DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,404 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.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,404 reviews
story376 positive mentions
grinding172 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 can feel artificial, with overwhelming enemy numbers and frustrating mechanics.
  • 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.
  • story1,521 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 expansion of lore and the continuation of the Doom Slayer's journey, others criticize it for being overly cryptic and feeling like a pretext for combat rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the story is seen as secondary to the gameplay, with many recommending players watch the story on YouTube if they are primarily interested in the narrative.

    • “The story here is a delight, with it being as ridiculous as it is in the campaign but with a few more fun twists.”
    • “I was enthralled by the story of this DLC because it finally gave the Doom universe and the Doom Slayer some backstory for the first time ever.”
    • “The new levels are solid and the story picks up after the main campaign with some pretty cool twists and turns and a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that will make the wait for part two even more difficult!”
    • “The story feels disjointed, and much of it comes across as overly cryptic, leaving players more confused than intrigued.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story is just the right flavor of window dressing.”
  • gameplay1,065 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Ancient Gods - Part One" expansion for *Doom Eternal* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it retains the core mechanics of the base game, it introduces frustrating elements such as the spirit possession mechanic and a significant increase in difficulty that can feel artificial. Some players appreciate the challenge and the need to master the game's mechanics, while others find the new enemy types and mechanics tedious and detrimental to the overall flow of combat. Overall, the expansion is seen as a test of skill that may appeal to dedicated fans but could frustrate casual players.

    • “With that said, I do 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 ep 2.”
    • “The ancient gods - part one is a campaign extension for doom eternal, continuing the story and gameplay progression where the base game left off.”
    • “The checkpoint system can be poor at times as well, I like the enemies they added but the spirit possession mechanic is irritating and overkill in some of the fights in my opinion, more frustrating than fun.”
    • “Somehow they managed to take the high-octane gameplay and turn it into a tedious clusterfuck with 20 waves of bullet sponge enemies for 1 area.”
    • “The gameplay changes they introduced have, in my opinion, made the combat more tedious than anything.”
  • music915 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 regarded as solid and fitting for the game, they are often described as lacking the intensity and memorability of Gordon's tracks, leading to a perception of the music as more background noise than a driving force in gameplay. Overall, while some tracks are praised, many players feel the soundtrack does not reach the same heights as its predecessor, with issues related to volume and repetitiveness also noted.

    • “The music is amazing as always (pay Mick Gordon you-) and the setpieces and cutscenes are good, but holy hell some of the combat encounters drag on far too long.”
    • “For one, the music is phenomenal and the composer really managed to capture some of the energy Mick Gordon did.”
    • “The music is great, Levy and Hulshult are a great team.”
    • “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.”
    • “Honestly this is a major step down from the base game and the drama with Mick Gordon being absolutely screwed over by ZeniMax and Bethesda has left a very sour taste in my mouth; the replacement music artist does not meet the level of absolute hardcore mastery that is Mick Gordon.”
    • “The music is now dull and it feels like there's only one riff being repeated for 3 hours.”
  • graphics205 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals and diverse art styles across the levels. While some noted that the graphics are on par with "Doom Eternal," others highlighted specific environments as particularly beautiful, contributing to the overall immersive experience. However, a few critiques mentioned inconsistencies in texture quality and level design, suggesting that while the aesthetics are impressive, they do not always translate to engaging gameplay.

    • “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 sky boxes 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.”
  • grinding186 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the DLC has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with many players noting that combat encounters feel drawn out and unbalanced. The introduction of new enemy mechanics, particularly those involving possession and increased difficulty, has turned what could be engaging battles into monotonous endurance tests, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Many reviewers express that the gameplay has shifted from a fun challenge to a grindy experience that lacks the excitement and fluidity of the base game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “Fighting two at a time was a fun challenge that wasn't grindy.”
    • “This DLC is the definition of tedious.”
    • “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.”
    • “Somehow they managed to take the high-octane gameplay and turn it into a tedious clusterfuck with 20 waves of bullet sponge enemies for 1 area.”
  • stability80 mentions

    The stability of the DLC has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players found the core gameplay enjoyable, the frequent issues—especially in specific levels and mechanics—led to frustration and a sense of unpolished design. Overall, the DLC is perceived as significantly more buggy than the base game, prompting recommendations to wait for further patches before playing.

