Dawn of War 3
GRIM AND BEAR THE CHANGES – THIS RTS IS WORTH THE CHALLENGE. $89.95 | PC | www.dawnofwar.com
THIS IS THE Halo 5 of RTS titles — the same as the games that came before it, and almost certainly better, but there’s an uneasy sense that, by trying to outdo competitors, it’s lost some of the clumsy individuality that made the prequels endearing. This is not, as some suspected, a MOBA in tactical dreadnought armour. Rather, it’s all the essential bits of the first two games, revised and refreshed, plus the individual dash of Company Of Heroes 2.
There are two modes on offer, campaign and multiplayer, and both feel distinct. The former feels like a true 40K experience, with grim Space Marines, perfidious Eldar and snarling, reckless Orks. As well as providing a characterful story told through gritted teeth, it’s a great way of learning how it all works, which drip-feeds you until you’re capable to go it alone. It’s also a useful way of learning how the three default races and Elite characters work, with each mission taking place from a different faction’s perspective.
Once you start learning how Elite units work, there’s a serious requirement for micromanagement. That’s an unsexy and intimidating word for something that’s actually quite fun, but there were moments where we felt overwhelmed by the amount of options. Many units have a special ability on a timer, and Elite units have at least two. There’s base building to consider and other units to control. Throw in a second Elite unit, and it’s suddenly loads to think about.
The campaign is a warmup for the true test of your skills: multiplayer. There are three structures that have to be destroyed in turn, but you’ll need to protect yours at the same time. On top of this, there are strategic points across the map for gathering resources and bedding into cover. This is where the shell falls away and the creeping influence of MOBAs feels more apparent.
The good news is that the implementation works. Battles are masterfully crafted, backand-forth affairs which always feel like they could swing either way. Apart from a few MOBA-inspired missteps, the tone is spot on, capturing the blackly comic humour that characterises the universe.