Official Review PlayStation 5 Updated

Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Deamonhunters (PlayStation 5)
Official GBAtemp Review

Name: Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Deamonhunters
Item: Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Deamonhunters
Rating: 8.3
Author: Foxi4

Product Information:

Release Date (NA): February 20, 2024
Release Date (EU): February 20, 2024
Release Date (JP): February 20, 2024
Publisher: Frontier Developments PLC
Developer: Complex Games
Genres: Squad-based Strategy
Also For: Computer, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Game Features:

Single player

Local Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Co-operative

Review Approach:

When it comes to squad-based strategy games, most people started their adventures in this genre with big titles like X-Com. Some of the older members might still remember Jagged Alliance, or maybe Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines. Not me. It was the year of our God Emperor 1998 when this reviewer opened up a gaming magazine and pulled out a demo disc - something completely alien to modern audiences. He was excited to see what's coming out in the near future, what will be his next adventure? He skimmed through the contents and saw a big, juicy piece about a little game called Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate. This was his first encounter with the franchise and he was immediately interested. He kept reading and as he looked at the screenshots, he only got more and more excited. Wouldn't you know it, the demo was right there, on the included disc! Moments later, that same disc was spinning inside his CD-ROM drive, and it spun up a passion for both the genre and the 40K universe at large. Over two decades later, the sequel to this fondly remembered hidden gem finally makes it way to consoles, reigniting nostalgia. Can this game open the floodgates for more quality 40K content? Read on and find out!

Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Deamonhunters is a tactical squad-based strategy game out now for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC.

Armored in Faith

In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war. It is the 41st millenium and humanity is continuously assaulted by demonic entities. You are a Gray Knight. You belong to a chapter of humanity's finest - you and your Astartes bretheren are the Imperium's hammer. Crafted using geneseed derived from the Emperor himself, your great order answers to no one but the Ordo Maleus. As the military arm of the holy inquisition, you have but one purpose - to eliminate threats that invade the galaxy from the depths of the warp, and there is no one better at it than you. Your ship, the Baleful Edict, is returning from a successful campaign that ended in a bitter sweet victory. Your commander, Brother Agravain, has fallen in battle against a deamon of Khorne, but not before sending the foul creature back into the depths of the Warp where it belongs. The Edict is in dire need of repair and your stores are nearly depleted. Your losses were great, but the campaign was won, that is all that matters. It is time to return to your homeworld of Titan and ensure that your triumph, and your commander's noble sacrifice, are forever remembered, recorded in the order's holy texts. Suddenly, you receive a vox transmission. The code scrapings indicate its origin is an Inquisition vessel. It appears that your journey home will have to wait - your cruiser is being commandeered, and it falls to you to lead your battle brothers against whatever demonic filth threatens the galaxy. You have a new assignment - you will be the flame that purges Nurgle's Bloom. Congratulations on your field promotion, Brother Commander.

Shielded by Devotion

The Imperium faces enemies big and small. Organic, mechanic or demonic,
your job is to give them one common denominatior - dead

WH40K: CH - Deamonhunters dropped on Steam in May 2022 and it made quite a splash. Hailed as a return to form and one of the best strategy games not just in the 40K franchise, but in the genre in general. Needless to say, after such positive reception, the next question that immediately followed was "when is it released on consoles?" - well, I have good news, it's now. As I mentioned in the introduction, Chaos Gate has a fond place in my memory. I remember playing the original, guiding my Ultramarines to victory against the Khornite scourge, so I was quite excited to get into the game after having to sit in limbo wondering if it will ever see a release on my platform of preference. Rather than the Brothers of Ultramar, this game focuses on the Grey Knights, the Imperium's superhuman equivalent of Ghostbusters. Wherever there's a demonic threat, there are Grey Knights making sure that it is eradicated before its corruption can spread. It's the perfect choice of chapter for the game that compliments the plot - hunting deamons.

