A grand violent opus to all things Warhammer 40,000!

WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR, a strategy game with a Sid Meier's CIVILIZATION and Slitherine PANDORA visual style but totally focused on the brutal warfare and bloodshed of WARHAMMER 40,000. It has it's own unique blood soaked thriving on nihilistic warfare character and playstyle.

The way combat is done is incredible as it feels more meaty and like a fast paced turn based game where units can last longer and have a chance to retreat even after devastating casualties to rebuild. There is a sense of a unit being one cohesive force or character acting in unison.

Hero units make a major difference being able to heavily damage if not outright annihilate tougher units. My Ultramarine chaplain was able to take on a Necron unit dealing lethal casualties to it when before my Ultramarines on their own got wiped out.

Mass combat is the way to go and pulling back damaged troops so they can heal, come back in the fight to gather more experience to level up becoming better after each battle.

The immense variety of encounters from enemy faction skirmishes, discovering relics and enhanced technology to the planet itself which thrives with native life forms out to kill consume everything in their path is amazing. Each faction feels very different with their own individual playstyles. I have definitely felt the differences from the Ultramarine faction in comparison to the Necrons. The world of WARHAMMER 40,000 GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR feels very alive.

Resource gathering and city building are very important as it is what will keep your armies coming in and growing. There are buildings such as the armory which will allow you to build vehicles while other buildings deal with city population growth and loyalty among many other factors. You can also build outpost like defenses around cities and throughout the map. Orbital satellites allow one to scan hidden areas of the map to reveal important information on less hostile areas and possible threats etc.

A very indepth skill tree gives the player the ability to craft their faction to their liking with many indepth choices filled to the brim like a cup of morning coffee with WARHAMMER 40,000 tech.

Graphics are nightmarish works of art capturing perfectly the grim death entrenched character etched into every face and physical fiber of the WARHAMMER 40,000 universe. Zooming in on a Necron's forboding image is eerie as if it too is looking back at me. Imperial Guardsmen look very detailed and gorgeously modeled full of military pomp and circumstance.

The writing is pure magnificent deliciousness like the finest drink known to man become The Emperor's word. It has the inspiring imagination triggering detailed imagery of a Dan Abnett novel which leaves the reader wanting more.

Audio.. a funeral march across a universal holocaust where all is slaughter as battlefields are nourished with gushing blood upon the screaming symphony where death is incarnate. From the steed like bikes of the Ultramarines to the flesh crushing Necron vehicles the shrill soul electrifying horror echoing in the air will grip your mind with the intense desire to fight or flee. The unearthly futuristic sounds of weapon fire like some damned chorus from the darkest corner of the warp emanates life snatching intensity. What a glorious melodic song sings from the Psychic Primiris weapon!

Music, INTENSE! DYNAMIC! MENACING! EXPLOSIVE! TRIBAL! FUTURISTIC SCIENCE FICTION EXCELLENCE!

Headphones guide thee in the purity of the moment.

WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR, BUY IT! PLAY IT! Be consumed in a world where survival is the only treasure.

Cons- The spamming of units is a bit overdone me thinks. I don't mind it with regular factions but when suddenly finding myself facing off against five Castellan Robots at once with more wandering around nearby it makes the game world feel off and more like a arcade game of huge numbers coming at one. Castellan Robots are supposed to be some sort of ancient rare technological weapon so to see huge numbers piled up all over the place does not give a sense of game balance in comparison of the factions which are supposed to be huge armies of Orcs, Space Marines, Tyranids etc.

A grand violent opus to all things Warhammer 40,000! WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR, a strategy game with a Sid Meier's CIVILIZATION and Slitherine PANDORA visual style but totally focused on the brutal warfare and bloodshed of WARHAMMER 40,000. It has it's own unique blood soaked thriving on nihilistic warfare character and playstyle. The way combat is done is incredible as it feels more meaty and like a fast paced turn based game where units can last longer and have a chance to retreat even after devastating casualties to rebuild. There is a sense of a unit being one cohesive force or character acting in unison. Hero units make a major difference being able to heavily damage if not outright annihilate tougher units. My Ultramarine chaplain was able to take on a Necron unit dealing lethal casualties to it when before my Ultramarines on their own got wiped out. Mass combat is the way to go and pulling back damaged troops so they can heal, come back in the fight to gather more experience to level up becoming better after each battle. The immense variety of encounters from enemy faction skirmishes, discovering relics and enhanced technology to the planet itself which thrives with native life forms out to kill consume everything in their path is amazing. Each faction feels very different with their own individual playstyles. I have definitely felt the differences from the Ultramarine faction in comparison to the Necrons. The world of WARHAMMER 40,000 GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR feels very alive. Resource gathering and city building are very important as it is what will keep your armies coming in and growing. There are buildings such as the armory which will allow you to build vehicles while other buildings deal with city population growth and loyalty among many other factors. You can also build outpost like defenses around cities and throughout the map. Orbital satellites allow one to scan hidden areas of the map to reveal important information on less hostile areas and possible threats etc. A very indepth skill tree gives the player the ability to craft their faction to their liking with many indepth choices filled to the brim like a cup of morning coffee with WARHAMMER 40,000 tech. Graphics are nightmarish works of art capturing perfectly the grim death entrenched character etched into every face and physical fiber of the WARHAMMER 40,000 universe. Zooming in on a Necron's forboding image is eerie as if it too is looking back at me. Imperial Guardsmen look very detailed and gorgeously modeled full of military pomp and circumstance. The writing is pure magnificent deliciousness like the finest drink known to man become The Emperor's word. It has the inspiring imagination triggering detailed imagery of a Dan Abnett novel which leaves the reader wanting more. Audio.. a funeral march across a universal holocaust where all is slaughter as battlefields are nourished with gushing blood upon the screaming symphony where death is incarnate. From the steed like bikes of the Ultramarines to the flesh crushing Necron vehicles the shrill soul electrifying horror echoing in the air will grip your mind with the intense desire to fight or flee. The unearthly futuristic sounds of weapon fire like some damned chorus from the darkest corner of the warp emanates life snatching intensity. What a glorious melodic song sings from the Psychic Primiris weapon! Music, INTENSE! DYNAMIC! MENACING! EXPLOSIVE! TRIBAL! FUTURISTIC SCIENCE FICTION EXCELLENCE! Headphones guide thee in the purity of the moment. WARHAMMER 40,000: GLADIUS - RELICS OF WAR, BUY IT! PLAY IT! Be consumed in a world where survival is the only treasure. Cons- The spamming of units is a bit overdone me thinks. I don't mind it with regular factions but when suddenly finding myself facing off against five Castellan Robots at once with more wandering around nearby it makes the game world feel off and more like a arcade game of huge numbers coming at one. Castellan Robots are supposed to be some sort of ancient rare technological weapon so to see huge numbers piled up all over the place does not give a sense of game balance in comparison of the factions which are supposed to be huge armies of Orcs, Space Marines, Tyranids etc.