14 DAY TRIAL // The Blood Angels Space Marines like the red and iron-rich liquid that flows through human veins. I’m not sure how they feel about Tyranid stuff, which is mostly green and acidic, but their lust for blood makes them fearsome warriors. And during two missions of the new Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector I had a lot of fun using bolters, special powers, and fire to cleanse the universe of alien scum.
The coming title is developed by Black Lab Games and published by Slitherine. It uses a very classic take on turn-based strategy concepts with the added flavor of the Warhammer science-fiction setting. Players control a variety of squads of Blood Angels, including but not limited to: Intercessors, Hellblasters, hero, Land Speeders, and Assault Marines.
The names are a little unfamiliar because the game integrates the new Primaris units. But they are all superhuman soldiers encased in powerful armor who can handle impressive amounts of damage while taking down nearly any enemy one-on-one. They have the classic movement and action points and tactical considerations also involve facing, overwatch, heavy support, and flanking.
In Battlesector the foes are the Tyranids and the two battles I experienced managed to capture the feeling of battling an overwhelming neurolinked force who cares little about losses. Staying engaged and constantly pushing (which adds a momentum effect that makes units better at killing) is required to fulfill mission objectives. The Tyranids move like a swarm and know how to focus on one unit to try and eliminate it.
Warhammer40,000: Battlesector understands that players want action. I can issue a move order, hop to another unit to launch an attack, and then return to the first to set overwatch. The game is not fast but taking turns does not feel tedious.
The game offers all the info players need to make good decisions. But it is also smart enough to put pressure, mainly by putting quite a bit of Tyranids on screen, so that a perfect solution is hard to come by.
Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector looks and sounds good. The models are satisfying to check out up close and recognizable enough from afar. I would like a little more room to zoom out to see the entire battlefield, but the current level is not a deal-breaker. The music is well adapted to the universe and the squishy sounds of the Tyranids are spot on. A little more weight to the Space Marine attacks would be nice.
Conclusion
Black Lab Games promises more complex features for the full release. Players can put together their armies from a wide variety of Space Marines, managing their evolution between missions. The core campaign will be about 20 engagements long. The Tyranids are also set to be playable in skirmish engagements.
