violent
02-14-2009, 05:01 PM
Game Informer Online (http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200903/R09.0212.1348.08778.htm) has posted their review of the much anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2. Here is a snip:
At a basic level, the combat in Dawn of War II is just plain fun. It’s a blast to give your Assault Marines a combat jump order and watch them use their jetpacks to slam into an enemy formation with literally explosive force. Watching your heavy bolters tear through the most robust of enemy troops is a joy, and seeing your Force Commander go toe-to-toe with a hostile mech is awesome. These examples are of Space Marines, but the other factions’ units fulfill largely the same roles. The abilities of the various squads at your command mesh together in a tightly interlocked engine of destruction when used properly, and the low-level tactical gameplay is unmatched.
The Space Marine-only single-player campaign offers dozens of replayable hours of entertainment. There is no resource gathering, but randomized loot drops allow you to equip your squads with powerful war gear. The Mass Effect-like leveling system strikes a brilliant balance between giving you access to sweet powers and forcing you to make choices as you customize your units. The rating you receive after each mission (which also ties into bonus rewards) constantly pushes you to improve your game.
The biggest downfall of Dawn of War II is a lack of variety. Though different enemies populate each mission, you’ll still conquer the same handful of maps over and over during the campaign. Despite getting new weapons with better stats, you’ll use the same basic tactics repeatedly for the vast majority of the game. Even while fighting on different planets, you’ll have the same objectives and fight bosses with carbon-copy abilities over and over again. It’s a good thing the basic gameplay is so amusing, because there isn’t much else to keep it fresh.
Highly anticipated in this home.
At a basic level, the combat in Dawn of War II is just plain fun. It’s a blast to give your Assault Marines a combat jump order and watch them use their jetpacks to slam into an enemy formation with literally explosive force. Watching your heavy bolters tear through the most robust of enemy troops is a joy, and seeing your Force Commander go toe-to-toe with a hostile mech is awesome. These examples are of Space Marines, but the other factions’ units fulfill largely the same roles. The abilities of the various squads at your command mesh together in a tightly interlocked engine of destruction when used properly, and the low-level tactical gameplay is unmatched.
The Space Marine-only single-player campaign offers dozens of replayable hours of entertainment. There is no resource gathering, but randomized loot drops allow you to equip your squads with powerful war gear. The Mass Effect-like leveling system strikes a brilliant balance between giving you access to sweet powers and forcing you to make choices as you customize your units. The rating you receive after each mission (which also ties into bonus rewards) constantly pushes you to improve your game.
The biggest downfall of Dawn of War II is a lack of variety. Though different enemies populate each mission, you’ll still conquer the same handful of maps over and over during the campaign. Despite getting new weapons with better stats, you’ll use the same basic tactics repeatedly for the vast majority of the game. Even while fighting on different planets, you’ll have the same objectives and fight bosses with carbon-copy abilities over and over again. It’s a good thing the basic gameplay is so amusing, because there isn’t much else to keep it fresh.
Highly anticipated in this home.