Warhammer 40K Franchise

[Nefaro]

*Rant ON*

After grabbing the $10 package of the whole DOW & DOW2 series, and playing around in them a bit, I'm convinced of two things right off the bat:

1) WH40K desperately needs a more cerebral/deep strategy game.  This Warcraft-style RTS junk is clown shoes compared to what the IP should have.  The Total War treatment for Warhammer Fantasy is the exact kind of thing WH40K needs.  Maybe we'll get lucky and THQ will take enough of a nosedive to release their grip on the IP contracts to someone who'll make better use of them.  The only reason I've bothered playing these RTS clones, and indeed purchased them in the first place, was because of the WH40K setting.  But it's difficult to dwell there very long, having to try & concentrate on the setting rather than the dull RTS click-fest mechanics and poor attempt at adding RPG facets to the sequel.

2)  Speaking of RPG mechanics.. WH40K also desperately needs and Action RPG title in the Diablo vein.  I'm not talking some generic hallway shooter like WH40K:Space Marine with practically no RPG in it.  I'm talking hack & slash & loot through hordes of baddies.  And level- , skill-up.  The premise would fit quite easily.  Somebody make it happen, for the love of the Emperor.  ::)


Perhaps the Total War Warhammer title will be excellent, and sell enough to make the people at Games Workshop notice that we want more substance from their IP than just twitch titles.  >:(

[Jarhead0331]

I agree that a deep strategic game set in the WH: 40K IP would be a home run.  I also agree that a deep RPG, or diablo-esq. dungeon crawler would also be successful.  There are big gaps in the electronic gaming franchise that need to be filled.

However, I do not agree with what I feel is overly harsh criticism of the DOW franchise.  They are fun games for what they are and there are some great mods out there for them too.  I preferred the original DOW over DOW2, but enjoyed both of the games and their expansions.  I also enjoyed Space Marine, but deep down, was disappointed by its simplicity.  I felt like they really failed to capitalize on what could have been an outstanding gaming experience.

[jomni]

Nefaro, did you like Company of Heroes?  It's the exact same game engine as Dawn of War. 

[Jarhead0331]

Nefaro, did you like Company of Heroes?  It's the exact same game engine as Dawn of War.

You mean DOW 2.

[Longdan]

I just got Space Marine for krissmiss.

[eyebiter]

Liked the first two Dawn of War 2 games, Retribution was decent but not great. Generic single player campaign, less emphasis on unique loot, skill system much less complex.

Would like to see a new 40k game that involves another faction, the Blood Ravens have been done enough.

[Nefaro]

Nefaro, did you like Company of Heroes?  It's the exact same game engine as Dawn of War.

Never tried it.  Actually.. I may have tried it after getting it for free with a video card purchase at Newegg years ago, but didn't get into it & gave it away.

I also think there's room for a 4X-style WH40K game, even though I'm not very familiar with the space tech side of things.  The point I was attempting to make about the DOW games is that they just aren't very deep, being primarily RTS clickfests.  The only thing I'm enjoying about the is the setting and perhaps the variety in certain ones.  It's just a strategy genre that has been overdone for almost two decades now and I'd be glad to see the IP get into some deeper territory.  It doesn't look like Relic is really gonna be doing that, either.  :-[  Unless their MMO-turned-RPG game somehow gets resurrected from the dead and re-worked in some kind of miracle.

[Arctic Blast]

Liked the first two Dawn of War 2 games, Retribution was decent but not great. Generic single player campaign, less emphasis on unique loot, skill system much less complex.

Would like to see a new 40k game that involves another faction, the Blood Ravens have been done enough.

So long as they aren't replaced by the Ultramarines. Someone less vanilla would be nice.

[Nefaro]

I actually prefer vanilla ice cream.  It gets a bad rap, especially since chocolate and/or strawberry ice cream is the real "vanilla" that everyone chooses by default.  :P

[gocrows]

The original DOW is great fun, with great graphics. DOW 2 not as good, however for the current $10.00 complete pack, good value. I also like Company of Heroes. These are not games designed to be "realistic", just fun. This aim is well achieved, even when I lose, which is often against human opponents.

[Huw the Poo]

What's the difference between DoW and DoW 2 then?

I've been playing DoW 2 lately and was very surprised to find that it's basically Company of Heroes in the WH40K universe.  I wasn't expecting that at all!  It's very well done for what it is though, and although I'm not a hardcore Games Workshop nerd, as far as I can tell it's extremely faithful to the license too.  The "army painter" is fantastic!  If only I'd had that available to me when I used to play with actual miniatures...the one part of "the hobby" I always resented was having to paint my own armies.

[Jarhead0331]

What's the difference between DoW and DoW 2 then?

I've been playing DoW 2 lately and was very surprised to find that it's basically Company of Heroes in the WH40K universe.  I wasn't expecting that at all!  It's very well done for what it is though, and although I'm not a hardcore Games Workshop nerd, as far as I can tell it's extremely faithful to the license too.  The "army painter" is fantastic!  If only I'd had that available to me when I used to play with actual miniatures...the one part of "the hobby" I always resented was having to paint my own armies.

DOW is heavier on resource management and base building.  Its also played on a larger scale with multiple squads and vehicles which can be built during combat.  DOW 2 is played on a much smaller scale with a heavier focus on strengthening your commander and the few squads you start each mission with.  You can acquire and equip relics, gear and abilities.  There is no base building and all of your resource collection goes to using special abilities in the field and upgrading your teams, rather than building structures and new squads.

[Huw the Poo]

Ah, so DoW is worth checking out too then.  Cool.  Thanks Jarhead.