Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 Reviews
Dawn of War 3 has overly dominant elites, and a merely serviceable campaign, but it captures the power of mass battles well.
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 3 is flashy and loaded with complex, micromanagement-heavy warfare. Its single-player campaign is long and challenging, but feels uninspired because it rarely makes creative use of the three factions' abilities. In multiplayer it's even more demanding and intimidatingly chaotic, but with only one mode and not a lot of maps, it seems limited. Relic deserves credit for not simply remaking the same game with prettier graphics, but this hybrid approach doesn't feel as strong as Dawn of War 2's memorable tactical focus.
Dawn of War finally returns with a fascinating, if imperfect, twist on the modern RTS.
The story campaign is a bit of a chore, but the multiplayer is an exciting mix of RTS and MOBA – and may just be the next big thing in strategy gaming.
While the campaign can feel like a lifeless chore, the multiplayer options offer interesting tweaks on classic genre staples
Dawn of War III mashes micromanagement and big-scale strategy together in a system that's messy but exhilarating.
Dawn of War 3 isn't evolutionary, but it is ferociously competent
As an experiment in how far the boundaries of what constitutes an RTS can be pushed, I admire Dawn of War III for what it's tried. It may not have entirely pulled it off, but there aren't many games that play like this (WarCraft 3 fans, this one's for you), and there aren't many trying such interesting things with the way their factions are designed.
After the pure RTS of Dawn of War and the RPG leanings of Dawn of War II, Relic Entertainment decides to settle in the middle ground with Dawn of War III. Base-building returns, heroes get an overhaul with Elite units, and combat becomes more aggressive and faster-paced. Dawn of War III is a game that pulls from its past, while taking some elements from modern day gaming to make something new in the franchise.
Some of the game's flaws are significant, including the frustrating meta-game UI and problematic Skulls system. Thankfully, the highly functional gameplay goes a long way toward leading to a positive experience. So, I declare Dawn of War III cleared of all charges of sedition and heresy, but sentence it to a punishment of several lashings for wasting this Inquisitor's time at key points during the interrogation.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III takes a few steps back in time to make one step forward. It hearkens back to a lot of older design choices from the first game, and attempts to build upon other RTS conventions in the process. Not everything works (especially the strict adherence to the core conceit), but it's still very much both a Warhammer and a Dawn of War joint.
Where most game series can rest on their laurels, Dawn of War III is essentially the third reinvention of Relic's Warhammer 40,000 RTS. As the game captures a sense of grand scale, it loses some of the strategic nuance in changes to the cover system, and it's a disappointment that tried and tested multiplayer modes aren't included as well. That said, the campaign makes for an enjoyable and challenging romp through yet another crisis in the 40K universe, and while some gameplay elements have been simplified, the three deeply contrasting races offer plenty for players to sink their teeth into online.
Classic RTS with little bit of MOBA brings the Dawn of War series up to date.
Maybe, Dawn of War 3 isn't the greatest entry in the saga, but it's damn close. A great RTS in its own rights, it lacks a bit of content and some gameplay adjustments to truly climb above its storied predecessors.
Review in Italian | Read full review
At its best, Dawn of War 3 is a fast-paced mutation of some of the series' best ideas. At its worst, it can't seem to decide what kind of game it wants you to be playing. Try it.
Relic gets to mix the past two games of the franchise in an intense game but fails to create an intense campaign. The multiplayer will give tons of fun to the players.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Veterans of the original Dawn of War will take to this game like stepping into their old Power Armour. Exhilarating, over-the-top spectacle, and meeting expectations like only Dawn of War can.
While decent RTS campaigns increasingly feel like my white whale, I can usually depend on Relic for something better.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 mixes together some of the best pieces of the previous two games into a frantic strategy experience, albeit one that could do with more variety.