‘Space Hulk: Deathwing’ Review (PS4)
Space Hulk: Deathwing is a First-Person Shooter set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe from Games Workshop. The new edition, dubbed “Enhanced Edition,” on the Playstation 4, expands upon the original and features a host of new content, new features and a richer multiplayer mode.
In the game you play as a Space Marine Terminator, including a powerful new class – the Chaplain and his powerful Crozius Arcanum power mace. Though in the single-player mode you’re limited to the Librarian class – a Space Marine who, besides being equipped in Terminator armour, also have a plethora of psychic powers: including Shockwave, Chain Lightning, Spontaneous Combustion and Teleporation (or Lions Shadow as its called in-game)
Along with the new Chaplain class, in the multiplayer you can play as four other Space Marine classes as well as get assistance from you “brother,” an apothecary who can heal you and – in the single-player campaign – help you proceed through the levels, taking out enemies and taking orders.
Speaking of classes, players can customize each class in solo and multiplayer and unlock devastating weapons, including an expanded arsenal exclusive to the Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition. And what an arsenal! Starting with the basic assault weapon/gun, the Stormbolter, the array of weapons available range from the sublime to the ridiculous: assault cannons, explosive acid bullets, flame thrower and plasma cannons… and those are just the guns! There are also plenty of mele weapons to choose from too – Wolverine-style “Lightning Claws”, swords, hammers and maces; and – if you’re playing as the new Chaplain class – the Crozius Arcanum, an especially lethal mace which is particularly lethal in multiplayer combat.
Much like an RPG, which also feature a wide variety of weaponry, Space Hulk: Deathwing allows players to personalize both appearance and gameplay through the Class Customization system – which works by earning XP after matches and gaining Rewards of Valour, which you can open to recieve items to customise your Space Marine classes. Playing also earns you Renown, which you can build up and use to unlock specific items for your favourite classes that change your appearance, customise weapons, perks and more. There are also simple customisation options allowing you to customise armour with cosmetic skins and passive bonuses that will impact how you play your character; along with weapon skins and attachments, which alter your weapons aesthetic and how it plays. These RPG-esque elements add a ton of extra depth to the game should you require – however it’s not necessary to utilise these options to play the game; you can just plow through Space Hulk: Deathwing like a bull in a china shop instead!
Space Hulk: Deathwing also features Special Missions – bringing a ton of replay value to both solo and multiplayer modes, with randomly-generated objectives and enemy spawns for every game chapter. However having played through the single-player campaign I can’t see me going back to Space Hulk: Deathwing too often as I found myself wandering corridors looking for the correct path to complete each mission rather than actually facing any combat!
Though to be fair to Space Hulk: Deathwing, the reason I didn’t see much combat is because I chose to play the game on an easier setting. Well I say chose but I didn’t actually choose – instead I played through the tutorial/opening of the game and based on the time it took to complete and other factors like health, kill times etc. I was assigned the best difficulty setting to play on… Little did I know that, ultimately, would make the game waaaay too easy and also too dull! However a quick switch of difficulty level and I found the right gameplay balance for my style of gaming.
Space Hulk: Deathwing walks a very fine line between greatness and mundanity – just when it veers one way it pulls back and goes the other, which means this game acan be frustrating at times, yet terrifying at others, making this something of a “try before you buy” title for me.
Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition is available now on PC and Playstation 4.
