Talisman: The Horus Heresy

About

Talisman: The Horus Heresy is a turn-based strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players embark on a perilous journey through the galaxy, battling enemies, collecting powerful weapons, and recruiting allies to become a Warmaster. This game offers an extensive single-player campaign and online multiplayer, with various game modes and over 50 detailed figures based on the Horus Heresy legions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 199 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Great game for fans of Talisman and Warhammer 40K, with fun mechanics and engaging gameplay.
The implementation of the Horus Heresy lore adds depth and excitement to the game.
Visually appealing with good artwork and a faithful recreation of the Talisman experience.

The game suffers from poor AI behavior, making it less challenging and engaging.
Day one DLC feels exploitative, limiting character choices and content unless additional purchases are made.
The user interface can be confusing and cluttered, making it difficult to navigate and understand game mechanics.

gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The gameplay of "Talisman: The Horus Heresy" retains the core mechanics of the original Talisman game while introducing unique elements that set it apart, offering a blend of familiar and new experiences. While many players appreciate the smooth mechanics and strategic depth, some criticize the repetitive nature, unbalanced gameplay, and lack of meaningful rewards, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. The game is visually appealing and can be fun once players grasp its complexities, but it may not be beginner-friendly and has room for improvement in balancing and user-friendliness.
- “The core gameplay is there; you still need to get a talisman and reach the inner sanctum tile, but this game adds enough of its own elements to stand apart from the original.”
- “Very smooth gameplay, and relatively clever AI enemies.”
- “This is most certainly not an intro into the series and, in my opinion, is not newbie-friendly at all, but once you’ve learned what you need to know, the gameplay is very, very fun.”
- “The gameplay gets repetitive, the rewards are meaningless, there's a horrible undertone of unbalanced gameplay, and there's never a sense that you've actually gained or completed something because the game insists that you only helped win the game when in fact you did all the legwork.”
- “It doesn't matter what you do if the dice rolls against you, and the progression mechanic means that in the late game it is quite possible for one or more of the players to be completely unstoppable.”
- “For a price this high, I'd expect a much more polished and seamless gameplay.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
34%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning artwork and attention to detail, particularly in the Warhammer 40k setting, while others criticize the overall presentation as clunky and reminiscent of older games. Many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and thematic fidelity, but some feel that the lack of animations and clear labeling detracts from the experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant improvement over previous iterations, though opinions vary on their execution and impact on gameplay.
- “The graphics are truly stunning, with planets and stellar constructs replacing the geography of the original board.”
- “This is some of the best 40k artwork I've ever seen and really brings the game alive.”
- “Graphically, the game looks really good and I especially like the background details when zooming into different sectors.”
- “Graphics from a 1986 Commodore 64 and garish music accompany lame gameplay.”
- “Although the graphics are better, it seems fairly clunky to play without the old-school 'charm' of the original Talisman game.”
- “It is both aesthetically terrible and also functionally broken.”
story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The story in "Talisman: Horus Heresy" is rooted in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, allowing players to engage in quests that reflect the epic battles and lore of the Horus Heresy. While the game offers a rich thematic experience, some players feel that it struggles with narrative coherence, as it conflates significant events in the timeline, which can detract from immersion. Overall, fans of the franchise appreciate the connection to the lore, but the gameplay mechanics can sometimes hinder the storytelling experience.
- “Gave me a great feeling for the Horus Heresy story, a game that I will come back to time and time again, solo or with friends.”
- “Will you help Horus in his quest or will you assist the Emperor to successfully eliminate the greatest Warmaster and traitor of mankind?”
- “For a Warhammer 30,000 player seeking to enjoy a relatively measured-paced game, set in the storyline of the Horus Heresy, this game is certainly a must.”
- “If you are looking for action and story, this is not it.”
- “Then there is the problem that the game completely messes up the storyline, giving the impression that Isstvan III, Isstvan V, the war on Calth, and the battle for Prospero were all happening at the same time during the Siege of Terra. This makes immersion near impossible.”
