Chapter 18 of DOOM: The Dark Ages, “Belly of the Beast,” is quite possibly the most visually disgusting and unsettling level in the game. The whole chapter is spent within the belly of a massive, Cthulhu-inspired creature, making your usual demon-slaying more visceral—literally. Flesh walls, pulsating organs, pounding veins, and bile-covered platforms make for a truly unique (and quite nauseating) battlefield.
As you make your way through this alien intestinal tract, you’ll eventually encounter one of the oddest and maddening of the game’s puzzles: the Teeth Door. It’s seemingly a meaty hallway filled with rows of great, chattering teeth. Another thing that you can run or dash through if you catch it at the right time. But here’s the thing: that won’t work.
Teeth Door in DOOM: The Dark Ages – Solution
The Teeth Door is an exit that bites—literally. If you attempt to run, dash, or jump through when the jaws are snapping, you’ll be bitten halfway through, lose some amount of health, and be teleported back to the beginning of the hallway.
Even if you try to use time-slowing modifiers or open the weapon wheel to “pause” the action and time it to perfection, the game has been made to counter this tactic. Trying this tactic makes you take even more damage, so clearly the developers want you to find out the actual solution.
The solution is simple once you know where it is, but it’s simple to overlook if you’re not paying attention. Stand at the entrance of the hallway with teeth on either side. Stand up and turn slightly right to see a glowing blue gear mechanism jammed in the upper meaty wall.
Equip your Shield Saw (your upgraded toss-able shield) and throw your shield straight into the blue gear. When it hits, the gear will rotate and the jaws will snap open, immobilising the teeth. It successfully disables the trap and allows you to continue through the hallway safely.
Rewards After Getting Past the Teeth Door
While this puzzle appears significant due to its construction and brutality, the reward is on the lower side. However, completionists and those looking for 100% will have to take the side trip.
You’ll receive 14 Gold pieces along the narrow path, a Life Sigil, which increases your extra lives, and one of the six secret areas of the chapter, which are considered in full completion of the level. A green Shield Charge target you can run into to fling yourself onto the main path of the level.
So it may not be walking into a treasure trove of weapon enhancements. However, it’s still a trip worth making, particularly if you’re busy collecting all the secrets or finishing up bonus challenges.
