Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Expansion Pack
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Strategy, science fiction, RTS, Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop, tactics, RPG elements, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN
Steam
The second standalone expansion for the 2009’s real-time strategy game, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II. The action of Retribution takes place 10 years after the events of Chaos Rising. Despite the defeat of the Black Legion and the demon Ulkair, the fighting hasn’t stopped and the planet Aurelia remains a battlefield for many conflicts between feuding factions of mutually exclusive interests.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution is the second standalone expansion for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, a real-time strategy game for PC. It was developed by Relic Entertainment.
Plot
The action of Retribution takes place ten years after the events of Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising. Defeating the Black Legion and a demon called Ulkair did not stop the fighting, though. The Aurelia sector is still being regularly attacked by Tyranids, pillaged by Orks, and torn apart by an internal conflict within the Blood Ravens’ ranks. The Eldar also become involved in his mess, drawn to this part of the galaxy by the rumors about an ancient artifact lost ages ago. The situation was supposed to be calmed down by the arrival of numerous Imperial Guard units but their progress turned out to be faint and their successes rare. Eventually, the Empire lost its patience and started preparations for Exterminatus, the final solution that will obliterate all life in Aurelia sector. A race against time begins. The only thing that can persuade the Inquisition into abandoning their plans for mass extermination is to stop the Chaos-tainted Grand Master Kyras.
Gameplay
The player learns the subsequent plot themes from several perspectives since the new single player campaigns let us assume control over all races that so far appeared in the game (Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, Tyranids, Eldar, Orks) as well as a completely new one – the Imperial Guard. Each nation has its own characteristic traits and different combat style. Ork warriors are huge, brutal, green-skinned monsters. They like to fight hand-to-hand, although they don’t shy away from flamethrowers and experimental armaments. Tyranids, in turn, bear a stronger resemblance to merciless and deadly animals rather than sentient lifeforms. They attack in numerous groups, usually in melee. They are modeled after an insect colony—as creatures devoid of their own consciousness, they will do everything to realize a given goal. The nation of Eldar is highly developed in terms and culture and technology. Though they have many kinds of melee weapons at their disposal, there are also numerous long-range units in their armies’ ranks.
Retribution is characterized by several changes in the gameplay mechanics. Contrary to its predecessors, we can gather raw materials and spend them on training auxiliary units directly on the battlefield. If a given mission’s condition allow it, we can also construct vehicles that provide support for fighting units. Moreover, Retribution introduces new abilities for heroes, including powerful area-of-effect attacks. Thanks to the option of military training, the developers could also implement damage bonuses available only to particularly numerous groups of warriors.
Dawn of War II: Retribution for PC offers more than single player novelties. The expansion introduces new elements to the multiplayer mode, as well. These include both previously unavailable units as well as maps.
Last updated on May 17, 2016
Videos and Screens
[1:39] Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution Tau Commander DLC
[6:50] Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution Voice Actors
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Campaign: Players enjoy the campaign, noting that it is fun and interesting, especially when replayed with different factions.
- Unique Factions: Each of the six factions has unique mechanics, units, strengths, and weaknesses, which adds diversity to gameplay.
- Blend of RTS and RPG Elements: The game incorporates leveling up units and equipping them with stronger gear, enhancing the sense of progression and reward.
- Beautiful Design: The maps and level design are praised for their beauty and variety, preventing repetition in missions.
- Balanced Difficulty: The game offers a range of difficulties that cater to both casual players and those looking for a more intense challenge.
- Multiplayer Enjoyment: Multiplayer modes, including cooperative play like Last Stand, are highlighted as fun experiences.
The main cons of the game
- Removed Features: Some users feel that the game has removed elements that made the previous installment (Dawn of War II) great, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Linear Campaign: While the campaign is fun, it is described as somewhat linear, making it less appealing for repeated plays.
- Dead Multiplayer: The multiplayer community is perceived as inactive, which can detract from the experience.
- Limited Base Building: Players miss the base-building mechanics and large army battles that were present in the original Dawn of War.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Base Building: Many users express a desire for the return of base-building mechanics, which were a significant aspect of the original Dawn of War.
- Variety in Multiplayer: A more active multiplayer community and diverse multiplayer modes could enhance the experience.
- Less Repetitiveness: Some players would appreciate more varied campaign objectives to avoid linearity and repetition in gameplay.
Summary
- Overall, while Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution has many strengths, particularly in its campaign and unique faction mechanics, users have noted several areas where they feel the game could improve or where features from earlier titles are missed.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 474 votes. 197 players anticipated the game.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Publisher: THQ Inc.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 256 MB (GeForce 7800 or better), 8.5GB HDD, Windows XP SP2/Vista SP1
Base Gamefor Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
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