Doom: The Dark Ages Owes a Lot to Eternal’s Marauder

When director Hugo Martin unveiled the guiding principle for Doom: The Dark Ages as “stand and fight” during Xbox’s Developer Direct earlier this year, it immediately captured my interest. This approach stands in stark contrast to Doom Eternal, which thrived on fast-paced, constant movement in combat. However, Doom Eternal did introduce one enemy that forced players to adopt a more stationary strategy—the Marauder. This enemy, perhaps the most divisive in the entire Doom series, is both loathed by many and adored by me. The realization that Doom: The Dark Ages hinges on reacting to bright green lights, a mechanic crucial for defeating the Marauder, solidified my enthusiasm for the game.

Rest assured, The Dark Ages does not replicate the frustrating experience of facing Eternal’s Marauder. While it introduces the Agaddon Hunter, an enemy shielded and equipped with lethal combo attacks, the spirit of Eternal’s challenging encounters permeates every enemy in The Dark Ages. The game reimagines, refines, and reworks the Marauder's concepts into its core combat mechanics. As a result, every battle in The Dark Ages feels like a strategic duel with the intelligence of a Marauder confrontation, but without the aggravation.

The Marauder in Doom Eternal is a unique adversary. In Eternal, combat typically involves navigating arenas, dispatching lesser enemies, and strategically engaging larger foes. The game is often described as a management challenge, not just for resources but for controlling the battlefield with speed, space, and firepower. The Marauder disrupts this flow, demanding full attention and often requiring one-on-one confrontations. When it appears amidst other enemies, the best strategy is to evade its attacks, clear the surrounding threats, and then focus on the Marauder.

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

Standing still isn't the key; instead, it’s about mastering the combat space through strategic positioning. Approaching too closely risks a devastating shotgun blast, while staying too far away invites a barrage of projectiles, though easier to dodge. The crucial moment is when the Marauder readies his axe swing—his only vulnerable point. His energy shield absorbs all gunfire, so you must position yourself to exploit the brief window when his eyes flash bright green, signaling the perfect moment to attack.

In Doom: The Dark Ages, the same bright green cue is central to combat. In a homage to the original Doom, enemies unleash volleys of projectiles, among which are green missiles that can be parried with the Doom Slayer’s new shield, sending them back at the attackers. Initially a defensive tactic, parrying evolves into a powerful offensive tool once you unlock the shield’s rune system, enabling stunning effects or activating an auto-targeting shoulder cannon.

Navigating The Dark Ages’ battlefields involves a series of focused, one-on-one skirmishes with various formidable demons. While survival doesn't solely hinge on these green signals, mastering the shield’s runes enhances parrying as a key component of your arsenal. Integrating parrying into your combat strategy reveals similarities to Eternal’s Marauder fights—you must find the optimal distance, as demons won’t launch projectiles at close range, and position yourself correctly to intercept the green orbs. Quick reflexes are essential to successfully parry, requiring intense focus and turning your journey into a series of strategic stand-and-fight encounters.

The Marauder in Doom Eternal was criticized for disrupting the game’s flow, demanding a different combat approach than what players had mastered. This shift is precisely why I appreciate the Marauder—it breaks the mold of Eternal’s balletic combat with a breakdance challenge. Doom Eternal defied the conventions of first-person shooters, encouraging innovative thinking about resources and engagements. The Marauder further broke these new rules, presenting the ultimate test. While I relish this challenge, I recognize why many players find it frustrating.

The Agaddon Hunter may be the most Marauder-like enemy in The Dark Ages, but every demon incorporates elements of Eternal's fearsome foe. | Image credit: id Software / Bethesda

Doom: The Dark Ages addresses this issue by integrating various combat styles into its broader battle framework. Each major enemy type features unique green projectiles or melee attacks, necessitating tailored strategies for each encounter. For example, the Mancubus launches energy fences with green pillars at the ends, requiring lateral movement to parry effectively. The Vagary fires volleys of deadly spheres, prompting you to sprint and deflect them like dangerous tennis balls. The Revenant mirrors the Marauder more closely, remaining invulnerable until you deflect its green skulls.

Because each demon demands different tactics, the introduction of new foes feels seamless rather than disruptive. Although the Agaddon Hunter and Komodo present significant challenges with their melee attacks, players are well-prepared to adapt by the time they encounter these enemies. This contrasts with the Marauder’s introduction in Eternal, where players were accustomed to a different combat philosophy.

The Marauder’s design was never the issue; it was its rule-breaking nature that caught players off guard. Doom: The Dark Ages prepares players for similar mechanics by making reaction-based combat a fundamental aspect of the game, rather than an unexpected twist. While the challenge might be less intense—thanks to a more forgiving parry window—the essence of the Marauder’s strategy—syncing with an enemy, waiting for the right moment, and striking when the green light appears—is woven into every battle. Doom: The Dark Ages reimagines these concepts, yet they remain unmistakably present. You stand and you fight.