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WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS – RELICS OF WAR

Written By:

Callum Shephard
gladius

It’s odd to think that Warhammer 40,000 has not entered the 4X genre before now. With its detailed galaxy, diverse races and vast armies, it would seem like a perfect fit. However, Warhammer 40,000: Gladius is a classic example of ‘be careful what you wish for’. It gets the basics right but never pushes the envelope. As such, it all too often feels like an elaborate Civ VI mod.

The story features the Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Orks and Necrons fighting over a world recently colonised by humanity. As they dig in, relics are soon uncovered, which hints at a more horrific past than anyone previously suspected, and soon each of them is locked in a pitched war for survival.

Along with dropping the usual Eldar and Chaos Space Marines for the Imperial Guard and Necrons, there was a definite effort here to try and utilise the distinct nature of each faction. No one plays wholly the same way, and the core mechanics behind them forces you to adapt your tactics according to their gimmicks and strengths. The slow build-up of Necron forces means that early game rushing is almost impossible, while the Orks typically need to utilise their sheer weight of numbers to win the day. Equally, with this being the ‘grim dark future where there is only war’, there is no diplomacy system. This could have easily been a failing of the game, but instead, it has a much more detailed war system, focusing on the interplay between unit types, heroes and vehicles, with various experienced based abilities. This really is a 4X game built for players who favour war over exploration or trade, and that does help it to somewhat stand out.

To its credit, Gladius also offers visuals, sound effects and map elements that fit in perfectly with the ongoing universe. From small touches, which calls back to recent events such as the fall of Cadia, to choke points, artefacts and outposts littering the land for capture, there’s plenty to keep players engaged. All the more so given the considerable might of the natural threats that wander the land, forcing players to more carefully consider how to expand on their holdings.

So, you might be asking yourself, what does it do wrong exactly? The most obvious one among these is the fact that it’s not so much a 4X game as a 2X one, focusing purely on the expand and exterminate elements. While there is a research system, the unique designs and diverging playing styles mean that you do not have too many opportunities to truly tailor make your new civilisation as you wish. This means that if you end up playing the Militarum, there are few ways to truly diversify how to approach challenges. Even if you are trying to outclass an enemy in terms of technological advances, that cannot take you nearly as far as it would with many other series.

The simple truth is that once it gets away from the fighting, you’re left with little to truly enjoy. City building consists of your new settlements growing and expanding over time, but it is quite sterile and lacks the customisation needed to make the experience truly engaging. They’re a means to an end, it means the game is bereft of what should be a core appeal to experiment and diversify your factions. This is only made more notable thanks to how a few poor choices or wrong moves on this front can rapidly end your game early, leaving you with little room to recover. All too often it seems as if there’s only one right way to do things.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius doesn’t commit any major sins, but fails to do enough to stand out. In a genre where it will be inevitably compared with giants like the Civilisation series, it needed a unique hook or a far more dynamic mechanical system in order to truly hold its own. As it stands, all it really has is the visual distinction and atmosphere of its licence to work with. Warhammer fans may have some fun with it, but if you have even a passing familiarity with the 4X genre, you’ll have a hard time justifying the high price tag.

WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS – RELICS OF WAR / PUBLISHER: SLITHERINE LTD. / DEVELOPER: PROXY STUDIOS / PLATFORM: PC / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Callum Shephard

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