- “By the endgame, when I finally managed to get a quest of my own (which took way longer than it should have, in my opinion), I was so strong (15 melee, 20 ranged) that I was able to power through the rest of the game and win it about 10 turns later, while the other players were still fumbling around in the outer regions.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the epic soundtrack and its fidelity to the lore, while others find it underwhelming and not particularly noticeable during gameplay. Many users express disappointment over the high price of the soundtrack DLC, feeling it should have been included in the core game. Overall, while the art and thematic elements are appreciated, the music aspect is seen as lacking in value and impact.
- “I enjoy the art that represents each victory type, and the end music that goes with it, as well.”
- “Epic soundtrack, magnificent artworks and fidelity to the lore, while changing the scenario.”
- “Co-op play, more balanced and streamlined gameplay and the graphics and soundtrack are amazing!”
- “Graphics from a 1986 Commodore 64 and garish music accompany lame gameplay.”
- “Firstly, the soundtrack, which is optional as a DLC, is too overpriced and underwhelming.”
- “The game soundtrack, which is usually included for free in a core game purchase, is pay-for DLC as well.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, especially when pursuing achievements or dealing with AI that prolongs gameplay with overly strategic moves. The experience can become frustrating, even when playing with friends, as the repetitive nature of tasks detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “I simply do not possess the vocabulary to describe how utterly tedious this was even while playing with a good friend.”
- “Very grindy if you care about achievements.”
- “Also, I know talismans can get a little 'grindy', but come on AI, your stats are ridiculous. Head towards the middle now or maybe start that quest?”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers good replayability due to its diverse gameplay experiences based on faction choices, encouraging players to explore different strategies. However, the limited variety of cards and the absence of certain key characters may hinder long-term replay value for some players. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, certain restrictions could dampen the experience for those seeking extensive variety.
- “You probably won’t see it all in a single game, which is good for replayability.”
- “I really like how data slates play differently depending on your faction, as it really adds to the replay value of this game.”
- “What's not good for replayability is that whether you're a loyalist or chaos servant, the cards themselves are limited.”
- “This game adheres rather strictly to the book series it seems and many of the primarchs are replaced with champion stand-ins, neither Rogal Dorn nor Lorgar Aurelian are playable at this time which is a bit of a disappointment but not a major concern.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's stability has been negatively impacted by the recent ultramar DLC, leading to frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some players still find enjoyment in the overall experience and graphics, the persistent issues with stability and a chaotic interface have been a significant drawback for many.
- “I won't not recommend the game, since it's still a solid board game with nice graphics and no glitches that popped up while I played.”
- “A decent game in which I've enjoyed many hours, but unfortunately since the Ulramar DLC, it has become quite buggy and games randomly crash, leaving you no option but to quit the game.”
- “It's an expensive branded ripoff that doesn't deliver any new content worth the price tag and is buggy as hell.”
- “Much more polished than Talisman, but still retains that wonky, buggy, and chaotic interface that forces you to reload the game in some instances.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, with many characters locked behind paywalls and the introduction of additional content perceived as exploitative cash grabs.
- “The game offers a variety of microtransactions that enhance the experience without feeling mandatory.”
- “While there are microtransactions, they are balanced and do not detract from the overall gameplay.”
- “The monetization model allows for additional content while still providing a solid base game.”
- “All of this, and the fact that less than half the primarchs are available as characters, with more coming in a microtransaction style.”
- “The heroes and villains packs are nothing but a shameless cash grab.”
- “Yay, tons of microtransactions!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by amusing system interactions, such as transformations into chaotic forms, and is complemented by a self-aware, dry wit that resonates with players.
- “Some funny system interactions, like being turned into a chaos spawn, really add to the humor of the game.”
- “Allow me to take the time to explain this to you with my awful grammar and dry sense of humor.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and making players feel deeply engaged in the campaign, akin to a fun board game.
- “It plays and feels like a fun board game, but the atmosphere and setting really do a great job at immersing you into your campaign.”