When director Hugo Martin unveiled the mantra "stand and fight" for Doom: The Dark Ages during Xbox's Developer Direct, it immediately captured my attention. This approach starkly contrasts with the high-octane, always-on-the-move combat of Doom Eternal. However, Doom Eternal did introduce one enemy that forced players to adopt this very strategy—the Marauder. Known as one of the most divisive enemies in the series, the Marauder is loathed by many but adored by me. Realizing that Doom: The Dark Ages' combat revolved around reacting to bright green lights—just like the key to defeating the Marauder—solidified my excitement for the game.
Rest assured, The Dark Ages doesn't confine you to a single, frustrating enemy encounter like Eternal's Marauder. While you'll encounter the Agaddon Hunter, shielded and wielding a lethal combo attack, the essence of Eternal's challenging battles permeates every enemy in The Dark Ages. The concepts behind the Marauder have been thoughtfully integrated into the game's core combat mechanics, resulting in encounters that maintain the strategic depth of a Marauder showdown without the usual frustrations.
The Marauder is an anomaly in Doom Eternal's fast-paced arena battles. Typically, players dart around, slicing through weaker foes and juggling larger ones. Eternal is often described as a management game, requiring players to skillfully handle their resources, speed, and weaponry. But the Marauder disrupts this flow, demanding full attention and often appearing in one-on-one scenarios. When it shows up amidst a larger fight, the best approach is to evade its attacks, clear the surrounding enemies, and then confront it head-on.
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 completely still; in Doom Eternal, it's about dominating the space through precise positioning. Get too close, and the Marauder's shotgun will catch you. Retreat too far, and you'll be pelted with easily dodged projectiles, but you'll be out of range of his axe swing—the moment you need to exploit. The Marauder's vulnerability is fleeting, only during the wind-up of his axe attack, signaled by his eyes flashing bright green. This brief window is your chance to deal damage.
Similarly, in Doom: The Dark Ages, bright green lights are crucial. In a homage to the original Doom, demons unleash waves of projectiles, among which are green missiles that can be parried with the Doom Slayer's new shield, sending them back at the attacker. Initially a defensive tactic, the parry evolves into a powerful offensive move once you unlock the shield's rune system, stunning enemies or triggering your shoulder-mounted cannon.
Navigating The Dark Ages' battlefields involves a series of focused, one-on-one skirmishes with formidable demons. While the green lights aren't the sole key to survival, mastering the shield's parry system enhances your combat arsenal significantly. The mechanics echo those of the Marauder battles in Eternal—you must find the optimal distance, position yourself correctly to intercept green projectiles, and react swiftly to execute the parry. This approach transforms your gameplay into a series of stand-and-fight moments against various powerful foes.
The Marauder's contentious reputation stems from its disruption of Doom Eternal's established flow. It demanded a different strategy from the rest of the game, which is precisely why I appreciate it—it forced players to break from the norm. Doom Eternal already pushed the boundaries of first-person shooters, requiring innovative thinking about resources and combat. The Marauder pushed even further, challenging players to adapt entirely new tactics.
![](/uploads/24/682736e99f8f0.webp>The Agaddon Hunter may be the most Marauder-like enemy in The Dark Ages, but every demon has a little bit of Eternal's most fearsome foe in them. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda
Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this by weaving various combat "dances" into its overall battle dynamics. Each major enemy type has its own distinct green projectile or melee attack, necessitating unique strategies. For example, the Mancubus fires wide energy "fences" with green "pillars" that require lateral movement to parry. The Vagary sends out spheres like an abacus, compelling you to sprint and deflect. The Revenant, reminiscent of the Marauder, is invulnerable until you parry its green skulls.
Because every demon requires different maneuvers, introducing new enemies feels seamless rather than disruptive. While the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present a challenge with their intense melee attacks, you're already accustomed to adapting your movements and reactions by the time they appear. This contrasts with the Marauder in Eternal, where the established gameplay focused more on using the right weapon for each enemy rather than positioning and reaction-based tactics.
The Marauder's design was never the issue; it was its unexpected deviation from the game's norms. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares players for this by making reaction-based mechanics a fundamental part of the entire experience, rather than a jarring mid-game shift. While the challenge might be less intense—the parry window is more forgiving than the Marauder's eye flash—the core concept remains: waiting for the right moment, signaled by the green light, to strike. Doom: The Dark Ages reimagines these ideas but keeps them recognizable. You stand, and you fight.
