Tales of Gore! How Doom: The Dark Ages gave classic monsters a ye olde makeover

How do you make the most gnarly video game series of all time even more extreme? You don the chainmail and send it back to the Dark Ages, that’s how.

Doom: The Dark Ages is the latest installment of the long running, OG first-person shooter series — but it’s perhaps the most wildly different take on the demon-blasting franchise since its debut back in 1993.

Yes, there’s gore. Yes, there’s the denizens of Hell, and yeah, there’s a ton of crazy sci-fi weaponry. But this time? Think Evil Dead: Army of Darkness — sick swords and crumbling castles to go along with your BFGs.

It looks incredible — a gothic nightmare fused with the fast-paced explosive action the series is known for. And that visual splendour all starts with concept art.

“I love gushing about all the amazing art the team makes,” says Hugo Martin, Doom: The Dark Ages’ Game Director.

“We spend a lot of time on this stuff. Loads of iterations. When you’re making assets for a Doom game you’ve got big shoes to fill because those designs from the original Doom game - the Pinky, the Cacodemon - those are some of the most iconic designs in all pop culture.

“We spend a lot of time on this stuff, a lot of iteration, and our team is incredible. They define the look of that game, churning out tons of inspiration.”

So how did we get to Ye Olde new Doom? With a host of exclusive concept art courtesy of developers id Software, here’s a look at the evolution of some of Doom’s most iconic baddies — and the Doom Slayer himself.

1. Doom Slayer

We’ll start with the big guy — Doom: The Dark Ages’ Doom Slayer. Your limb-tearing avatar in the nightmare world, his warrior redesign for the latest game was the lynchpin around which all other concepts hung.

“Every project there is a signature piece of art that gets made and the rest of the project is defined by it,” explains Martin.

“You want that piece to come early in development because it really defines the look of the project. This is that piece of art.”

Fur cape, razor shield, mace, chainmail tabard — Doom Slayer is ready for a crusade through Hell.

2. Cacodemon

The original Cacodemon is one of Doom’s most iconic baddies, essentially the series mascot. But let’s be honest — that original design kinda looks like a naughty Pokemon by today’s standards. Years of revisions bring us to Doom: The Dark Ages Cacodemon — a horrible cross between a toothy floating squid and a brain bonce just dying for a headshot.

(Left: Doom, Right: Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

3. Arachnotron

Arachnophobes, look away now. This mechanized monstrosity was first introduced in 1994’s Doom II, combining a giant pulsing brain with robotic spider-like limbs and plasma firepower. For Doom: The Dark Ages, the Arachnotron gets a more fleshy overhaul — plus a machine gun on its back, naturally.

(Top left: Doom II, Bottom left: Doom 64, Right: Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

4. Cyberdemon

Another Doom classic who has had a giant glow-up (or should that be glow-down?) as the franchise has gone on. The goat-like Cyberdemon was one of the fiercest common enemies a Doom Slayer can face. But as time has gone on, the Cyberdemon has lost its animalistic origin, becoming more mechanised by the time Doom 3 rolled around. But it’s another turn for Doom: The Dark Ages — we’re leaning into the ‘demon’ in the name here for this flaming winged beast, with a nod to Arnie’s Terminator with its glowing red eye.

(Left to right: Doom, Doom 3, Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

5. IMP Stalker

We bloody hate these guys, with their ranged attacks and their glowing firepower. The IMP Stalker is perhaps the design here that’s closest to the original vision first laid down in 1993’s Doom. He’s just hit the roids, polished up those shoulder spikes and never skipped squats day. Great glutes, IMP Stalker!

(Top left: Doom, Center and Right: Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

6. Mancubus

The id Software art team must really hate the Mancubus — he just gets grosser and grosser with every new release. First introduced in Doom II, the Mancubus had a healthy tan and some swole pecs in the beginning. After a detour via a kissing contest with an elephant, he’s piled on the pounds, doubled the chin and swapped the trunk elephant legs for The Dark Ages. He should probably also swap the gun arms for just regular hands too and hit that gym. Get the IMP Stalker to spot you, Mancubus!

(Left to right: Doom, Doom 3, Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

7. Revenant

The Revenant has also put on a bit of weight over the years — but when you’re starting from the position of literal armoured skeleton in the original Doom, that’s not hard. It’s quite a drastic makeover for the Revenant in Doom: The Dark Ages. He’s now a ghostly floating, robed being, bringing ‘Camelot Court Dark Wizard’ energy to the Doom runway.

(Left to right: Doom, Doom (2016), Doom: The Dark Ages concept art)

8. Vagary

The Vagary is the baby of this list, only being introduced in 2004’s Doom 3. And if you weren’t a fan of the Aarachnotron, this lady’s even worse. Though she covers up her modesty these days, the Vagary is now a skeletal tank, armoured to the nines with a metallic claw that’d make Freddy Krueger blush.

(Left: Doom 3, Right: Doom The Dark Ages concept art)

Doom: The Dark Ages is available now on Xbox, PS5 and PC, and is available for free to subscribers of Xbox Game Pass.

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