Mike Bantick
Saturday, 14 March 2009 06:42
Entertainment
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The forces are small, and can only be replenished by taking strategic locations around the map. Each squad is led by a hero and the hero, or squad can gain experience and level up in stats between missions as per any off-the-shelf self respecting RPG out there.
Each hero or squad can gain traits further expanding their physical, close combat, shooting or psychic abilities during the battle.
Using much of what was learned during Relics WWII game Company of Heroes, DOW II is heavily reliant on the use of cover, with the game engine handling terrain destruction as well as camera zooming and panning, unit suppression and battle effects with ease.
The battles are likewise small scale, and much of the single player missions can be pigeon holed into a template type design of traversing the map, capturing points and ending in a boss battle at the end. All along heroes can scavenge Diablo style loot drops for the all important between mission load-outs.
Much time will be spent during missions, absorbing the story line as the campaign uncovers the looming threat of a Tyranid invasion.
The alien bug like creatures of the Tyranid hive-mind make their long awaited Dawn of War debut with this release, and are the focus of the campaign as they infest a number of Imperial worlds.
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