As far as the gameplay is concerned, players accustomed to titles like X-Com will feel right at home playing Deamonhunters, but I think calling it an X-Com clone would do it a disservice. The game is sufficiently different to stand on its own, with a myriad of unique mechanics for a strategist to master. Naturally you get your tactical strategy game loop - your squad traverses the galaxy from planet to planet addressing enemy incursions and performing objective-based missions. Usually your job is to destroy specific enemies or structures, with the exception of story missions which get a little more complex. Upon completing a mission your battle brothers gain experience points which you can then spend on improving their abilities - the standard affair. The Grey Knights are a unique chapter in the sense that every brother is also a psyker capable of using the powers of the warp to their advantage - this means that the characters are more than just the sum of the equipment they're wearing. Their abilities range from being able to superpower their attacks to some interesting class-specific skills that encourage using a balanced squad and planning ahead. In-between missions you tend to your strike cruiser, rebuild various facilities of the Baleful Edict and conduct research into the plague. Both are important as the ability to traverse warp space quickly and safely makes all the difference as far as getting to the next incursion site on time is concerned, and additional research into the Bloom is necessary to unlock various boons or strategems to deploy on the battlefield and, most importantly, to progress the story. As the plot of the game unravels you are constantly introduced to new mechanics such as warp storms, enemy space vessels and other threats. Keeping track of all of them is critical to a successful campaign, on and off the battlefield, so the game always keeps you busy.

Is an enemy bothering you with an annoying weapon or ability?
Not a problem, nothing some impromptu field surgery can't fix

There's a couple of twists to the formula - for instance, you don't manufacture any of your equipment on-board, nor do you loot it during missions. Your gear is instead requisitioned from Titan itself, so getting better weapons, armor and gadgets is contingent on maintaining good relations between the chapter and the inquisition, as well as performing additional heroic feats duting missions which warrant receiving requisition points. Needless to say, you want your regular progress reports to be pleasing to your superiors, which means you'll occasionally be required to walk the diplomatic tightrope in order to keep everyone happy. The second twist is that research into the Bloom isn't free, it requires you to collect samples of the plague during battle. Certain enemies carry seeds of corruption and you'll have to keep that in mind when dispatching your foes. Remembering to extract them before you proceed to glorious slaughter is critical to your mission's progress.

Smashing, crashing and bashing your way through the battlefield
is often more effective than facing your enemies head-on. Think fast!

The first thing I noticed when playing Deamonhunters compared to other games in the genre was that it puts a lot of focus on fast and decisive movement. You're not commanding a group of squishy humans - they're a Grey Knights. The game punishes idleness and requires you to strike fast and true. With each passing turn and each psychic ability you use the ever-present Bloom counter at the top of the screen gets closer to 100%, drawing you closer to a random event that could potentially turn the tides of battle. You might get afflicted by a negative effect of the plague, your enemies might be strengthened with a Grandfather's Gift making them significantly more difficult to dispatch, or they may receive reinforcements that will overwhelm you with sheer numbers. Every mission feels like a race against time, forcing you to make difficult choices like exposing one of your favourites to enemy fire rather than seeking cover - here's for hoping the Emperor protects them. The game rewards you for playing it boldly - running head-first into battle and executing an enemy restores your squad's action points, allowing you to cover a lot of ground in a short span of time, provided you play smart and pick your targets well. The other noticeable and distinctive feature is the level of interaction with the environment. Hazards such as pillars, boxes of ammunition, explosive barrels and so on allow you to think creatively about your surroundings. You have your four knights and they are quite powerful, but the enemy has droves of cannon fodder cultists, plague beasts, corrupted Space Marines, deamon engines and more. How do you even out those odds? Perhaps a well-thrown grenade can push some of your enemies into a pit or detonate an environmental hazard? Maybe crushing the heavily armored Blight Hauler that's blocking your way is a better strategy than wasting multiple turns trying to destroy it from behind cover? You'll have to expose one of your squadmates, but what is war if not taking risks?

