Video Game Review: Warhammer 40,000 - Dawn of War III

Developer Relic Entertainment
Publisher Sega
Distributor Ster-Kinekor
Where we got our copy Bought on Steam
Genre RTS
Game modes Single Player, Multiplayer
Players 1-6
Reviewed on PC

Where to buy Official Site , Steam , GMG , Humble Bundle

PottyZA

Published May 9, 2017

Dawn of War III mashes up the large-scale battles of the original and the hero units of the sequel with gameplay features that feel somewhat reminiscent of MOBA games such as Dota.

This comparison between Dawn of War III (henceforth referred to as DOW3) and MOBAs is only skin-deep. The focus here is not on individual heroes, but rather massive armies with elite units leading them into battle; while the objective of the multiplayer game mode, Power Core, remains familiar.

DOW3 brings back the much-loved base-building functionality of the first game and keeps the resource point system that fans have always enjoyed. Sadly, Relic decided to ditch the detailed cover and gear systems that were present in Dawn of War II, though I doubt it would have worked with the renewed focus on large-scale war.

In a way, the game is a refreshing breath of life into the RTS-genre. It does a great job at recapturing the thrill and rush that has long since been missing in games of this type. The base building isn’t as involved as something like Age of Empires or Command & Conquer, but it offers you just the right amount of options to ensure that you can craft an effective strategy. The building mechanics are comparable to that of Company of Heroes, with less of an emphasis on defensive play.

The story focuses on a cross-planetary war between the Space Marines, bloodthirsty Orks, and sneaky space elves, the Eldar. The three factions battle for control of a relic known as the Spear of Khaine, a weapon of immense power. The story has a couple of twists and turns which clearly sets the game up for an expansion (or two), with all the new factions, modes, and maps that may come with it.

Thankfully, the campaign is not nearly as repetitive as Dawn of War II tended to be, with each mission being different enough to keep your attention. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it replayable, but coupled with the multiplayer it easily provides you with your fill of all-out 40k war.

In terms of the visuals, the game looks stunning – you can almost feel the devastating effects of massive ordinance hitting hordes of enemy troops, with their bodies flying about and blood splattering. With that said, the game has drawn some ire from long-time fans of the series due to its somewhat more colourful visual style. I think that it ultimately comes down to personal preference, as I personally welcome the change.

The sound is also very well designed, with voice acting that’s pretty good considering the series’ history of cringe-inducing one-liners. The Orks that sound like English soccer hooligans with a thick cockney accent, are a particular standout. You’re not going to find yourself playing the soundtrack on a CD in the car, but it helps set the mood, immersing you in the grimdark world of Warhammer 40K.

Multiplayer is what’s going to keep people coming back for more. There’s something very addictive about it, but it’s difficult to put a finger on any one thing – it’s definitely a sum of many well-crafted parts.

The single game mode, Power Core, tasks you with destroying the enemy team’s fixed shield generator, turret and power core (in that order) and has been the root of many MOBA comparisons. In a way, the fixed location of the objectives do encourage that comparison but I’ve found that none of the other gameplay elements reinforce the idea. It’s one of the first RTS games in a long time where I haven’t felt intimidated by playing online. There are incentives to play too, with finished matches rewarding you with experience for your elite units and the skull currency to buy new doctrines. These doctrines are army-wide passive abilities that increase your army’s effectiveness in battle in numerous different ways.

The learning curve is steep, but even losing somehow seems fun. Most units have special abilities that can change the course of the battle, but knowing which to use when, can be quite a challenge. It’s also important to gain control of circular, heavy-cover areas that provide your units with a massive shield that absorbs all ranged damage. Your elite units cost a one-time fee to summon and operate on a cooldown basis once they’re killed after that first deployment onto the battlefield. They range from single hero characters to squads of elite troops, to massive walkers that can help win the match.

It can only go up from here – the game offers a map editor and modding support is promised to be coming soon. The three factions are quite well-balanced, but there are a few units that could do with a balance patch or two, which is to be expected this early-on in the game’s life. Relic does seem to be on top of it however, with the first balance patch set to release fairly soon.

My only complaint about the game is that you’re required to be online at all times, if you want rewards for doing anything. You can’t earn elite experience or skulls offline, which does suck if you have a spotty connection.

Dawn of War III is a must-have for fans of the series or the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It’s a successful attempt at reinvigorating the RTS-genre and brings a decent campaign with exciting multiplayer. The massive battles are thrilling to watch and command, with a surprising level of depth available in each match. I can see myself playing this one for a long time to come.

The Dawn of War series is no stranger to changing things up. Each game of the series has experimented wildly with the standard RTS formula, with the third entry in the series being no different. Relic Entertainment has masterfully blended elements of the first and second games with design paradigms from other sub-genres within the real-time strategy genre. Dawn of War III mashes up the large-scale battles of the original and the hero units of the sequel with gameplay features that feel somewhat reminiscent of MOBA games such as Dota. This comparison between Dawn of War III (henceforth referred to as DOW3) and MOBAs is only skin-deep. The focus here is not on individual heroes, but rather massive armies with elite units leading them into battle; while the objective of the multiplayer game mode, Power Core, remains familiar. DOW3 brings back the much-loved base-building functionality of the first game and keeps the resource point system that fans have always enjoyed. Sadly, Relic decided to ditch the detailed cover and gear systems that were present in Dawn of War II, though I doubt it would have worked with the renewed focus on large-scale war. In a way, the game is a refreshing breath of life into the RTS-genre. It does a great job at recapturing the thrill and rush that has long since been missing in games of this type. The base building isn't as involved as something like Age of Empires or Command & Conquer, but it offers you just the right amount of options to ensure that you can craft an effective strategy. The building mechanics are comparable to that of Company of Heroes, with less of an emphasis on defensive play. The story focuses on a cross-planetary war between the Space Marines, bloodthirsty Orks, and sneaky space elves, the Eldar. The three factions battle for control of a relic known as the Spear of Khaine, a weapon of immense power. The story has a couple of twists and turns which clearly sets the game up for an expansion (or two), with all the new factions, modes, and maps that may come with it. Thankfully, the campaign is not nearly as repetitive as Dawn of War II tended to be, with each mission being different enough to keep your attention. I wouldn't go so far as to call it replayable, but coupled with the multiplayer it easily provides you with your fill of all-out 40k war. In terms of the visuals, the game looks stunning - you can almost feel the devastating effects of massive ordinance hitting hordes of enemy troops, with their bodies flying about and blood splattering. With that said, the game has drawn some ire from long-time fans of the series due to its somewhat more colourful visual style. I think that it ultimately comes down to personal preference, as I personally welcome the change. The sound is also very well designed, with voice acting that's pretty good considering the series' history of cringe-inducing one-liners. The Orks that sound like English soccer hooligans with a thick cockney accent, are a particular standout.…

Video Game Review: Warhammer 40,000 – Dawn of War III

2017-05-09

PottyZA

A great entry in the series and a must-buy for fans

Total - 8.5

85 8.5

Dawn of War III is fun and thrilling. The single-player campaign is good, but don't buy the game just for that - multiplayer is where it's at, and it's great!

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PottyZA

Tech Author at Geek Node

Developer by day, gamer by night. Charl loves everything about gaming and tech, and sometimes writes about them. When he's not busy gaming, you can be sure he's thinking about it.