Warhammer 40K: Squad Command

games: Warhammer 40K: Squad Command

December 19 2007 | WilHarris

…And they shall know no fear!

Ah, the grim darkness of the far future, those were the days… It’s been a while since I had the old miniatures out, but I remember well the happiness only a Reaver jet bike and a Webway portal could bring.

Today we’re looking at the Space Marine v. Chaos game, Warhammer 40K: Squad Command for DS. Not a bad small scale, turn-based rendition of the epic table top strategy game, although the graphics do leave a lot to be desired.

-Katharine

comments

Russ

December 19th, 2007 - 1:52pm

Hi Katharine, I don’t have a PSP, I love Dawn of War on the PC but is this version worth buying a PSP for? Tell me and I shall spend!

xythen

December 20th, 2007 - 12:48am

That’s a very mischievous look you have!
Another great review. I played the PSP version and thought it was pretty good, though the DS version looked like it stuttered a few times (or was that just the video?). As you say, the extra power & screen space of the PSP is definitely a benefit on a game like this.

Oh and Russ, if Dracula X Chronicles isn’t worth buying a PSP for then I don’t know what is!

Ed S.

December 23rd, 2007 - 5:39am

Excellent review. I just finished the game and really like this mix of strategy RPG and a tabletop miniatures combat system. Having played it on the PSP, I can highly recommend it on that platform. However, be warned that there are some system-freezing glitches that usually crop up between missions, just after saves. So you never really lose anything, but you have to “hard reset” (remove the battery) the PSP.

Katherine, have you tried the online matches on PSP? You can, indeed, play armies other than the Ultramarines. Chaos armies included! I’ve played some ranked matches and it’s a blast.

Though the campaign is what some might call short, the multiplayer makes this a game a great value. I’d like to try some 3-8 player matches now.

Katharine

December 23rd, 2007 - 6:23pm

Hey guys, thanks for the discussion/feedback. Unfortunately I don’t have a PSP so I can’t comment on how it plays on that platform, but thanks to Xythen and Ed for filling this gap - Russ I hope this helps you.

Xythen, it wasn’t the smoothest game ever on the DS - you can definitely see a bit of jerkiness when the air support passes over around the 1:22 mark. That said, I didn’t find that it affected game play for me or decreased the enjoyment. I do wish I could play the PSP version though. So far the DS version has only crashed on me once.

ktchong

December 27th, 2007 - 3:59am

Hey, you should do a Dummy’s Guide to the DS for the “real” men and touch guys. The only people I know who own a DS are girls, gay men and emo guys. I think the real men and macho guys feel intimidated by the DS.

ktchong

December 27th, 2007 - 4:02am

Oh wait… you actually have a Warhammer reference guide!? Whoa. Even I’m not that geeky. Nay, that’s not yours.

Katharine

December 27th, 2007 - 6:33am

Wow, what a sweeping statement. I know plenty of what you would call real men (including some very very tough guys) who play DS (and, incidentally, a number of gay men who are into hardcore gaming). Anyway, the beauty of the DS is that it doesn’t need a dummy’s guide.

And don’t knock my Warhammer rulebook. Warhammer is teh shiznit.

Joe

December 30th, 2007 - 3:53pm

Ah…. good old 3rd Ed 40K. I bet my old “Rhino Rush” Blood Angels would hammer anything you brought to the table! BTW - Eldar player?
Joe

Joe

December 30th, 2007 - 4:00pm

Oh yeah, better write something about the review!

Nice and concise. I did keep confusing “AP” with “armour piercing” like in the actual tabletop game, and action points for the computer game.

Would have been nice to see a proper game of Warhammer taking place as well, but I’m just a massive geek and a bit of a 40K nerd.

Cheers Katherine, another good review!

Joe

Katharine

January 4th, 2008 - 11:40am

Lol Joe, sadly I suspect you are probably right (although Mandrakes do have a nice habit of screwing people over and disrupting tactics…). I’m Dark Eldar but haven’t played for ages. Thinking of using my miniatures for a diorama if I ever have the time. Sorry about the AP confusion, having played the DS game for a number of hours I just slipped into its idiom! Cheers for the posts