WARHAMMER 40,000: Space Marine
The Warhammer concept goes back several decades. Before this (and previous) digital PS3 versions, it actually had its genesis in the late-'80s as a tabletop battle game with miniature figurines.
Players pit their intergalactic armies of soldiers and various creatures against each other with battle strategies and execution dependent on rolling dice. This global phenomenon with tournaments has many chapters and platforms, from video games and spin-offs to a CGI movie.
With this PS3 Space Marines incarnation you enter a 3rd person Quake-style scenario, in the super bulky armour of Ultramarine Capt. Titus, charged with defeating the invasion of Forge World Graia (a metal and rust covered industrial planet). Together with fellow Ultramarines and Graia fighters you're engaged in various battle scenarios against Orks and Chaos Marines, with a range of specific mission objectives to fulfill, from the destruction of strategic weaponry to thwarting a major character from performing a dangerous transcendent Daemonhood ritual. High powered weaponry is a given, but you also get to collect a Chainsword, splattering Orks all over the place (hence the age restriction).
A special fury system allows collecting power as you destroy enemies, stored to unleash at the right moment. The adopted Roman Empire elements in this futuristic scenario does little to enhance the gameplay, merely giving it a particular ethos.
A small but potent annoyance is the limited lines uttered constantly by Orks...
The Sci-Fi action shooter scenario is nothing new, but will have particular appeal for those already heavily invested in the history, characters and mythology of the series (which has almost 20 video game chapters thus far).
3 / B
- Paul
Blom
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