"WE ARE THE VANGUARD OF HONOUR. THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE BLOOD ANGELS. WE BRING DEATH. SO LONG AS OUR BOLTERS DON'T JAM"
The new Space Hulk video game was release today on Steam. I had pre-ordered the game and managed to get a couple of hours of play in. For anyone thinking about the game, there is more info below the fold.
The Space Hulk board game is up there as one of the G-dub classics. Up there with Chainsaw Warrior, Kings and Things, and the first version of Chaos Marauders. It has had a couple of versions and expansion packs and is still popular on the used market if you don't mind dropping $100+. The video game was designed as a fairly close mirror of the board game, and they did a good job of that.
This review is based on playing the first 4 levels of single player only. From reading about it the game has a nicely done multiplayer with various ways of running it that sounds like it will make for a great game. The game is turned based with each marine having a set number (4) of action points, and then the squad having an additional pool of points (D6 so it is random) that they can draw from. You can spend your points in any order until they are all burnt through. Actions depend on what a marine is doing and carrying, but offer a selection of choices at cost 1 or 2 action points each. You can move, turn, backup, open doors, or shoot. Bolter carrying marines can also drop into overwatch and all can set guard to make it more frustrating when the still die the instant a Gene Stealer reaches them.
The Good
Graphics are decent, not great but decent. According to the game I have it set to 'fantastic' quality which I assume means I have all the options on. It does what it does well enough. Touches like the helmet cam of the currently selected marine are great.
Atmospherics from the sound are well done too. No music, just the echoed sounds of heavy armor and death in the corridors of the space hulk.
Game play is simple and the tactical play is nice. I'm looking forward to unlocking things like the autocannon, lightning claws and thunder hammer, as well as trying some of the multiplayer options.
The Bad
While the sound is very nicely done, it is a pretty limited range. I think it may start to get old pretty quickly.
Most graphics are good, but there a few places that could have done with more work. The flat spray of blood when a gene stealer dies - as often as that happens - is pretty weak. The death animation for marines is also really uninspired. I'm also hoping there will be a bit of environmental variety, I realize it is all in a space hulk, but without that these levels will all feel the same in not time at all.
Terminators suck. Yeah I get it, Gene Stealers are scary, but I've not won a close combat yet. If they make it to your dudes they die every time. The gene stealers never miss and always rend I guess.
Bolt guns suck. At least they jam a lot. Having two guys overwatch a corridor and then both die because their bolt guns jam at the same time is pretty frustrating. The terminators also miss a fair bit too. Even the heavy flamer has a decent chance of not killing the guys right in front of you.
The Ugly
Really, no ugly. Sure there are parts that could do with more work, but nothing is terrible.
Overall I'm OK with the game so far. I guess my issue is it doesn't feel like a $30 game. Maybe it will once I've tried more of what it has to offer, I think the multiplayer may be where a lot of the fun is. Its just that there are free to play (well, until you want to unlock something) games that feel as good as this. It's 40K though, I'll support it and hope they bring out more and better games.
Citizensmith