Warhammer 40K returns to turn-based tactics in 2022 and borrows a lot from the new XCOM. Unlike the original, however, there is no room for amateurs here.
Truly, there should be no reason to mob XCOM agents in front of the monitor. After all, these are very noble men and women who risk their lives for the good cause. Who will not put up with a superior alien species ruling their own planet. Instead, weapons are drawn and the alien brood is thrashed in turn-based battles!
Nevertheless, there is probably hardly a profession that is more often snubbed for its incompetence in PC games. But it is simply too frustrating when the top Russian agent Natalia stands half a metre away from the alien with her shotgun and misses her target with a 90 per cent chance of hitting. Everyone knows this pain. Anyone who has played XCOM has been through it several times.
What have we seen?
Before the official announcement of the release date, we were invited by publisher Frontier Foundry to attend a gameplay presentation. During the digital event, the new Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters was briefly introduced and we got to see about a quarter of an hour of gameplay. However, we were not allowed to play it ourselves yet
If you’re fed up with such amateurish agents who miss even two-metre-high berserkers, you should maybe go for real marines for a change. Or rather, genetically engineered super soldiers who deal with the chaotic invasion of an entire star system. And without missing.
Sound good? Then Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is definitely for you.
Table of Contents
This is what Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is all about
In typical Warhammer fashion, Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is once again a game with a very long title. But the subtitle Daeomonhunter is necessary, because there was a Chaos Gate before. And that was 23 years ago. The turn-based strategy game is considered a classic by Warhammer fans, and the current developers at Complex Games have taken it as a model. But mainly only to define their setting and genre. So Warhammer 40,000 and turn-based strategy.
In terms of story and gameplay, Daemonhunters has hardly anything in common with the original. Let’s take a closer look at both.
The Story
At the very beginning we get to know the Grey Knights. A highly secret Space Marine order within the Inquisition of the Empire of Mankind. They’re pretty tough, unquestioningly loyal, and bred primarily to fight Chaos. Rather by accident, however, they become aware of the chaotic threat in the Tyrtaeus Sector, for which they are actually unprepared.
But since Grand Master Vardan Kai (voiced by Gollum actor Andy Serkis, by the way) wants it that way and a rescued Inquisitor is leading the troop, they have to face the danger. It is a plague of the chaos god Nurgle called Blossom. It infects entire planets and produces mutated demons in droves. Sounds serious.
The Gameplay
The comparison with XCOM is almost inevitable. The game basically does exactly what there is in the new XCOM parts as well. We manage our Grey Knights from the deck of a battered battleship. Here we keep an eye on the planets in the sector and set missions for selected Grey Knights to go on.
Along the way, a little research is done to give the Marines new skills or tools for the fight against the bloom. Damaged ships must also be refurbished with collected resources.
Much more important than the administrative work, however, are the missions. We send four marines on each mission, where it is then round for round against Nurgle’s brood. We can customise the marines very freely, determine their equipment, define their appearance and, depending on their class (four plus specialisations), unlock other skills.
This is what makes Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters special
So far, so XCOM. One should not underestimate the scenario in the matter. Because Warhammer is still a pretty big name, even if there are already more Warhammer games than there are Skaven in the sewers of Altdorf.
What jumps right out at you with Daemonhunters, however, is the visual quality. Battlesector already looked a bit dewy in screenshots and in the first trailers. Daemonhunters, on the other hand, shows the Warhammer world from its most beautiful side. An incredible amount of detail, sharp textures, glaring effects, physical gimmicks and, above all, battles that are staged dynamically, as in XCOM, thanks to good camera movements and animations. The graphic quality makes the Warhammer universe stand out much more here.
The universe also has an effect on the gameplay, by the way. Since we are commanding real super soldiers with the Grey Knights, the sometimes frustrating random factor of XCOM is supposed to be omitted. A Grey Knight does not shoot or miss. Instead, we determine how high the damage will be depending on our positioning. In addition, there is also the possibility that a marine lands a critical hit – but this is not always decided by chance.
The Grey Knights generally rely a little more on close combat than is usual in XCOM. Therefore, there is an own mechanic that allows attacking or even cutting off individual body parts. In this way, certain abilities can be deactivated. For example, in the gameplay there was a demon with a disgusting tentacle hand. A Grey Knight was able to specifically cut off the green trunks and thus free a wrapped comrade. This not only adds more strategic depth, but also looks really cool thanks to the physics effects and above all supports the brutally dark atmosphere.
What do we like so far? What remains open?
We like that
- The visuals: The new Chaos Gate makes a very good impression graphically. Especially the detailed design of the characters and the fact that physics effects have an impact on the body and environment contribute a lot to the dynamic-looking battles.
- No coincidence: XCOM is notorious for its occasional failures. This may be because high-percentage chances are felt to miss more often than they should. In general, a random factor in strategy games rarely seems elegant. That Daemonhunters tries to reduce this to the bare minimum is a good sign.
- The scope: Daemonhunters borrows a lot from XCOM and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Especially the fact that we can tinker so much with the home ship, research and level up sounds promising. The customisation options for the marines are also numerous – which also fits in well with the tabletop origin of the template.
This remains open
- Good gearing? Without having played it, we can’t make a statement about how well the mechanics mesh. For example, whether unlocking skills or new kinetic abilities is motivating and enriches the battles.
- Suspenseful Story? There will be a red story thread as well as special missions that we have to pass. But we can’t yet predict whether the narrative will also be captivating and the production will pull along accordingly. With Andy Serkis, at least a well-known acting great is on board.
At the moment there are more positive things to say about Daemonhunters than negative. This definitely increases the anticipation and we are excited to finally play it ourselves. Preferably a little before the release, of course, to give you an even better impression. But it won’t be too long until then. The strategy game will be released on Steam and the Epic Store on 5 May 2022.
At the moment there are more positive things to say about Daemonhunters than negative. This definitely increases the anticipation and we are looking forward to finally playing it ourselves. Preferably a little before the release, of course, to give you an even better impression. But it won’t be too long until then. The strategy game will be released on Steam and the Epic Store on 5 May 2022.
Editor’s verdict
Since I’m currently waiting very impatiently for the release of Total War: Warhammer 3, I’m a bit in Warhammer fever anyway. So it could well be that this presentation of Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters came exactly at the right time and hit a nerve with me. But I’m optimistic and trust my previous knowledge. So most likely my anticipation is not playing tricks with my classification. It rather speaks for the fact that the new Chaos Gate knows how to capture friends of the original.
And that doesn’t just mean friends of Warhammer. But also people who, like me, have spent dozens of hours in XCOM 2. Because Warhammer is making use of this in an uninhibited way. But since I’m of the opinion that big franchises should do this more often (Star Wars!), this doesn’t make me feel bad at all. Especially since Chaos Gate not only copies the obvious role model XCOM 2, but optimises it. At least on paper. Who knows whether all this will trigger the same pull as XCOM. That’s not so easy, but I think Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters can do it!
