As if we didn’t have enough Warhammer games already, this carefree attitude they have to just produce game after game when the previous one hasn’t settled yet is the franchise’s biggest problem – like, we just had one, right? So, when there inevitably is one that stands out and deserves praise, it becomes lost in the rubble of those forgotten older games.
Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters (that’s one hell of a name by the way) was released on PC earlier this week, and if you don’t know much about the game: it is a turn-based 40k game where players take control of Space Marines. And you might think that’s about it, but Chaos Gate has attempted to try something different, and when we say different we mean it has shamelessly copied most things from XCOM – and it’s a little too bang on the money as well.
This isn’t exactly the first time that a developer has used XCOM as its blueprint for a game, but Daemonhunters goes one further by mimicking the core system, the menu is also lifted straight from that classic game, and even the cutscenes take inspiration from XCOM – it’s like living in the mirror world. If you want to judge for yourself then take a look at the recently released launch trailer below.
That being said, even though this latest Warhammer 40k engulfs all of XCOM’s best qualities (and even its bad ones) it is still a really fun game with some positive aspects. The voice acting takes you on a trip through a host of regional British accents, and those Space Marines that are the one differentiating factor to XCOM, really come to life and offer players a fun experience; their weapons, the suit designs, and the character structure are all shining lights.
So, do we mind that this game is basically a carbon copy of the XCOM series? It’s so close to the money you don’t even need a tutorial to play it, if you’ve enjoyed XCOM that is. But even so, the earlier reviews for Warhammer 40k: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters are in and it seems as though people are looking past the clear piracy, and enjoying the game for what it is.