Eisenhorn: Xenos

Eisenhorn: XENOS for PC, AND and iOS is a third-person action game focusing on Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn – one of the most iconic characters from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The title has an official Games Workshop license and was developed by Pixel Hero Games – the team that has successfully debuted with their warmly-received adventure game Spiral: Episode 1.

Plot

The plot is based on the first volume of the “Eisenhorn trilogy” by one of the most critically acclaimed Warhammer 40,000 universe writer – Dan Abnett. The game tells a story of Gregor Eisenhorn, a member of one of the Inquisition’s branches called Ordo Xenos, which deals with dangers posed by other races. Alike other inquisitors serving and hailing the Empire, the protagonist has many subjects, almost infinite resources, and huge power which gives him the right to decide the faith of the entire population. The Inquisition is therefore feared by everyone – even the most powerful lords have to respect them and their influences.

Just the same as the book published in 2001, Eisenhorn: XENOS features the hero in his early years serving as an inquisitor. He is conducting an investigation into a heresy case in which Pontius Glaw – an allegedly dead heretic – and his family seem to be involved. In the course of the investigation it turns out that even though physically dead, Glaw still exists as a mind locked in a blasphemous machine. Later, it also becomes transparent that the tentacles of corruption and filth are far more advanced than the Inquisition imagined.

Mechanics

Eisenhorn: Xenos is a third-person action adventure with a strong emphasis on combat, which resemble those in mobile instalments of the Batman: Arkham series. During the real time fights you can use guns, but the sword still remains the Inquisitor’s main weapon. Mechanically, this slasher is similar to the classic God of War console series. The key element of combats concerns system of rhythmic attack combinations that require less energy and get stronger as long as you keep the rhythm.

Players who prefer tactical actions are presented with a wide range of special skills allowing for e.g. temporal invisibility or messing with the enemies’ minds. There is also a slow motion option similar to VATS system from Fallout 3, which gives you a moment of serenity during fights and a chance for picking next targets. The game does not impose a stiff way of playing – many conflicts can be avoided by choosing different paths or performing quiet actions, which is typical for stealth games. It is worth mentioning that Eisenhorn can be aided by two companions – one of them helps during battles, the second one provides advice during the adventure sequences. Players can choose their companions, yet the game suggests taking the two that accompanied the hero in the book.

Technical aspects

Eisenhorn: XENOS for PC, AND and iOS is powered by the modified Unreal Engine 3 enriched with a few effects, such as clothes animation based on physics, softer objects contours, lip-sync, and post-processing. The game features a movie-like momentum and looks equally good on PC and portable devices on which just a few power-consuming effects were dropped so as to make the game run smoothly. The main hero is voiced-over by Mark Strong, a famous British actor who has already worked on such games as Total War: Rome II, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, and Kick-Ass.

Last updated on 14 January 2016