| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II transports players into Games Workshop's vast Warhammer 40,000 universe, where an intergalactic war between ancient races has raged on for countless millennia. Featuring vicious front-line combat, destructible environments, a fully cooperative multiplayer mode, four unique playable races and an epic single-player campaign, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II delivers the ultimate sci-fi fantasy Real-Time Strategy (RTS) experience. 
Wage large-scale numerical war.
View larger. | 
Take on frightening baddies.
View larger. | 
Exploit tactical advantages.
View larger. | 
Utilize complementary units.
View larger. | 
Call in strikes from above.
View larger. | 
Play as one of four factions.
View larger. | The Story Continues
It is the distant future and the Imperium of Man has spread across the entire galaxy. But our days of expansion are long past. Once, when the Emperor of Man led us in battle, we were unstoppable, but no longer. The Emperor has withdrawn to Earth to rule from his Golden Throne, leaving us to fight a thousand wars of attrition in his name where our defenders die by the billions. We have little hope for support from Earth and we are losing the battle for human survival. Our only chance lies with the Space Marines, genetically modified warriors of superhuman ability and the pinnacle of human potential. But the Space Marines are few, the galaxy is large and our enemies are countless. The situation is most dire in Sub-Sector Aurelia. It is from this cluster of worlds on the very edge of the Imperium that came the Blood Ravens, a chapter of the Emperor's own Space Marines. Now savage aliens seek to overrun the sector, and break the Blood Ravens once and for all. Captain Davian Thule and a handful of Space Marines lead the raw recruits defending these worlds. Yet, another Space Marine prepares to join this desperate battle, a newly promoted Commander, ready to lead in our darkest hour. You are this Space Marine. Playable Factions  | Space Marines
Genetically modified warriors of superhuman ability, Space Marines are the pinnacle of human potential, but there are fewer and fewer left in an expansive galaxy full of enemies. |  | The Eldar
Deadly warriors, The Eldar are masters of psychic power and sophisticated technology. One-time masters of the galaxy, but now few in number they would sacrifice billions of humans to save a handful of their own. |  | The Ork Menace
Savage and bloodthirsty, barbaric and brutal, Orks infest the galaxy from end to end. These aliens are brutal combatants and an uprising in their ranks that can topple entire systems if not stamped out quickly. |  | The Tyranids
From beyond the edge of the galaxy and guided by a communal hive intelligence, the Tyranids exist solely to strip the universe bare to feed their endless appetites. They are without number, without fear and without mercy. |
Key Game Features: - Simplified Entry Point - Whether you're new to the genre or a seasoned veteran, Dawn of War II gets you into the action quickly and easily. Learn the game at your own pace and get ready to save the galaxy.
- Brutal Frontline Action & Tactics - Get straight into the action and experience intense melee & devastating ranged combat. Use vicious melee sync-kills to obliterate your enemies. Outsmart your opponents - using dynamic and destructible environments to suppress, flank and destroy your foes.
- Epic Single Player Campaign - Command an elite strike force, developing the skills and abilities of your squads and commander as you progress through the game.
- Persistent Long-Term Goals - Customize your Space Marines with persistent leveling and unlockable special abilities. Equip them with the hundreds of unique weapons and items you earn through mission rewards and battlefield drops.
- Co-Op Multiplayer - Play through the entire single player campaign co-operatively with a friend, at any point in the game, anytime.
- Next Generation RTS Engine - Utilizing Relic's proprietary Essence Engine 2.0 to deliver cinematic visuals, detailed graphics & special effects.
