Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector review: the strategy that bloody paints

This will have escaped no one: for several years, by releasing its Warhammer license to everyone and, above all, anyone, Games Workshop has indirectly generated a shovelful of mediocre, if not shameful, video games. However, in this ocean of mess that could be easy to snub, there are a few titles that float around and would be a shame to miss. Warhammer 40,000 is part of.

If it doesn't (yet) have the qualities and richness of the first Dawn of War, a Total War: Warhammer II or even a Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, Black Lab's turn-based strategy game Games gets away with the honors for its launch, and could well become a reference title if the follow-up is there.

Read the conclusionWarhammer 40,000: Battlesector

Compelling gameplay basics
Good use of the universe
Several options to play multiplayer
A roadmap already announced

Some bugs and sometimes approximate translation
Monotonous campaign
Only 2 factions (for now)
Little troop customization

Genestealer of Crime

Welcome to Baal Secundus, one of the two main world moons of the Blood Angels chapter. It could be a nice vacation spot, if the Space Marines took any rest, and especially if the area wasn't infested with Tyranids. No bathing for our heroes of the Imperium therefore, but rather cleaning up what remains of the previous massive invasion of this xenos race, rarely there to string pearls.

For lore lovers, note that Black Lab Games' game is set in the most recent portion of board game history. The Primaris Space Marines are therefore there, and a certain Roboute Guilliman and his Indominatus crusade are also mentioned.

If you are one of the Warhammer 40,000 miniature players looking for a video game adaptation that comes as close as possible to it, there is no doubt that you are part of the developers' target. Where Dawn of War in particular approached it but embraced real time, Battlesector adopts a system of boxes, army points and turn-based which transcribes the game even better on the table.

Too much of (the) Baal

Through a campaign made up of 20 missions, either in skirmish mode alone or in multiplayer (live online or asynchronously, or even in hotseat on a single PC), it is indeed a question of composing your army of Space Marines or Tyranids with the proposed troops and heroes. This absence of other factions is obviously regrettable (DLCs have already been announced), especially within the campaign which can quickly seem monotonous.

The fault in particular with a scenario not very exciting and a staging not very inspired, but also with a level design, decorations and objectives of missions a little sad and repetitive. We also regret a too light customization of the troops. If the heroes have many talent trees to customize them (and thus give a feeling of progression), the classic troops, they only have a few passive improvements and alternative weapons to unlock via the hero trees.

JVFR

Battlesector offers an aerial view of the battlefield, which is quite practical for large confrontations.

Not only does this prevent you from differentiating between your different squads, getting attached to them and getting more involved, but above all it doesn't make you want to protect them and play it safe. Indeed, losing units is not a concern, since between each mission new troops are there to replace the losses, without cost or consequence. For those looking for a challenge, Battlesector fortunately offers high difficulty levels and different pegs and options to customize their experience.

JVFR

Talent points are earned simply by completing mission objectives.

Sanguinius and customs

Fortunately, the heart of the game is mastered enough to overcome this lack of customization, or even some youthful bugs (sounds that cut or loop, imperfect translation, etc.). In particular, we feel that the developers are strategy game players – children of the Baal, in a way, um… – the game is indeed dotted with elements that help to smoothen the confrontations and bring comfort to the players. We think for example of the possibility of giving orders to troops while others are still carrying out theirs, or even a button to accelerate movement.

JVFR

At the start of the fight, you have to choose your troops so as not to exceed the limit of army points.

The interface and the visual information are also rather clear. The course of battles almost always happens as the player wishes, despite the regrettable absence of a system to preview the options of a unit before moving to a new square. In addition to classic movement and action points, ranged/melee attacks, various abilities, adjustable overwatch and other statistics, Battlesector stands out through a few subsystems.

JVFR

Bonjour.

Each unit has in particular a gauge that fills up through actions (the Impulse), allowing once full to obtain an additional action point or to boost a capacity. Not necessarily enough to return a battle – unlike the command actions that certain heroes can perform from time to time – but it does offer some tactical options in addition to the classic ones already offered.

JVFR

There is no friendly fire except for a few rare abilities. Which here is good news.

The placement and sense of orientation of the troops are especially important here. From these two elements stem in particular the visibility or not of the enemies, or the degree of protection offered by the environment (the cover system is also a little… capricious). It is also necessary to think carefully about its movements, in particular to avoid seeing one of its units or group of units eradicated at once, or even to maximize its damage thanks to the optimal shooting distance of a shooter.

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We appreciate the presence of the Sisters of Battle in the countryside.

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, l'avis de JVFR

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector means well, that's undeniable. It's probably the closest modern adaptation of Games Workshop's board game yet. Black Lab Games has in any case had the good idea to focus primarily on gameplay, and the basics of its turn-based clashes are good. Perfectible, but good. However, there is still room for more content (factions, modes, maps) to occupy multiplayer enthusiasts, while the single player campaign occupies, if not subjugates.

But thanks to its current price (€33,99) rather suitable and the promises of its developers, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector could very quickly earn one or even two points on its final score. Anyway, that's all we want.

JVFR

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector already has a roadmap, between console versions, free updates and paid DLCs

Warhammer 40,000

As it stands, apart from its somewhat light content, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is an average game. Which is already something for a license that has recently multiplied sloppy adaptations. But thanks to its rather solid gameplay core, and especially to the developers' promises regarding improvements and new content, the title has a good basis to potentially become within the next few months one of the best adaptations of the game of plateau on PC (and consoles).