Almost exactly one year after the release of Doom Eternal the epic of the Slayer ends with the second DLC The Ancient Gods Part 2, which will take us to Hell with the mythical Doomguy for one last, epic and glorious massacre. Announced almost quietly, this highly anticipated second additional content released by Id Software is undoubtedly the icing on the cake of a job that after 12 months continues to gather support and entertain, with the sheer madness and frenzy that have always distinguished it. Playable without the need for the main title, as was the case for The Ancient Gods Part 1, it is released at a price of 19,99 EUR while it is included free for owners of the Deluxe Edition and the Year One Pass.
We know well that on a narrative level the Doom series has never stood out for a certain depth, preferring instead shotguns, machine guns and showers of blood. However, with Doom first and Doom Eternal then, it is undeniable that Id Software has managed to package an excellent script, not without big twists, even managing to create a link with Doom 64, not surprisingly included in last year's pre-orders. This trend has not been abandoned with the two DLC The Ancient Gods Part 1 and Part 2, although the latter, despite some narrative references, is almost totally focused on the epic battle that will be the epilogue to the campaign, with the Slayer ready to end the hegemony of the Dark Lord and thus definitively drive out all the infernal forces.
Once again we find the Doomguy with all the unlockable arsenal available during the Doom Eternal campaign, to which the Sentinels' Hammer is added, an artifact with an explosive power that can stun enemies, making them more vulnerable to the Slayer's abilities to allow them to acquire loot from their remains. This new - but essential - element will be able to modify and vary the Slayer's approach to fighting by exploiting the potential that this weapon, able to recharge with epic kills, will be able to give especially in the epilogue of the DLC.
The introduction of a new weapon goes hand in hand with that of ben five new enemies, albeit variants of existing models: The Armored Baron, the Stone Imp, the Screamer, the Cursed Predator, the Demonic Soldier and the Riot Soldier. With these new enemies the Sentinels' Hammer will prove to be almost essential as it can facilitate their elimination, see for example the Armored Baron, a decidedly hard bone thanks to his armor. With the introduction of these new enemies, in general, the fights are designed to allow the player to exploit as many skills and weapons as possible, as well as being able to think of different approaches and strategies.
Beyond these two innovations during the combat phases, the gameplay is also enriched with a new "platform" component thanks to the presence of grips to which it will be possible to hook through the ability of the shotgun: this new feature opens the way to different variants that can be adopted in some "war zones" as well as making the "non-shooter" gameplay phases a little more complex. For the rest, the gameplay is the one tested with short exploratory phases alternating with melee combat, frenetic and challenging thanks to the presence of resistant and difficult enemies. Certainly there are fewer fights, albeit always challenging, compared to the previous DLC and here it seems that Id Software's intention was to familiarize the player with the brand new Sentinel Hammer, in view of the epic final Boss fight.
On the technical side we are witnessing the umpteenth confirmation of the Id Tech 7, even more appreciable on new generation consoles such as Xbox Series X if combined with a good 4K TV panel. Everything flows smoothly and without frame rate drops even in agitated situations which, as per the tradition of Doom, certainly will not be lacking. Also the sound sector, always pleasant and satisfying, is confirmed at excellent levels thanks to the excellent work of the duo Andrew Hulshult and David Levy, who took over from Mick Gordon after the latter's departure, due to his dissatisfaction with the final mix of the Doom Eternal soundtrack.
Are we therefore faced with a slap-up DLC? Not really, since repetitive situations are immediately evident compared to the past, despite the additional add-ons to the gameplay in the three new game locations. An example of this are the Escalation events, or clashes characterized by two waves of increasing difficulty: for practical purposes it will be sufficient to complete the first wave to be able to obtain an upgrade for the Sentinels' Hammer and then be able to continue with the plot. The second wave? A habit that will allow you to obtain an aesthetic object: very little to allow you to increase a very poor longevity. The advice, obviously based on your personal tastes, remains that of tackle the DLC with a good level of difficulty also because the game environments will really be a handful and, as mentioned above, everything will seem nothing more than a preparation for the final confrontation with the Dark Lord. The latter, as well as the only one, boss fight of The Ancient Gods Part 2 on the one hand is satisfying while on the other it proves to be a bit sterile, for variety and spectacularity, when compared to those present in Doom Eternal.
If we analyze the work behind Doom Eternal as a whole, this second DLC The Ancient Gods Part 2 would undoubtedly deserve more praise. However, in view of the previous additional content and, in general, the expectations that have resulted from it, we cannot raise it that much. Surely it has the advantage of adding a handful of news to the few hours of play available, always in the name of the godurioso massacre in the role of the Slayer, but everything seems almost an appetizer to learn the skills of the Sentinels' Hammer and be able to better face the Dark Lord. Precisely this final boss fight does not fully satisfy and does not generate that feeling of triumph that one might expect given the previous ones. Regardless of all this, the two DLCs do justice to the main title, managing to enrich it and further raise the bar of its final grade. Ultimately there is no doubt that Id Software, with Doom Eternal, The Ancient Gods Part 1 and The Ancient Gods Part 2, has really made its mark in this beginning of the new gaming decade.
