take it out fast. Lastly, there’s the Blood Maykr, a tougher version of the regular Maykrs, requiring either prolonged combat or a well-placed headshot.
“The Ancient Gods” is much harder than the base game, requiring you to carefully plan every move. The levels are packed with more demons than ever, and managing your resources becomes essential.
The DLC features one boss fight, which I won’t spoil here. It’s the most challenging boss battle in the DOOM series, utilizing all the mechanics introduced in the expansion against you. If you’re familiar with DOOM Eternal’s gameplay, it won’t be insurmountable, but it’s still a tough and rewarding fight.
Like the base game, “The Ancient Gods” runs on the id Tech 7 engine, delivering stunning graphics and intricate details. Each of the three new stages offers unique designs, standing apart from anything previously seen in the DOOM series.
The technical performance is excellent, with the game running at a smooth 60 FPS at 1080p. This was based on my experience on a PlayStation 4 Slim.
Interestingly, Mick Gordon, the composer for DOOM 2016 and Eternal, did not work on this DLC. Instead, the soundtrack was handled by Andrew Hulshult and David Levy. These talented composers captured the essence of Gordon’s work while adding their own flair, creating a fantastic soundtrack worthy of the DOOM name. I’m excited to see their contributions in future expansions and games in the series.