    • “The game is really well made, bug free, good dialogue, good graphics, nice controls, all-in-all a very solid quality game.”
    • “Runs great, looks great, plays great.”
    • “- looks great, runs great.”
    • “The current game-breaking glitches introduced by the new updates/DLC have made my experience horrid.”
    • “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.”
  • humor56 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 the intern provide comedic relief, but the overall writing has been criticized as "hilariously bad." Many reviews suggest that the game's attempts at humor can detract from the gameplay experience, leading to a sense of frustration rather than amusement.

    • “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?”
    • “I find it funny to see all the good reviews saying this game is fun because it's difficult, but it's not challenging like the main campaign; the 'difficulty' comes from cramming twice the demons in arenas half as small where you have limited mobility and constant environmental damage.”
    • “*Insert overused and unfunny meme here, again*”
    • “*Insert overused and unfunny meme here, again*”
  • optimization54 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its visuals and overall performance, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and a decline in frame rates compared to the base game. Many users express frustration over the DLC's lack of optimization, noting that it feels unpolished and prone to bugs, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Overall, while the game showcases impressive graphics, the performance problems detract from its potential.

    • “Very well optimized and it has more excellent soundtracks for the pleasure of your ears!”
    • “Environments are well designed and gorgeous, as good as the main game, and performance on my rather basic GTX 1050 powered laptop is reasonable.”
    • “id Tech 7 shines once again, with neat visuals, superb optimization, and a crazy amount of demons onscreen.”
    • “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).”
  • atmosphere44 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its cinematic quality and immersive environments, often described as better than the original campaign. Reviewers highlight the effective use of soundtracks that enhance the mood, with unique atmospheres for each level that evoke feelings of chaos and intensity. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, engaging music, and well-designed arenas contributes to a compelling and atmospheric gameplay experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Challenging yet fun encounters, pretty solid soundtracks and 3 new mind-blowing maps with gorgeous visuals and excellent atmosphere and arenas.”
    • “I am going to start this out in a positive light and say, the level design was honestly beautiful. I loved every single mission; the atmosphere is among the best that Doom Eternal has to offer, and some of the arena designs are really good and fun to play.”
    • “The second is a bit more unique, but there isn't an additional soundtrack or anything that could really affect the atmosphere.”
    • “The music is still super good, but is far from Mick Gordon's style and the atmosphere thus feels different.”
    • “The environments are amazingly cinematic and portray an atmosphere of utter chaos as you stride through them killing demons.”
  • replayability34 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the challenging maps and various modes that enhance replay value, others find the lack of progression and collectibles detracts from the experience. Some reviews highlight that the arenas provide significant replay potential, especially for fans of the genre, while others feel the long levels and frustrating encounters limit their desire to replay. Overall, it seems that replayability is highly dependent on individual player preferences and tolerance for challenge.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “I think that most players will just find this a challenge, but an annoying one with little replayability.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    Players express a mix of frustration and emotional exhaustion with the DLC, citing its unrelenting difficulty and tedious combat as mentally taxing rather than rewarding. While some moments, like achieving a precise shot, evoke feelings of empowerment, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging storytelling and overwhelming challenges that detract from the enjoyment. Many reviewers indicate a desire to return to the main game instead of replaying the DLC.

    • “I cried.”
    • “It can be mentally and emotionally taxing for players who aren't ready for such an unrelenting gameplay experience.”
    • “It's basically an empowered demon just absurdly tanky and sonic fast, and when it's on a baron, I want to cry.”
    • “The devs make you tired of combat; the short and boring story is getting stupid.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its reliance on microtransactions, which contradicts earlier assurances from the game's director that it would not adopt a free-to-play model. Players feel that the inclusion of time-restricted content tied to additional payments reflects a predatory approach typical of the industry, despite the game being sold at a premium price.

    • “I thought Bethesda would also 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 10 analyzed playthroughs

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