The comparison is easy, but at the same time not seeing in this Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters a hidden child of the hit of FIRAXIS Games would be like missing the point. Both titles are based on the same pillars, relying as much on good strategy in the background as on ultra-tactical turn-based combat. Truth be told, we kinda feel like the developers of Complex Games simply wanted to make us change air by transposing the gameplay of XCOM in the universe of Warhammer 40,000.
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters seems to be on solid ground.
It is therefore always a question of saving humanity against a foreign invader, but this time it is the minions of the god of Chaos Nurgle which we will have to get rid of. These worshipers of decrepitude have the vocation of spreading an evil called Bloom in a whole sector ofEmpire. You will therefore have to rely on your Gray Knights, super-soldiers highly versed in theology, to purge this plague. These guys are experts in decontamination, but like the reference model, they are completely overwhelmed by the urgency of the situation. Not everyone can be saved at the same time, so tough choices lie ahead inside your floating headquarters, the Baleful Edict. Here again, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters seems to remain on sound footing.
On the one hand, we have limited resources to manage and on the other a host of improvements to make to your ship and your knights, be it weapons, armor, new skills or “stratagems”, a single-use ability to be used in the field. Even though the grind of Complex Games brings the level of depth necessary for such a title, it must be admitted that there is no risk taking, not even in the four classes of the game (although advanced classes can be unlocked later). At best, there seems to be a lot of diversity in your troop customization options, but you’d have to look at that in detail to get to the bottom of it. We are pulling the ambulance a bit, but we only ask to be surprised by the few options that the developers still keep on hand.
In any case, it worked well for the tactical part which gave us a few twists. Not enough to prevent the comparison with its illustrious model, but Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters nevertheless manages to make a small identity. The title, for example, deliberately omits the precision system that we are used to seeing in tactical of this ilk. A decision justified by the lore of the game (the Gray Knights are genetically engineered to be foolproof), but that might make fans of the genre cringe. Without getting our hands on the game, we can’t be adamant about the benefit of not having such a feature. In any case, it does not take away the random aspect or the interest of a thoughtful positioning.
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters has the merit of offering something complete.
Complex Games thought of adding events called Warp Surges who can change the game during the mission, never for the better. Enemy reinforcements may appear, such as new bonuses for your opponents or other effects that only make matters worse. These unfortunate appearances also depend on the level of contamination of the Bloom. High level not only increases their recurrence, but also transforms the terrain to make it more hostile to your progress. Scenery that you can, and most of the time even have to, demolish so that the battle turns to your advantage. Because a statue that collapses on your opponents or a protection that shatters under the fire of a grenade, it is a great opportunity for a seasoned tactician.
Without transcending the formula, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters tries some interesting tricks like its ultimate pirouette. Complex Games showed us what kind of wood warms the Gray Knights in hand-to-hand combat and it’s quite promising. In addition to heavy damage, it is possible to incapacitate your target to prevent them from using a hindering technique or by stunning them for a certain period of time. A system of which the developers seemed particularly proud and which could effectively give a more aggressive aspect to these tactical combats which seem to carry the game at arm’s length.
Our first impressions: Good.
In line with a Gears Tactics who knew how to make his place alongside the unspeakable XCOM, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters has the merit of offering something complete and not too academic. The title of Complex Games deserves our close attention over the next few months to find out if we’ll just have a slightly eccentric competitor to the market leader or a title that deserves to be known for its bold direction of tactical combat.
You can pre-order Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters at Gamesplanet.