DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,196 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One Game Cover
A frankly terrifying exercise in pushing Doom as far as it can go.
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In DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One, players continue the Slayer's battle against hell's forces in a new series of missions. This DLC takes place after the events of DOOM Eternal, featuring new locations, epic boss fights, and powerful upgrades for the Slayer. With a thrilling narrative and intense combat, fans of the series will enjoy this expansion of the DOOM universe.

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Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,196 reviews
story188 positive mentions
grinding86 negative mentions
  • The DLC offers a challenging experience that tests players' mastery of the game's mechanics.
  • The level design is visually stunning, with unique environments that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The introduction of new enemies adds variety and forces players to adapt their strategies.
  • The difficulty spike feels artificial, with overwhelming enemy numbers and frustrating mechanics that disrupt the flow of combat.
  • The final boss fight is considered underwhelming and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Some players experienced bugs and issues with level geometry that hindered gameplay.
  • story759 mentions

    The story in "Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted and lacking coherence compared to the main game. While some appreciate the continuation of the narrative and the introduction of new lore elements, others criticize it for being overly cryptic and feeling like a mere backdrop to the combat. Overall, the story is seen as secondary to the gameplay, with many recommending players watch the story on YouTube rather than engaging with it directly in the game.

    • “The story is a bit awkward though, the reveals are kinda weird in my opinion, but whatever.”
    • “The story here is a delight, with it being as ridiculous as in the campaign but with a few more fun twists.”
    • “The story is good, it is well thought out and generally enjoyable.”
    • “The story feels disjointed, and much of it comes across as overly cryptic, leaving players more confused than intrigued.”
    • “The story and its twists feel clunky and unnatural.”
    • “Id Software took everything good about Doom Eternal and made it so much worse with this DLC, turning it into a slog fest of encounters with a story that wouldn't compare to a children's book.”
  • gameplay531 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Ancient Gods - Part One" is a divisive topic among players, with many praising its challenging mechanics and intense combat, while others criticize the introduction of frustrating elements like the spirit possession mechanic and overly punishing enemy designs. While some players appreciate the expansion's focus on mastery of the game's mechanics and the high-octane action reminiscent of the base game, others feel that the new mechanics detract from the fluidity and enjoyment of gameplay, leading to tedious encounters and a lack of balance. Overall, the expansion is seen as a test of skill that may appeal to dedicated fans of the series but could frustrate those less familiar with its mechanics.

    • “With that said, I still recommend playing this; the story is neat and the gameplay and art design are next level.”
    • “The gameplay is doom eternal cranked up to 11 and it's perfect, can't wait for episode 2.”
    • “This DLC introduces new enemies and mechanics that slow the game down and make you solve puzzles in every combat encounter instead of doing what the Slayer was born to do, kill demons.”
    • “The gameplay is also extremely frustrating and not fun at all.”
    • “The new mechanics introduced are contrived and tedious.”
    • “The spirit mechanic is a prime example of such bullshit.”
  • music457 mentions

    The music in the DLC has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of composer Mick Gordon, whose work set a high standard in the base game. While Andrew Hulshult and David Levy's compositions are generally considered good and fitting for the game, they often lack the intensity and memorability of Gordon's tracks, leading to a perception of the music as more generic or background noise. Additionally, issues with sound mixing have been noted, with some players finding the music too quiet during gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The music is amazing as always, and the set pieces and cutscenes are good.”
    • “The music, as always, is perfect.”
    • “The music is fantastic, though, so that's a good positive.”
    • “I no longer felt the thrill of having a soundtrack blaring while I'm crushing demons because it sounds like a generic tribute band playing.”
    • “It's a shame that the music controversy has overshadowed what could have been a great addition to the franchise.”
    • “The music is now dull and it feels like there's only one riff being repeated for 3 hours.”
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and diverse art styles, with many reviewers noting that the environments are beautifully designed and enhance the overall experience. While some comparisons to previous titles like Doom 2016 highlight a slight decline in certain aspects, the general consensus is that the graphics remain impressive and contribute significantly to the game's aesthetic appeal. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, with many players appreciating the intricate level designs and vibrant settings.

