Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Several years ago, THQ and developer Relic dropped Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, an intense and fun strategy game set within the Warhammer 40K universe, offering up some of the most compelling RTS gameplay in recent years. Even after three different expansion packs, the game is still quite fresh, holding up well against other titles in the genre even today.

Now, THQ and Relic have released a full-on sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. The game goes beyond safe, low-risk sequel territory and makes some pretty fundamental changes, namely the excising of base-building and in its place some RPG-type leveling features for your units. Luckily, this gamble pays off quite well, making Dawn of War II not only successful in carrying on the legacy of its predecessor and the universe in which it is set, but also bringing something new and engaging to the RTS genre.

Dawn of War II features a campaign that takes place in the middle of the war between the forces of Order and Chaos. The campaign is strictly Space Marine, as you’ll play as a new Force Commander from the Blood Ravens as you’ll fight against the Orkish, Eldar and Tyranid forces that threaten your livelihood.

One of the biggest changes that Dawn of War II makes to the RTS formula is the elimination of base-building. You won’t create a single unit throughout the game’s campaign or in its skirmish mode, or build a single building. Each mission will allow you to select four squads, equip them, and put them on the battlefield to complete missions. The game’s streamlined approach takes a lot of the grind work and focuses on the action and the combat. Your units will also be able to take cover and utilize different weapons, adding to the strategy of combat as opposed to simple unit creation and really emphasizes unit quality instead of quantity as in other RTS titles.

Instead of getting a blank slate whenever you move on from one mission to the next, Dawn of War II has some surprisingly deep unit development features. Your units will gain experience points that can be doled out for increased stats and you can even purchase new equipment and weapons to arm them with. This is executed quite well and easily, and feels surprisingly natural, even if you’re a hardcore traditionalist of the RTS genre.

Aside from tackling the campaign alone you’ll be able to play through it and skirmishes online. The campaign mode lets you and a friend play through the game’s missions and sub-missions together. Skirmishes let you play in standard one-on-one matches, or three-on-three, allowing you to play as not only the Space Marines, but the Orks, Eldar and Tyranid races.

Graphically, the game is very impressive for an RTS title, with nicely detailed character models and great animations. The world does a great job of representing the deep and involving Warhammer 40K universe.

Soundwise, the game handles itself quite well. The soundtrack has the sweeping epic feel that you’d hope for, providing a great level of ambience to the on-screen action. The sound effects are also nicely done, but the voice acting is a little bit flat, and could use some work.

Dawn of War II is a solid and engaging RTS game that not only adds some great new content for fans of the Dawn of War franchise, but also shakes up the foundations of the genre for a unique and fun experience.

Review Scoring Details for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Gameplay: 9.0
The game’s battles are tight and engaging, and the new RPG elements work extremely well.

Graphics: 9.0
The unit models are well animated and have the same type of personality that you’d hope for in the Warhammer 40K universe, and the battles look great.

Sound: 8.5
The epic score works very well with the game’s sense of atmosphere and the sound effects are great, but the voice acting could use a little work.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 9.0
Dawn of War II makes some pretty big changes to the RTS formula, but the risk pays off very well in the game.

Multiplayer: 9.0
The online skirmishes and co-op campaigns are a lot of fun to play.

Overall: 9.0
Dawn of War II is a risky RTS game, but the new RPG elements and streamlined missions are implemented in a way that is engaging for strategy fans and newcomers alike.

Empire: Total War

Empire: Total War maintains the series' genre-leading 3D battles, grand turn-based campaign map and rich historical flavor while for the first time introducing 3D naval combat into the series. The game is set in the 18th century, a turbulent era alive with global conflict, revolutionary fervour and technological advances. Empire: Total War sees the debut of 3D naval combat -- gamers will be able to intuitively command vast fleets or single ships upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board taking control your men as they fight hand to hand on the decks.

ESRB Rating: T for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Language, Violence
Genre: Real-Time Strategy

General Features

• The revolutionary introduction of Naval Combat to the Total War franchise
• Enhancements to the Total War series' signature 3D battles and turn based campaign map.
• Realtime battles pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare
• New improvements for the Campaign Map -- new and improved systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents, a refined and streamlined UI, improved Advisors and extended scope taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and the untapped potential of North America

Fallout 3

Vault 101 -- Jewel of the Wastes. For 200 years, Vault 101 has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you've ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth.

ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Genre: Action RPG

General Features

• Take in the sights and sounds of the vast Capital Wasteland! See the great monuments of the United States lying in post-apocalyptic ruin! You make the choices that define you and change the world. Just keep an eye on your Rad Meter!
• Vault-Tec engineers bring you the latest in human ability simulation – the SPECIAL Character System! Utilizing new breakthroughs in points-based ability representation, SPECIAL affords unlimited customization of your character. Also included are dozens of unique skills and perks to choose from, each with a dazzling variety of effects
• The wizards at Vault-Tec have done it again! No longer constrained to just one view, experience the world from 1st or 3rd person perspective. Customize your view with the touch of a button
• Feeling like a dastardly villain today, or a Good Samaritan? Pick a side or walk the line, as every situation can be dealt with in many different ways. Talk out your problems in a civilized fashion, or just flash your Plasma Rifle
• At Vault-Tec, we realize that the key to reviving civilization after a global nuclear war is people. Our best minds pooled their efforts to produce an advanced version of Radiant AI, America’s First Choice in Human Interaction Simulation™. Facial expressions, gestures, unique dialog, and lifelike behavior are brought together with stunning results by the latest in Vault-Tec technology
• Witness the harsh realities of nuclear fallout rendered like never before in modern super-deluxe HD graphics. From the barren Wasteland, to the danger-filled offices and metro tunnels of DC, to the hideous rotten flesh of a mutant’s face.
• Even the odds in combat with the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System for your Pip-Boy Model 3000! V.A.T.S. allows you to pause time in combat, target specific body parts on your target, queue up attacks, and let Vault-Tec take out your aggression for you. Rain death and destruction in an all-new cinematic presentation featuring gory dismemberments and spectacular explosions
• Even the odds in combat with the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System for your Pip-Boy Model 3000! V.A.T.S. allows you to pause time in combat, target specific body parts on your target, queue up attacks, and let Vault-Tec take out your aggression for you. Rain death and destruction in an all-new cinematic presentation featuring gory dismemberments and spectacular explosions
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Tekken 6

Tekken 6 sees the return of many familiar faces as well as new characters to create the largest line-up the series has ever seen. Adding to the already rich gaming experience, a deeper character customization feature will only further enhance the incredible fighting intensity as players knuckle up against each others. Players can also take the battle online for classic match-ups and to compete for world domination.

Genre: Fighting
Local Play: 2 Versus
Online Play: 2 Versus
Also Available On:Arcade, Xbox 360
Release Date: September 30, 2009
MSRP: $59.99

Tom Clancy's HAWX

March 4, 2009 - What's the one thing that enters the consciousness of every warm-blooded American when you mention dogfighting fighter jets? If the answer isn't a movie starring a bunch of sweaty dudes playing beach volleyball in tiny jean shorts with Anthony Edwards wearing a painfully awkward cutoff t-shirt, then you're lying to yourself. Luckily that very same flick is home to some of the coolest aerial battles ever set to the silver screen. It's called Top Gun and it has more man material than anything you'll find on Cinemax.


Ever since then game companies have been trying to emulate the feeling that so many imagined with Goose and Maverick in the cockpit. The latest game to try its hand is TOM Clansy's HAWX from the UBIsoft Romania studio that brought us two Blazing Angels studio that brought us two Blazing Angels titles. HAWX is a spiritual successor of sorts but benefits from being in a slightly distant future which means that players have the benefit of flying some moderately futuristic aircraft as well as some handy dandy navigational technology that's a bit too smart for its own good.

It's important to note that HAWX (High-Altitude Warfare Experimental Squadron) is not a flight-sim. There's no fuel gauge to worry about, no real ammunition controls -- planes carry upwards of 200 missiles -- and no worries of blackouts, red-outs or any other kind of 'outs.' While I fully understand not wanting players to have to be mindful of their gas usage like they're in a Chevy Suburban, the planes in HAWX move with very little realism. They look like their real life counterparts, but you can essentially fling them around the sky with reckless abandon, regardless of make or model. One issue I had with every plane, and this is a common occurrence for games like HAWX, is that there just isn't a good sense of speed as you careen through the skies at more than 1,000 miles per hour. Even getting close to the ground isn't all that inspiring. It feels more like you're flying an airliner than a fighter jet going faster than the speed of sound.

So why are you zooming around turning enemy aircraft into mangled metal? Well, it turns out there's a bit of a conflict going on in the world. You play as Captain Crenshaw, a former United States flyboy whose squadron has been dissolved for whatever reason. Looking for work and money, Crenshaw turns to private military groups and stumbles upon a company called Artemis. Long story short, Crenshaw works for Artemis, Artemis gets contracted to protect Brazil; Crenshaw follows. Then Artemis decides to attack the USA; Crenshaw revolts. Before you know it Crenshaw is fighting for the red white and blue again, trying to repel the attacks by Artemis over some of our nation's landmarks.


Flying above locations such as a pitch black Los Angeles, Washington DC, Cape Canaveral and Tokyo, players will see some recognizable spots. Flying low to the ground can reveal some nasty texture work, but it's still cool to be defending these famous cities from an off-shore assault. That said, the characters involved are pretty forgettable. The stars are obviously the planes
themselves, but hats off for at least attempting to make an engrossing storyline and tying in a few other Ubisoft franchises (Ghost Recon and EndWar) along the way.

There are 19 missions to fly throughout the campaign, all of which are available for cooperative play over Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. For the sake of fun, I'd recommend hitting up a friend to be your wingman (or, as Iceman would say, you can be his) as the AI and your control over their actions is very limited. You can tell them to attack or cover you, but that's about it. Assigning them to attack a ground target works out pretty well, but telling them attack an incoming squad of fighters typically yields poor results.