Woke Ages

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In the upcoming release of the game “DOOM: The Dark Ages“, players will encounter adjustable sliders, enabling them to customize their gaming experience according to preference. For novice players or those seeking a more tranquil adventure, these settings can help reduce the challenge level substantially. Due to some internet users’ dislike of certain concepts being labeled as “woke”, they have started referring to the game as the “Ages of Enlightenment.” Director Hugo Martin has spoken out in a new video regarding concerns about the game’s difficulty setting.

As a devoted fan, I’ve come across “DOOM: The Woke Ages” and have been intrigued by it. I’ve watched the videos, and here’s my take on the policy Martin mentioned. Frankly, I don’t align with the criticism. The game settings, represented by the sliders, were designed to cater to both beginners (white belts) and experts (black belts).

If we’re given the option to slow down the game, it’s only fair that we should also be able to speed it up. This policy struck a perfect balance for everyone involved in the game, ensuring that the difficulty level could either be cranked up or made easier, or simply find that ideal middle ground.

Martin pointed out that in DOOM: The Dark Ages, the slider settings can be blended creatively, and it’s not necessarily true that slower equates to easier. On the contrary, certain slider combinations might even increase difficulty for players. In the video, the director mentioned that team members have tried various options, such as adjustments where projectile speed was significantly reduced but their power was boosted instead.

Martin mentioned that a particular aspect significantly improves the immersive three-dimensional shoot ’em up (shmup) feel, reminiscent of the bullethell experience typically associated with classic DOOM. In essence, classic DOOM is a three-dimensional bullethell game, where the player navigates through slow-moving projectiles that pack quite a punch. The projectiles themselves form the maze and motivate the player to move. This game development team emphasized on enhancing this specific feature for their new game.

The director drew a parallel between the sliders in DOOM: The Dark Ages and the equalizer on a radio. He further mentioned that these sliders would boost the game’s replayability, as they would motivate players to experiment with various strategies. This idea is intriguing, and it effectively showcases a unique selling point that caters not only to novice players but also long-time series enthusiasts. Players will soon have an opportunity to explore these sliders themselves to observe their impact on the gameplay experience, as DOOM: The Dark Ages is set for release on May 15th.

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2025-03-19 21:40