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Dawn of War II Preview
by Jedi Guardian
It's going to rock! Don't refute that fact! It will! It's going to give Starcraft 2 a run for its money. I was just wanting to get that out of the way. I'm not saying Starcraft 2 is going to suck, but Relic will certainly give Blizzard stiff competition. Dawn of War II looks to be (I'm saying looks, because the game hasn't come out yet and prejudging isn't airtight) intriguing, sleek and newbie friendly.
FUCK YES!
First off, the sequel is going to take us (the gamers) back to the old Dawn of War roots. The player will have the option of playing 4 races: Space Marines, Orks, Eldar and the "highly anticipated" race, the Tyranids. I know, it isn't a lot, but the races, despite being a staple to the original, play different now. For example, the Eldar's walkers carry a giant sword instead of being melee fighters. The Orks are just like they were in the original, except you have to garrison the Gretchin inside of a building in order for the little fuckers to protect it. So far (according to YouTube and very preliminary info on the game by Relic) the races seem to be more balanced to one another (like the Orks having a fair chance against the Space Marines). The Tyranids (oops, almost forgot them!) are... I don't want to sound juvenile, but they're awesome! They play like the Zerg from Starcraft, but unlike the Zerg, they spawn units through their superiors instead of organic buildings. So far I've seen the Tyranid Lord (their main commander) in action, and he just officially became my favorite commander unit for Dawn of War II (second being the Farseer). From my perspective, the measly 4 armies in DoW II, have a lot to offer in terms of strategy and looks.
Space Marines trying to be like Kirby.
Speaking of looks, the graphics in this game are spectacular! I know, the Space Marines look like the human combatants from Unreal Tournament III, but I assure you, it's not. The engine is the same one used on Company of Heroes (which is a revamped version of the Dawn of War engine), so if your computer can play Company of Heroes, it will most likely play Dawn of War II. The special effects are breathtaking, too. Have you ever played Company of Heroes and Opposing Fronts (reviews found somewhere on the Raider)? You see the scarring effects? Imagine that, but times 10, and you get the sfx on Dawn of War II. Sure, you won't get a 25 pound Howitzer or some equivalent, but you will be amazed by the new and improved Orbital Bombardment by the Space Marines' commander. But if you can't play the game, even on its lowest settings, then it's time to upgrade. If you're planning on doing so in anticipation of the arrival of Starcraft 2, then for God's sake, show the same respect for Dawn of War II.
I couldn't get more of the sound except from the intro that I found on YouTube and Game Trailers, and it's pretty crisp. The Space Marines sound more gruff, however. Kind of like the marines from Gears of War. The Eldar don't sound warbled anymore (since most of them don't even wear their helmets). If this is how the sound improved with the Eldar and the Space Marines, then I can hardly wait for the sound bits provided by the Orks and Tyranids. All I can say: Bring it on!
I love the smell of burning orks in the morning!
The only complaint I can make so far about the game is that Relic didn't give more info for the game. In fact they kept hushed up for months. I mean, it doesn't matter with me, I know they're sparing us the details so they won't exceed expectations. At least they could've gave more information on the Tyranids, besides the Tyrant Lord and the Genestealers. Regardless of this, the game looks to be a hit, if not a best-seller like its predecessor. I will be waiting in line just to get a copy of this game. Great looking graphics, cool looking gameplay, what more could you ask for? I'm not sure on multiplayer, and hopefully we won't get another Impossible Creatures. Most people compare this to Starcraft II. Stop, please. It's not. If it were, wouldn't it have only 3 races instead of 4? Wouldn't it be released somewhere in the near future instead of February 23, 2009? The game is far from a Starcraft clone; if anything it will be Dawn of War with Company of Heroes graphics. It's going to be a good day in the gaming world, and it's going to happen on 2/23/09. Dear readers, don't hold your expectations too high, that's why Relic hasn't released more trailers for the game! But again, looking at the trailers and the videos off YouTube, I can sense the game being really good. Knowing Relic, they have learned their lesson with Impossible Creatures, so them developing another flop is unlikely. Only time will tell. IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME!