We’re all big Games Workshop guys here at the Way of the Game. Blood Bowl, Space Hulk, Dawn of War, you name it. THQ unveiled some 40k titles this E3, so it’s about time we posted up some info about them.
The first up is Space Marine.
You apparently play as a lone Ultramarine against a horde of orks. It should be entertaining, and might give people who aren’t necessarily fans of strategy games a taste of the 40k universe. One of the screenshots from the game apparently has a Space Marine charging a Killa Kan solo. I’m not completely familiar with the rules behind that, but I’m pretty sure that’s suicide in the actual tabletop game. In other words, don’t expect Space Marine to hold true to the actual rules of the game. It might be best to think of it as a simple rollercoaster ride, 40k style.
However, the release of the video had me thinking back to our first hint that there was a Space Marine videogame coming out with this leaked gameplay video posted months ago.
There are a few similarities. You seem to be guiding a Space Marine through an environment, hacking and blasting your way through enemies. However, the Marine doesn’t wear the bright blue armor of the Ultramarines and there’s naught an ork to be found.
Another title THQ revealed was Warhammer 40k: Dark Millenium Online.
There’s no concrete word on a release date, but some sources say something will be announced as early as August. Armies that I could see in the video were Space Marines, Chaos, Orks and perhaps Imperial Guard. I also saw an Adeptus Mechanicus holding a rifle in one of the shots. The gameplay looks action-packed with fighting on foot and in vehicles, so it might be a must-get for 40k fans. I normally don’t play MMOs, but if I can be an Imperial Commissar shouting orders from a Baneblade, I might be persuaded…
THQ also unveiled Red Faction: Armageddon, and while I know it’s not a Games Workshop title, it’s still the sequel to one of my favorite games of 2009.
I’m going to go ahead and say it: Volition, what the hell are you doing to Red Faction? They’ve followed up a terrific sandbox title with social mechanics with a bug hunt shooter. Sure, there are some things that are cool, like a gun that shoots ultrapowerful magnets that will rip off chunks of buildings and send them hurtling towards your foes. There’s also an arm brace that will apparently allow you to bring destroyed items back into existence.
However, that’s just a little too similar to the paint/thinner mechanics of Epic Mickey.
Feel free to pore over the art and screenshots.