While staying in good standing with the chapter and the order may be a balancing act,
it does reward you with superior equipment, abilities and special strategems

The big concern when it comes to console ports is how well the game plays on the new platform. I'm happy to say that Deamonhunters went through the conversion process admirably. Some of the pure graphical fidelity was sacrificed, but the trade-off was excellent framerate with no noticeable hiccups or hitches. The game is snappy, plays well on a controller and is a pleasure to look at with its iconic 40K aesthetic. The same can be said about the audio department - the game sounds great. The gunfire and explosions are booming, the characters are voice-acted well and as far as the technical aspects or the presentation go, the game meets expectations with flying colours. The one complaint I do have is that both the camera rotation and camera zoom are locked to fixed angles, only allowing you to turn in 90 degree increments and zoom at set levels. This is not ideal on levels that are particularly crowded with buildings and obstacles - I often found myself trying to turn the camera to an angle that would give me a better view of the battlefield only to discover that the other three angles at my disposal are no better and the "sweet spot" I'm looking for is somewhere in-between them. This led to some frustration, but it was quickly alleviated by purging some Nurglings.

Armed with Purity of Purpose

So, did I enjoy my time slaying Nurgle's minions? Absolutely. It was worth the wait, and the hype was well-deserved. The game perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the 41st millenium, executes the tactical squad-based strategy game formula very well and develops it in new and interesting directions. Instead of offering a Firaxis title with a 40K paintjob, Complex Games took some risks with the game loop and they paid off, making the game feel unique. It's not an exaggeration to say it's one of the best Warhammer games in recent memory, and at an affordable price tag of £34.99 at launch any fan of the genre or the universe would be doing themselves a disservice not trying it out. If you like 40K, but prefer a more focused style of combat compared to the likes of Dawn of War, be on notice - this game might be exactly what you're looking for.

Verdict

What We Liked ...

Wide variety of classes with interesting abilities
Great execution of the 40K aesthetic
Fast-paced combat that requires on-the-spot decisions and risk-taking
A treasure trove of equipment and customization options makes your soldiers feel unique, even within the same class

What We Didn't Like ...

Fixed camera angles and zoom level make it difficult to view the battlefield at times
The game *begs* for the inclusion of multiplayer features, both in versus mode and co-op mode
Absolutely brutal difficulty level with frequent RNG-related spikes can be a turn-off to some players. There's a reason the game suggests "Merciful" as the default setting
The missions can get a little repetitive after a while and could use a bigger variety of objectives.

Gameplay

I'm a gamer who can't get enough of the X-Com formula, and Deamonhunters scratched that tactical itch just right. It ticks all the required boxes and adds enough of its own flavour to create a unique blend that stands out in the crowd. Once you get past the mental hurdle of being overly protective of your battle brothers the game is quick to reward your risk-taking. You're either bold or you're dead, and that's an interesting take in a genre that normally emphasizes caution.

Presentation

While the game is not a graphical marvel, it doesn't need excess polygons to perfectly encompass the aesthetics of the grimdark 40K universe. With great audio-visual presentation, a steady framerate, great attention to detail and high level of customization it looks just as well as it plays.

Lasting Appeal

The game has a decent campaign length, but replayability is mostly driven by its random elements. There's something to be said about challenging yourself on ever-increasing difficulty settings, however I feel that an addition of multiplayer modes, a skirmish mode or other more customizable modes of play would really add value to it. Thankfully it appears that the developers are addressing those shortcomings by releasing DLC mission packs. PC gamers already get to enjoy Duty Eternal which introduces the Dreadnought, as well as Execution Force which focuses on Imperial Assassins, both of which will no doubt make their way to consoles soon. There's more in store for prospective Deamonhunters, so fret not - patience is a virtue, after all.

8.3

out of 10

Overall

Deamonhunters had some big shoes to fill given how the original Chaos Gate was not just a fond memory, but also a formative game from my childhood. Did it make the cut? Yes, it's precisely what I expected it to be, and I'm happy that it finally made its way to consoles. Some minor camera-related gripes aside, the game looks, sounds and plays great. Many-a-demons were slain in the last few days and I can now rest easy knowing that the galaxy is a little bit safer... at least until the DLC hits console storefronts. For the Emperor!

Reactions: Prans, console, Purple_Shyguy and 4 others

8 is fair.

Foxi4
Feb 22, 2024

Dark_Ansem said:
8 is fair.

I am the baseline of opinions.

Foxi4 said:
I am the baseline of opinions.

only when you want to be.

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