Gameplay
Dawn of War II is split between campaign-based gameplay playable as a Space Marine, supporting singleplayer and co-op action, and skirmish gameplay in which players can play as any of the four playable factions in singleplayer or multiplayer battles. In the case of these multiplayer conflicts, gameplay and matchmaking is supported via the Games for Windows LIVE gaming service. In addition, unlike previous Dawn of War games or expansions, Dawn of War II features an increased and more realistic acknowledgment of the importance of cover. To that end players will notice that some environments in-game are now fully or partly destructible by certain units in their arsenal, adding to the battlefield carnage and the need for players to plan their strategy and choose their playable units and battlefields wisely. System Requirements: | Minimum Specifications: | Recommended Specifications: | | OS: | Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Windows XP Service Pack 2 | | Processor: | P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor | AMD Athlon 64×2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo | | RAM: | 1.0 GB (Windows XP) 1.5 GB (Windows Vista) | 2.0 GB (Windows XP and Vista) | | Video Card: | 128 MB Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / 128 MB ATI X1600, or equivalent | 256 MB Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / 256 MB ATI X1900, or equivalent | | Sound Card: | 100% DirectX 9.0c compliant card | | Hard Drive Space: | 5.5 GB of free space | | Other: | Internet connection required for multiplayer | |
|
 Dawn of War 2: A new direction that still delivers! |
| Review Date: July 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Michael Pappalardo, Ronkonkoma, NY United States |
There's nary a geek, dork or nerd out there who hasn't at least heard of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop war game by Games Workshop. Heck, I'm one of them. But the first Dawn of War game which launched in 2004 did something that the franchise could not do previously: it found a tremendous audience OUTSIDE of its own already dedicated and loyal followers. Utilizing standard RTS formulas and somehow managing to find ways to reinvent them, Dawn of War quickly made it to a legendary status amongst RTS gamers. To this day, the first Dawn of War still has a tremendous following, and with myriad expansions released between 2004 and 2008, there was always a reason to come back and play, especially since each expansion introduced brand new gameplay elements. So what happened with Dawn of War 2?
Frankly, Dawn of War II is actually 2 games in one. Taking the standard RTS formula and once more reinventing it, Dawn of War II eschews the traditional mad dash for resources and army building and instead introduces core RPG elements and War Gear loot pickups during the campaign game. Still emphasizing strategy, the player can choose from 6 different specialized Space Marine squads, including one Hero Commander that is the "You" character. Each squad is represented by one of the most honored and revered Sergeants of the Blood Ravens Space Marine chapter, and can be customized to the player's liking. Veterans of the tabletop game will instantly recognize the different types of Squads: Assault, Devastator, Tactical, Scout and eventually Dreadnought. The Commander is a versatile unit that can be customized to the player's liking...whether you favor straight up melee combat, ranged combat, a mix of the two or tactical support, the Commander has abilities that suit any player's style. During missions, the player then chooses from 3 of the 5 remaining squads to take along for the ride.
Throughout each mission, certain objectives will come up that offer bonus Experience and additional War Gear. Gone is the need to find resources and build a defensible base. In true Warhammer 40K style, your squads are dropped "into the maelstrom of battle" as they're so fond of saying, and from there must complete their objectives. There are checkpoints to capture so that you can retreat or reinforce. Some objectives call for eliminating a specific target, while others require you to hold a position as swarms of foes attack. You will return to the same locations many times, and during gameplay you may capture specific buildings that offer you bonuses such as multiple deployments, extra super-weapon uses, and other such benefits. Often times these captured relics will come under attack, forcing you into defend missions that sometimes become overwhelming, especially on higher difficulties.
As far as the game being 2 games in 1, the other half of the game is your standard RTS army building in Skirmish & Multiplayer mode. Like the campaign mode, gone is the need to build bases as the Command Center will be your one-stop source for all of your units. Those who enjoy hording resources will be happy, as Power Nodes and Requisition Points are once more there to be captured. There are multiple game types, and the highly customizable armies (Space Marines now have different paint patterns) allow you to mix it up with 5 other players for a massive free-for-all or team combat. There are some drawbacks in that army buildup is very slow, being that there is only one building that produces units. Requisition and Power are also very slow to start out, and once you upgrade your HQ you must wait to build more units until the upgrade is complete, leaving you vulnerable.
The story is great, with superb voice acting and instantly likable characters. Fans rejoice, for your ranting and raving has paid off...Tyranids are HERE! Focusing on a Tyranid Hive Fleet that has appeared in the Sub-Sector of Aurelia, the Blood Ravens find themselves plunged into a desperate war to decide the fate of their primary recruiting worlds. As the odds are stacked ever against them, the Blood Ravens fight a war on all fronts, as the enigmatic Eldar and reckless Orks have also decided to lay waste to the sector. Familiar faces and heroes from the previous Dawn of War games will also join you in your quest to destroy the Tyranid Hive Fleet. The story progresses nicely, with optional missions popping up that offer more story insight. There is even a cluster of side missions revolving around acquiring a new character for use in your squads.