    • “The art style and setting are incredible and have fallen nothing short of magnificent.”
    • “The visuals are amazing, the soundtrack is amazing, the gameplay is better than ever!”
    • “The 3 levels look incredible, the visuals are outstanding.”
    • “Doom 2016 had better sound, graphics, designs, story, bosses, battles, environment (although I do like the Makyr environments), gunplay, challenges, secrets (but I do like the lost soul toy), and aiming.”
    • “As far as graphics... it looks worse, the skyboxes are obviously lower quality if nothing else.”
    • “Map design sucks, and the graphics and textures in some parts of the maps look like puke, even if you're playing with ultra settings.”
  • grinding93 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the DLC has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that encounters feel artificially prolonged due to overwhelming enemy counts and mechanics that disrupt the flow of combat. Reviewers describe battles as a chore, often turning what should be engaging challenges into monotonous endurance tests, with new enemies and mechanics contributing to a sense of annoyance rather than excitement. Overall, the DLC is seen as a significant step back from the enjoyable pacing and design of the base game, leading to a grindy experience that detracts from the fun.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Fighting two at a time was a fun challenge that wasn't grindy.”
    • “Meanwhile, the spirit is capable of possessing other enemies, making them disproportionately strong and turning what could be a tactical challenge into a tedious grind.”
    • “An enormously tedious and joyless experience that brings less sense of accomplishment and more emotionless relief over finishing an arena that you really got nothing out of instead of exhaustion and frustration.”
    • “The new ghost enemies that possess other demons (making them stronger, faster, immune to freeze/stun) are more tedious than enjoyable, especially since they can only be killed, in a short window of time, by one specific alt-fire of one weapon.”
  • stability40 mentions

    Overall, the stability of the DLC has received significant criticism, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the gameplay experience. While some players found the core game enjoyable and well-made, the DLC is often described as unpolished and frustratingly buggy, leading to a consensus that it feels less refined than the original game. Despite some minor positive notes about smoothness, the overwhelming sentiment is that the DLC suffers from serious stability issues that hinder enjoyment.

    • “The game is really well made, bug-free, has good dialogue, good graphics, nice controls, and overall is a very solid quality game.”
    • “Runs great, looks great, plays great.”
    • “Looks great, runs great.”
    • “Now to add getting out of water is so buggy and annoying; I mean this is so bad.”
    • “It doesn't help that this DLC, even after months since it launched (so I'm assuming it got a couple of patches), is super buggy, especially in the third level.”
    • “Somehow it's more buggy than the base game, and the added features only make the existing problems more prevalent.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the over-the-top elements, like giant tentacles and absurd enemy encounters, genuinely funny, while others feel that the humor often falls flat or feels forced. Characters like Intern provide comedic relief, but the overall writing and some gameplay mechanics are criticized for being unfunny or poorly executed. The game's self-aware humor, particularly in its challenging design, elicits a range of reactions, from amusement to frustration.

    • “I loved the intern; I thought it was hilarious how he talked to Doomguy, definitely one of my favorite characters.”
    • “Every level in this is just, 'Why don't we throw 50 possessed tyrants at a lubed-up Doomguy while he's got his trousers around his ankles?' That would be funny, wouldn't it?”
    • “And I think if you listen closely, after each wave you can hear the devs laughing at you when you think it's almost finished after 10 minutes of killing demons, and then they throw you 2 cyberdemons at once.”
    • “The humor feels stale and relies too heavily on overused memes.”
    • “I found the jokes to be repetitive and lacking originality.”
    • “The attempts at humor often fall flat and feel forced.”
  • optimization27 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its overall performance and visuals, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and a drop in frame rates compared to the base game. Specific levels, like UAC Atlantica, are noted for being performance-intensive yet visually impressive, but many users express frustration over the DLC's lack of optimization and persistent bugs. Overall, while some players experience smooth gameplay, others struggle with performance degradation and unoptimized elements.

