How DOOM Eternal Brings Back 2016 Game’s Samuel Hayden

Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for DOOM Eternal.

Bethesda’s DOOM Eternal introduces plenty of new features to the series, but it’s also building on elements from the 2016 reboot, and that means the return of characters like Dr. Samuel Hayden. At DOOM 2016’s ending, the enigmatic, robot-bodied betrayer guessed he’d see the Slayer again, and this comes true in DOOM Eternal.

In the first DOOM reboot game, the Slayer had a mixed relationship with Hayden, a Union Aerospace Corporation official in charge of the company’s Argent energy research. Both he and the Slayer sought the destruction of DOOM 2016’s antagonist, Olivia Pierce, but they had different end goals. At the end of the game, Hayden teleported the Slayer into a UAC facility and stole DOOM‘s powerful Crucible artifact from him. While the Slayer believed Hell should be destroyed, Hayden believed humanity needed to keep Hell around in order to sap more Argent energy from it. Hayden finished the conversation by saying, “Until we see each other again,” teleporting the Slayer to an unknown place.

The DOOM Eternal E3 2019 trailer showed a glimpse at Hayden’s fate, with the remains of his robotic body – just a torso, head, and most of one arm – hanging from some kind of life support device. This alone didn’t tell fans much, beyond the fact that whatever he attempted to do after the first game was unsuccessful. With DOOM Eternal in players’ hands, fans now know how Hayden will appear in DOOM Eternal.

What Happens To Samuel Hayden In DOOM Eternal

After the destruction of the Argent energy wellspring on Mars in DOOM 2016’s story, Earth was thrown into an energy crisis, and the demonic invasion of the planet that gives DOOM Eternal its “Hell on Earth” setting began. Hayden suddenly arrived before the Allied Nations Council to solve both problems with the Crucible. Hayden found a way to use the artifact to produce Argent energy for Earth, and the ANC established him as leader of the Armored Response Coalition, a resistance force armed with advanced, Crucible-powered weaponry. ARC ultimately failed to protect the planet, however, engaging in a final assault called “Operation Hellbreaker” that ended in Hayden’s partial destruction.

Just before the DOOM Eternal Marauder boss fight, the Slayer retrieves Hayden’s battered body from his headquarters, where it is being cared for by ARC scientists. The Slayer then uploads Hayden’s consciousness into the Fortress of Doom player hub area, using his knowledge to find the location of the final Hell Priest. As in the first game, Hayden’s voice once again guides the player throughout the game afterwards, advising the Slayer on the history of DOOM’s worlds and characters, all the way until the final boss.

DOOM Eternal released on Google Stadia, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on March 20, 2020.

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Camden Jones
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