Now that we've covered the basic game, let's get to some technical issues:
The squad AI can be...well, pretty darn dumb. Ranged units will inexplicably charge into melee combat, while melee units will stand off to the side firing away with their weaker ranged weapon, if nothing at all. Many times, issuing an attack order for one of your squads will simply make them charge headfirst into the swarm, instantly getting them killed. Sometimes they will not respond to commands, and pathing issues may wind up sending your squad all the way around the map (again, getting them killed) to get to an open field less than half a screen away from them with a bridge leading right to it. I have actually failed missions based on AI stupidity. On the contrary, enemy AI can often be lethally cunning, even on the easiest difficulty. This can either add more challenge or heap on the annoyance factor...whatever you feel like.
Graphical glitches are few and far between, but they do exist. If you're running a top of the line computer you should have no problem with the visual effects. However, some technical bugs do show through. Similarly, sound has few problems but sometimes the in-game volume can completely cut out, or unit responses to your selection will cease to play, requiring you to set all options to factory default, and then changing them back to your liking.
And my least favorite...
STEAM/Windows LIVE - DAMN YOU for taking over my game! Let's face it folks, we're stuck with this for most games now. It's their idea of fighting piracy, and as annoying as it is you can't let it be the deciding factor. Frankly, I am sick and tired of customers ignorantly giving bad reviews to a game because it has to be played through Steam/Live. Deal with it! It is annoying yes, but it is not the game you should be complaining about. To be honest, there have been a few occasions where my internet has cut out, and thus I wasn't able to play Dawn of War II. Are you KIDDING ME? I need to be on the internet to play a game that is installed on my computer? Yeah, it enrages me but it isn't Dawn of War II that I'm going to bash for it. It's that despicable Steam client and equally annoying WLID.
This has also put a stranglehold on the modding community. Sorry, but don't expect to see custom badges or units from anyone.
So here's a final breakdown:
Gameplay - 5/5: Love it or Hate It...there seems to be no in-between. The tremendous change from straight up RTS to RTS/RPG hybrid will leave a sour taste in the mouths of some, while others such as myself will love the element of strategy and squad customization involved. If you tire of the hybrid play style of the campaign, the skirmish mode is always available for your more classic tastes. Multiplayer is a blast, even if Zerging is still a problem. Campaign ending is also rather disappointing.
Sound - 5/5: Explosions, weapon discharges and screams of bloody death fill the battlefield at all times. The superb voice acting creates extremely likable characters with dramatic dialogue and the music inspires you to keep fighting the good fight.
Control - 4/5: Feels a little sloppy at times but give me keyboard and mouse over console controller any day.
Accessibility - 3/5: An easy-to-use interface, a custom army painter and a recently included map editor make this game a joy to play. Finding online matches can take some time but is easy. However, the invasive and infectious Steam client can completely ruin your day by refusing to allow you to play your own game at its leisure. Offline mode does not always work!
Overall - 5/5: Minor technical issues and ethical questions about Steam aside, DoW II is fantastic and has once more set the standard for RTS gaming. Though some may have minor issues (No Chaos? No base building?) it will continue to win over fans.
PROs:
- RTS/RPG hybrid allows for high level of customization
- Well written and superbly voice-acted storyline
- Diverse environmental terrain allows for different tactics and a "more than one way" approach to missions
- Optional missions always available to gain more War Gear and Experience
- Custom Army Painter has more options than previous games
- Multiplayer and single player skirmish is close enough to previous games to draw in standard RTS crowds
- Highly addicting and plenty of Achievements to Earn
CONs:
- Questionable squad AI leads to needless deaths
- Certain missions (such as "Defense" missions) are nearly impossible at higher difficulties
- Though very rare, glitches can severely hinder gameplay
- Optional missions get repetitive quickly
As it stands, Dawn of War II is one of my all-time favorites. In fact, it's running in the background right now at the time of this writing. Enjoy! |
Awsome
|
| Review Date: January 27, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Squassabia, Fort Collins, CO |
GREAT GAME
I love it. Relic revolutionized RTS with DoW I and they did it again with DoW II. Very much focused on tactics, and removed base building, which I thought was an amazing idea that cut down the level of micromanaging and tediousness that usually come with RTS games. Games for windows live is kinda annoying, I don't understand why they made the game for GFWL and Steam, steam would have been enough, besides Valve is better than Microsoft. The campaign and the two forms of multi-player are all well polished and fun. I've dropped well over 40 hours on this game and still am not bored. It does require an internet connection though, which for some is a downer, but really who cares Web 2.0 is on its way anyway. |
Great game
|
| Review Date: February 19, 2010 |
| Reviewer: John Van Uden, San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA |
Very fun, polished, engaging game. I can understand that some people are frustrated with software/hardware issues, but if you have an average or better machine, and don't mind Steam (I actually find it very convenient), you should have no problem with this game, and it is fun.