    • “Very well optimized and it has more excellent soundtracks for the pleasure of your ears!”
    • “I'd also like to note that there are things I enjoyed about The Ancient Gods - Part One: the environments look great, the game is highly optimized, and I thought the turrets and Blood Makyrs were interesting new additions that reward the player for precision shooting.”
    • “It's Doom - id invented the FPS genre, id tech engine is a decade ahead of any other game engine as far as smoothness in frame rate and outstanding efficient use of CPU & GPU - this game is ultra-optimized, nothing is even close.”
    • “Unfortunately, I've found that this has resulted in a hit on performance at times.”
    • “Ancient Gods is a pretty unoptimized DLC.”
    • “The performance is awful (had to put my settings on minimum to get a barely playable framerate of 50 when I ran the base game at 60 to 90 depending on area on medium).”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and cinematic quality, often surpassing that of the original campaign. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail in the environments, the dynamic and fitting soundtracks, and the unique atmospheres of each level, which contribute to a sense of chaos and excitement during gameplay. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and compelling audio creates a captivating experience that enhances the game's intensity.

    • “Ask me how I felt during any mission and I can tell you, because a huge amount of work goes into the environment, the soundtrack, and the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is great in the three levels provided.”
    • “For the good things about this game, the environments are amazingly atmospheric and very nice to look at.”
    • “The second is a bit more unique, but there isn't an additional soundtrack or anything that could really affect the atmosphere.”
    • “I think Mick's tracks are more standout and aggressive during combat, but the atmosphere is different with the DLC, so it could be an artistic choice more than anything else; it feels darker, like a mix between Doom 2016 and Eternal.”
    • “The music is still super good, but is far from Mick Gordon's style, and the atmosphere thus feels different.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is a mixed bag. While some players find it infinitely replayable due to challenging maps and various modes, others criticize the lack of progression and collectibles, leading to a less compelling experience. The enjoyment largely depends on individual preferences for challenge and gameplay variety.

    • “Challenging set of 3 maps with great art styles, has a lot of replay value as a result.”
    • “I've had a lot of fun with this DLC and it has tons of replay value, so if you love Doom Eternal and you're up for a challenge, this is a DLC for you.”
    • “Combine that with huge replayability with extra life mode/ultra nightmare/secrets/slayer gates/secret encounters/unlocking skins, I think it is absolutely worth it.”
    • “The fact that there's no real progression (your suit and weapons are 100% unlocked), no fun collectibles, and no replayability means that this DLC is just poor value.”
    • “This all comes together to create a needlessly frustrating experience that would be much more playable if I felt compelled to actually trudge on to the next bland encounter.”
    • “I think that most players will just find this a challenge, but an annoying one with little replayability.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players express a mix of frustration and emotional exhaustion with the DLC, citing its overwhelming difficulty and tedious combat as detracting from the overall experience. While some moments, like defeating challenging enemies, evoke feelings of triumph, the lack of engaging storytelling and relentless gameplay can lead to feelings of fatigue and disappointment. Overall, the emotional impact is polarized, with some players feeling empowered and others left drained.

    • “I cried.”
    • “It can be mentally and emotionally taxing for players who aren't ready for such an unrelenting gameplay experience.”
    • “The last boss of the game and the part with the room full of plasma shield enemies made me feel like I just installed the game.”
    • “The developers make you tired of combat; the short and boring story is getting ridiculous.”
    • “Boring story.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its reliance on microtransactions, which some players feel contradicts earlier promises from the developers about the game's pricing model. Despite being a $60 title, the inclusion of time-restricted content available only through additional purchases has led to perceptions of greed within the industry. Players are advised to be cautious about spending on games that may not align with their expectations.

    • “I thought Bethesda would choose not to be greedy, predatory scam artists, but they love microtransactions like the rest of the psychopaths in the video game industry.”
    • “This is worsened by the fact that some time-restricted content only returns on the basis of microtransactions, something that the game's director, Hugo Martin, promised would not happen, stating 'Eternal is a $60 game, not a free-to-play game or a mobile game.'”
    • “Just a piece of advice: don't pay for a game if you don't like it, just because of expensive advertising or just to have it in your collection.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One

Play time

4hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
3-55hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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