WhenGod of Warwas announced as the beginning of a Norse saga the franchise was suddenly brimming with untold potential. It was unknown and undisclosed how many entries would take place in Midgard and the other eight Norse realms, butGod of War’s fated mural depicting other settings and cultures would go on to stir incessant speculation about whereGod of Warmay travel to afterward.God of Warstill hasn’t managed to depart from its snow-blanketed wilds, but it’s beendeclared that the Norse saga would conclude withGod of War Ragnarok.
Doomand its sequel,Doom Eternal, have basically been in the same boat, though the recently revealedDoom: The Dark Ageswill now be plunging the sci-fi shooter into dark fantasy. It’s unknown how many installments id and Bethesda might be able to milk out of this setting and atmosphere and, becauseThe Dark Agesis presumably nestled betweenDoom 64andDoom(2016), it’s inevitable that the series won’t be stuck in dark fantasy for long. Unless a multi-game plan has already been concocted,Doom: The Dark Agesshould go all-in on medieval dark fantasy in a single entry and leave nothing on the cutting room floor for a potential sequel to have to provide closure for or abandon.
God of War’s Norse Saga Feels Unfulfilled with Only Two Games
God of War’s re-entry into the esteemed PlayStation-exclusive franchisewas narratively a slow burn as it trudged players through snow, rowed them slowly through bodies of water and claustrophobic rivers, and introduced them to an entirely overhauled gameplay design. No longer can players spam the Blades of Chaos and no longer are there screen-filling hordes of enemies; combat is instead methodical, employing dodges and parries with a shield while giving players exhilarating options with the Leviathan Axe and a ranged mechanic showcasing Atreus’ archery skills.
God of Warneeded to devote its whole length to players acclimatizing themselves to these features, especially if players managed to maintain muscle memory from its Greek mythology beat-’em-ups. Baldur being the main antagonist implied that the roadmap ahead would look something like a sequel featuring Thor, asteased inGod of War’s post-credits scene, and a threequel featuring Odin to complete a Norse trilogy.
Now, trilogies shouldn’t always need to be the default storytelling structure, but it at least would’ve given the Norse saga enough time to sink in and for players to absorb its atmosphere and lore.Ragnarokis still apparently said to be the final entry inGod of War’s Norse saga despite Kratos hunkering down and planting roots there, and as a result the sequel had the difficult tasks of needing to toss in all remaining realms as in-game settings and juggle Thor and Odin as primary antagonists.
Doom: The Dark Ages Needs to Be Clear on Its Eventual Expiration Date
IfDoom: The Dark Ageshas a ton of potential for sequels to bask in the same dark fantasy biopunk atmosphere, it’s possible that id and Bethesda will want to double down on it. Indeed,Doomhas been teasing some sort of medieval tone lately with swords and axes, and that’s finally being fully realized inThe Dark Ageswith ancient cathedrals and its own take on dragons.
Doom’s visceral, high-octane gunplay and movementwill likely still be its primary focus, but having that set in a completely new set piece with an entirely different atmosphere is precisely what the franchise needed at the moment.
Still, id and Bethesda must decide carefully whether they’d like this dark fantasy setting to be a one-time entry, duology, trilogy, or last even longer. It’ll be a shame ifThe Dark Agesalludes to tons of potential stories only to announce that its sequel will be the final dark fantasy installment, for instance, and getting out from under that sooner than later would put expectations in check.
