Warhammer 40,000: Darktide review

Welcome player, to the grim dark future where there is, as you know, only war. The zealous children of the Emperor and citizens of the Imperium wage never-ending wars against never-ending hordes of enemies and we can’t get enough of it. Our obsession with the bloodlust of the future is real.

Darktide’s world-building is thanks to acclaimed Warhammer writer, Dan Abnett. In the confines and tight alleyways of Tertium, a Hive City on Atoma Prime, a squad of Inquisitorial Agents are investigating a Chaos uprising. This is where you come in, for you are one of those agents sent to infiltrate the vile ways of Chaos. Horror and depravity are a certainty, whether you will make it back is not.

Darktide is a first-person squad based shooter from the makers of Vermintide. Four players assemble and tackle what are essentially dungeons. This isn’t a new genre and Darktide doesn’t do anything original. What it does do is take advantage of the love for the 40k universe by layering on thick a popular skin over a tried and tested genre. And in the process, it ticks all the boxes you expect from that kind of game.

Getting from A to B

The levels in Darktide are largely long and linear to reflect the claustrophobic nature of living – if you can call it that – on a Hive World. For those of you that don’t know, Hive Worlds are planets with outrageous populations that are packed into megacities, or arcologies. They are the main contributors to the Imperial Guard.

Outside these hives, the worlds are usually polluted and ill-suited to human beings. Those living in hives then, never see beyond their tunnel networks. These are truly unimaginable places and Darktide captures the atmosphere with aplomb.

The far-off sounds of torture, crime and machinery can be heard throughout Tertium. The scene is one of nightmares. On some levels, fog drifts throughout, making any kind of targeting difficult. On others, tight corridors and alleyways prevent you from distancing yourself from the enemy, especially so if you’re playing on a higher difficulty.

How tough are you?

Each level explores the complexity of a Hive World. The dregs of the world are unlike the surface where there is more space to manoeuvre. A run will take you between 20-30 minutes, depending on the difficultly, the level and who you’re playing with. When playing on a higher difficulty, hordes are more frequent, so too are the specialists and elites.

Specialists are enemies that specifically set out to interrupt your team. Take the bomber, a lone wolf that throws chaos-making bombs that leave an area of flame. Elites are simply bigger and stronger enemies. For example, Maulers are heavily armoured and carry a lethal chain weapon that can easily down an operative. I liked how as I levelled up and started playing on a higher difficulty, I saw enemies I hadn’t seen before.

Picking you poison

In Darktide, you can create multiple characters and there are four classes to choose from, each with distinct class abilities.

The Psyker possesses psychic abilities that allow you to destroy enemies from afar. You can crush the skulls of foes before your friends even set eyes on the danger, or hurl destructive psychic energy

with powerful staffs. Whilst all classes have the use of melee weapons, the Psyker is a veritable glass canon. At the end game, the power is mesmeric, the ease with which you die, laughable. And if you’re really lucky, death is occasionally self-fulfilling in the form of an overcharged brain.

The Zealot class remain true to its name. You are a devotee of the Emperor and your class weapons and abilities support that. The Zealot can wield oversized chainswords and ripping boltguns to outrageous effect. You will find yourself spearheading attacks and using buffs that repel the enemy, giving you vital breathing space in the midst of bloodshed.

The Veteran is a versatile class that can operate close to enemies with a selection of powerful melee weapons and interesting buffs that increase your damage output. Depending on the build you choose, there is even the option to keep a safe distance and use weapons that can pinpoint enemies from far away, slowing down time and highlighting them for your friends. The Veteran shines when doing a bit of everything.

The Ogryn can easily be mistaken for a typical tank and there is certainly a build that will let you run rampant, laughably so. That said, there are skills that let you work cleverly from the rear; fire grenades from a gigantic launcher and watch as your turn the hordes to mush. The Ogryn can take as much damage as it deals and can use skills that increases its enmity.

In Darktide, the classes aren’t as distinctive as other games in the genre. There are multiple builds for each class, so one player’s Zealot won’t be the same as another players. There are roughly three skill trees per class, but those can be mixed and matched. Each class has its strengths of course, for example: the Ogryn excels as a tank; the Psyker as ranged; the Zealot as a pseudo-healer; and the Veteran is a mixture of ranged and support.

The draw

The world and atmosphere of 40k invites you to take part and fight tirelessly against the filth from the rift. It’s a bundle of grim fun whether you’re playing as part of a team or solo – even then you will have three bots supporting you, and this rarely, if ever happens.

Darktide is the epitome of pick-up-and-play. One run can satisfy the itch in less than half an hour. The rewards are steady so you always feel as though you are progressing. At the end of a run, you receive Ordo Dockets, which can be used to purchase weapons and apparel. Plasteel and Diamantine are your crafting rewards and can be used to craft upgrades for your weapons. And you also receive a free weapon or curio that you can sell or use, depending on how it compares to your current loadout.

Once you reach a certain level, you can undertake weekly challenges to unlock specialist weapons that you pay for with Requisitorium Coins. Characters can level to 30 and can even go beyond the standard difficulty to Auric level for those who are seeking a challenge.

Whilst Vermintide had some success, it never reached the popularity of Darktide. The gameplay wasn’t as fluid and didn’t feel as convincing in the hands as Darktide does. Vermintide appeals to long-time fans of Warhammer and fantasy genres, the 40k appeal transcends Warhammer. The 40k universe is cool, the lore is gripping and the characters and their desires alluring.

Darktide doesn’t push the boundaries or try anything new. It’s not another Vermintide, as much as Bloodborne isn’t another Demon’s Souls. It throws its players into a world where combat, speed, accuracy and skill rule. Where you have to be on your toes, because if you’re not, you’ll be letting not only your team down, but the Imperium as well.