I wish Amazon would let people give 2 different ratings for games, one for how much fun it is to play, and a second for other issues like compatibility, politics, anti-piracy issues, etc. So many people out there have such strong feelings about the second group of issues that it is hard to put any stock in their ratings of the games themselves, and in my opinion their ratings pollute the average scores for games. |
A "Strategic" real-time strategy game
|
| Review Date: August 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Chris Moler, D.C. |
As a long time fan of strategy games of all sorts, to include DoW II's predecessor, I was pleasantly surprised by what relic and THQ have done with this one.
DoW II is a great abstraction of its table-top roots, focusing almost solely on mobile units, and their surroundings. Terrain has become a hugely important piece of many RTS engines out there, and with destructible, cover-providing, 3-dimensional, and highly varied maps, this game meets and exceeds these latest trends.
Although the main "carrot" is the competitive multiplayer aspect, the single player "stick" is almost as attractive and well polished. With plenty of RPG elements that allow you to "own" your adventure, and a compelling story line that allows to see the interaction of various races, single player mode will keep the power gamer entertained with hundreds of optional missions and character permutations, and the casual player a means of getting satisfactory progress 15 minutes before bedtime.
The multiplayer aspect offers a complex dimension of spatial strategy mostly unique to the DoW series, and especially difficult in this latest release. In most mission types, units being mobile, "in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time", is far more important than their DPS or raw killing power. This introduces flanking maneuvers and defense and prioritization of objectives that will abstract to the most lateral generals as a complex chess match of ground.
In its purest form, this is not a "massing units" game, and individual micromanagement won't win the game for you like titles similar to Blizzard's lineup (though many players will win plenty of games because of it). This game is invariably closer to a strategy game, rather than a click match. And due to my waning reflexes, I can only hope this trend continues.
I certainly look forward to expansions (read: please put the Dark Eldar in the next one!).
|
The only RTS that I've ever liked
|
| Review Date: September 1, 2009 |
| Reviewer: nimbostratus, S.F. CA |
Over the years I have tried the major RTS's that have come down the line, and not once has one held my attention for longer than a few hours. This game is the only one that not only held my attention from the demo, but I eagerly bought it and have been playing ever since. Yes, it is different than most because there is no base building, no teching up your army every battle, and no keeping track of 5 different battles spread across the map. I guess that's why I like it.
It's just up to 4 squads under your command, so it's all about the strategy of using these squads and then leveling them up for new abilities, getting war loot to beef them up, and devising your overall strategies. If you are a typical RTS fan, you may be disappointed (as you can see from a lot of the reviews here) because of these differences. But if you like the idea of an RTS but never found any that were fun because juggling building, teching up, and multiple battles all at once sounds more like work than fun, then this might be the game for you too.
Pros:
- small amount of units under your control, making it all about strategy and not about who builds more/faster
- excellent graphics, sounds and voice, and really compelling atmosphere (I wasn't even a warhammer fan before this game)
- fun squad persistence and powerups
- great mulitplayer
Cons:
- no base building (if you are into that sort of thing)
- yes it requires Steam and Windows Live (DON'T buy a used copy for this reason, if someone played it, then it is tied to their Steam Account)
- The campaign is only the Blood Ravens, no other races can be played in the single player. (the campaign was tons of fun though)
|
|
No video reviews found for this product.
