Switch Theme:

Dawn of War 3 review  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
»
Author Message
Advert


Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
  • No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
  • Times and dates in your local timezone.
  • Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
  • Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
  • Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.




Made in ru
Drop Trooper with Demo Charge






Dawn of War, which we were waiting for so long, is finally here. We’ve played the new DoW and now we’ll share our first impression.

The first thing you face here is the visual part. You see new models and animations far before you get to know the story and gameplay features. And the feeling is kind of double. On the one hand, everything is drawn great. All models are nicely done and you won’t mess terminator with wraithguard. Moreover, the game is made in accordance with the modern edition. The 1st part was based on the 4th, but now there are Gorkanauts, Imperial and Wrath knights and so on. Considering that DLC’s are only the matter of time, we may see even some unreleased models there.

Despite the nice (not the best, though) graphics, the visual style is questionable. Sometimes, especially when there are a lot of units in the battle, you feel blinded because of the bright colorful flashes, which are everywhere. And sometimes it’s even hard to say where are your units and where are the enemies’ ones. All effects are grotesque, bright and gaudy. Maybe, in the far future, it’s supposed to be this way, but it would look much better without all this carnival on the battlefield. Another disadvantage is animation. The models are smooth and bright themselves – and the cartoon-like rapid animation, makes it look more like Darksiders, than grimdark. So, if you were outraged with Gabrial Angelos from the trailers, who was bouncing like a ball, you’d better not look at the full-scale battle here, where everyone moves this way…

If you got used to the visual part, let’s proceed to the campaign. The story is fine – it’s a pretty usual one for Warhammer with expectable unexpectable twists pathos and eternal war. And of course, the story prepares us to one or two DLC’s… It’s logical and interesting enough to make you complete the whole campaign.

A lot of players are disappointed that there are only 3 playable factions. But do you remember that in the original DoW 2 there was only 1 faction to play? And the first edition of DoW 1 also didn’t have many sides of the conflict. No doubt, other combatants will be added in DLC’s. May be, new factions for multiplayer will be added without a campaign. So, if you waited to head the Tau army, you still have a chance.

However, the factions are meticulously done. The gameplay is really unique. While spacemarines didn’t change much since the first part, eldar and orks have completely new tactics. For example, greenskins are able to create upgrades and even units from the piles of garbage. It makes them really unpredictable – the opponent never knows what they will bring next. Eldar can teleport all their buildings over the battlefield which is nice but makes army management even more difficult…

And speaking about army management. The main DoW 3 problem is not the animation or faction’s quantity. It’s lack of its own game mechanics. In fact, the developers have taken massive battles from the first part and joined them with the complicated unit abilities from the second one. In DoW 2 it was difficult to manage all the units’ abilities when you had 3-4 of them. And imagine, what happens when you have the whole army with all these abilities. Add here tons of visual effects, high game speed and inconvenient interface – you really risk to get a panic attack.

Besides, there are some problems with balance. Not between the faction, but inside of them. In addition to standard resources now you have a special one which lets you summon super heavy units like Imperial or Wraith knight, orbital bombardments and so on. And these abilities really ruin the balance. The player who used them first, almost 100% sure becomes a winner. However, it’s easily fixed by patches.

So, Dawn of War 3 is like a younger child, who’s returned from studying abroad. He’s become fashionable, modern and perspective, but he also gained a lot of features and habits that bother you. However, it’s your bellowed son and you will love him no matter what. So, we’ll play DoW 3 in any case. It’s still the best computer game in the Warhammer 40K universe. And one of the best modern RTS. Moreover, all the disadvantages we’ve named here are easy to fix with further patches and DLC. Let’s hope that the developers won’t ignore player’s opinion. For the Emperor!

Find more in our blog: https://warzone40k.com/dawn-of-war-3-review


Trying to make a best battle board at warzone40k.com
facebook.com/Warzone40k
 
   
Made in us
Terminator with Assault Cannon





Florida

Thanks for the review. I think I will pass on this iteration.

SickSix's Silver Skull WIP thread
My Youtube Channel
JSF wrote:... this is really quite an audacious move by GW, throwing out any pretext that this is a game and that its customers exist to do anything other than buy their overpriced products for the sake of it. The naked arrogance, greed and contempt for their audience is shocking.
= Epic First Post.
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





USA

Is there a reason this isn't just a post in the existing DoW 3 thread?

Shadowkeepers (4000 points)
3rd Company (3000 points) 
   
Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





Earth

 Frankenberry wrote:
Is there a reason this isn't just a post in the existing DoW 3 thread?


it would be lost in all the white knight fanboyism lol
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





USA

 Formosa wrote:
 Frankenberry wrote:
Is there a reason this isn't just a post in the existing DoW 3 thread?


it would be lost in all the white knight fanboyism lol


Pretty sure if you bother reading that thread it's hardly filled with 'white knight fanboyism'. In fact, it's filled with honest opinions about the game, most of which point out that it's not all that great.

But then you wouldn't have your witty reply, so /shrugs

Shadowkeepers (4000 points)
3rd Company (3000 points) 
   
Made in fr
Blood Sacrifice to Khorne




Switzerland

Nice review, I agree about the race to get the top super units - several games I played MP seem to get decided on who summons a gaugant/wraithknight/Imp Knight first
   
Made in gb
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain





Earth

 Frankenberry wrote:
 Formosa wrote:
 Frankenberry wrote:
Is there a reason this isn't just a post in the existing DoW 3 thread?


it would be lost in all the white knight fanboyism lol


Pretty sure if you bother reading that thread it's hardly filled with 'white knight fanboyism'. In fact, it's filled with honest opinions about the game, most of which point out that it's not all that great.

But then you wouldn't have your witty reply, so /shrugs


And you would not have had yours either
   
Made in ie
Norn Queen






Dublin, Ireland

And speaking about army management. The main DoW 3 problem is not the animation or faction’s quantity. It’s lack of its own game mechanics. In fact, the developers have taken massive battles from the first part and joined them with the complicated unit abilities from the second one. In DoW 2 it was difficult to manage all the units’ abilities when you had 3-4 of them. And imagine, what happens when you have the whole army with all these abilities. Add here tons of visual effects, high game speed and inconvenient interface – you really risk to get a panic attack.


This worries me a lot :(
Im still very much on the fence for this one and will likely wait for a drop in price / month or two before jumping in.

It’s still the best computer game in the Warhammer 40K universe.


You rate it more highly than 1 and 2 so?

Dman137 wrote:
goobs is all you guys will ever be

By 1-irt: Still as long as Hissy keeps showing up this is one of the most entertaining threads ever.

"Feelin' goods, good enough". 
   
Made in us
Been Around the Block





N. Idaho, USA

 Ratius wrote:

It’s still the best computer game in the Warhammer 40K universe.


You rate it more highly than 1 and 2 so?


i pre-bought it and played the open beta, then played up to my allotted time i could and still refund it....and then....refunded it.
it may catch on, but its really...really not DoW at all to me, i was seriously unimpressed with some of the mechanics choices they made.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2017/05/10 01:58:07


Coins for the eyes, keys to for the door. 
   
Made in au
Hungry Little Ripper




Melbourne

Is the Last Stand game mode included, or set for future release?
   
 
Forum Index » Video Games
Go to: