Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

About

"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II" is a Science Fiction Real Time Strategy game, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes, with a focus on fast-paced action and intricate storytelling. The game boasts beautiful mechanics, impressive graphics, and phenomenal music, but can be quite grinding and buggy. Its dense atmosphere and high replayability make it an engaging experience for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,620 reviews

story262 positive mentions

grinding29 negative mentions

story
862 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
4%
The story in "Dawn of War II" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring rich lore and character development. However, some critiques highlight the repetitiveness of missions and a lack of mission variety, which can detract from the overall experience. While the campaign offers a compelling storyline with tactical gameplay, it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional RTS experience with base-building elements.
- “The storyline is well-crafted, immersing players in a dark and atmospheric world filled with rich lore and diverse enemies.”
- “With its tactical gameplay, engaging storyline, and immersive universe, it stands as a solid entry in the RTS genre.”
- “The campaign is a blast being able to level up and equip your characters and choosing the missions.”
- “There's no lore, there's no explanation for anything other than the cutscenes between missions that don't bother to explain anything.”
- “The story is not really compelling, since everyone just acts as a massive force of destruction and acts without reason beyond that.”
- “The missions felt quite repetitive, especially towards the end of the game.”
gameplay
438 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of "Dawn of War II" has shifted significantly from its predecessor, moving away from traditional base-building RTS mechanics to a more tactical, squad-based approach with RPG elements. While some players appreciate the focus on micromanagement and character progression, others find the gameplay repetitive and less engaging compared to the original. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of strategy and action, appealing to both newcomers and fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, though it may not satisfy those seeking a classic RTS experience.
- “Great campaign and strategic gameplay.”
- “With its tactical gameplay, engaging storyline, and immersive universe, it stands as a solid entry in the RTS genre.”
- “The gameplay is fun and keeps you coming back for more.”
- “The control mechanics of your squads is very infuriating to deal with, especially when you are trying to play on anything above normal difficulty where if a squad is not behind cover, or just in a bad spot, they will be mowed down in less than a second, so if you aren't right on top of the micromanaging, they will die.”
- “The gameplay is so horribly useless and because of the frustrating micromanaging I could not give two damns about the good graphics.”
- “The biggest sin of this title was the developer's decision to remove base-building mechanics altogether (something I thought defined the Dawn of War franchise).”
graphics
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users noting that they hold up well even years after release, showcasing a detailed and immersive aesthetic that captures the dark atmosphere of the Warhammer 40k universe. While some players acknowledge that the visuals may feel dated compared to modern titles, they still appreciate the game's artistic style and the overall quality of the graphics, which contribute to an engaging gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing the game's appeal despite some minor criticisms regarding texture quality and performance on lower-end systems.
- “Visually, the game captures the dark and gritty aesthetic of the Warhammer 40k universe.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is instinctive and easy to master, and the storyline is top-notch.”
- “The graphics and background to the worlds you explore are extremely well thought out and put together.”
- “This game has not aged well as far as graphics, controls, and options are concerned.”
- “A remake of the first game with better graphics, or at least with less graphic issues, and new maps would've been good enough; instead, they made this trash.”
- “I don't like the art style even though the graphics are not the worst, but the game drops like a rock in terms of performance in some situations and I have a semi-decent rig.”
replayability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
7%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its customizable class system, varied battlefields, and co-op features, allowing players to tailor their experiences and explore different strategies. While many reviews highlight the extensive replay value, particularly in multiplayer and co-op modes, some note limitations in the single-player campaign's linearity and lack of diverse endings. Despite these criticisms, the combination of tactical gameplay and skill progression contributes to a generally positive perception of replayability.
- “The tried-and-tested class system means that you can tailor your experience to suit your own play style, while the selection of customizable battlefields provides endless replayability.”
- “There is a lot of replay value because of the co-op feature and the varied ways that you can choose to progress the skills of your units to give them different abilities.”
- “On top of a 20+ hour campaign that is highly replayable, you have co-op on top of that.”
- “The replay value is absolutely nonexistent; I would never play this campaign again.”
- “Unlike its predecessors, you can't lose the campaign, and replayability is null since it's exactly the same each time.”
- “Overall a good fun game, but the linear style of the single player campaign doesn't afford much in the way of replayability.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers considering it one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. It effectively enhances the game's grim and epic themes, contributing to an immersive atmosphere during gameplay. However, some users noted occasional sound issues, such as effects cutting out, which detracted from the overall experience.
- “That aside, it's got one of the best soundtracks in gaming history, no exaggeration.”
- “The music perfectly fits the themes of a world that is equal parts grim and epic.”
- “The soundtrack is immense and really adds to the experience; especially during combat.”
- “Randomly, the sound effects will cut out, leaving only the music, and then a few minutes later you will crash to desktop.”
- “I guess if you want to get some of that grimdark feel, you may want to put some of the Warhammer 40k inspired dark ambient music in the background, such as 'Monasterium Imperi'.”
- “The soundtrack is heavy and it enhances the coarse and gritty quality of the game.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the campaign missions where battles often feel like a war of attrition against waves of enemies. While some appreciate the focus on squad-based tactics over resource management, others feel that the gameplay quickly becomes monotonous, leading to a sense of forced engagement rather than enjoyment. Overall, the grinding can detract from the experience, making it more suitable for short play sessions rather than extended gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I will say, however, that the campaign can also get grindy and repetitive.”
- “So boring, so tedious, it feels like work. I'm forcing myself to play it hoping I might like it, but I just don't; I hate it.”
- “The campaign is tedious and sleep-inducing.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed environments, effectively capturing the grimdark essence of the Warhammer 40k universe. Players appreciate the well-crafted storyline, engaging sound design, and the variety of settings that enhance the overall experience, despite some critiques regarding gameplay complexity. Overall, the game successfully evokes the lore and atmosphere of its tabletop origins, making it a compelling journey for fans of the genre.
- “The storyline is well-crafted, immersing players in a dark and atmospheric world filled with rich lore and diverse enemies.”
- “This game brings the brilliant atmosphere of the tabletop and lore and gives it a video game makeover.”
- “Love the atmosphere and sound design.”
- “Sure, I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought this game, but right off the bat, to me at least, micromanaging 4 small squads doesn't really scream a whole lot of 40k atmosphere to me.”
- “I don't know what the atmosphere was supposed to be for this game, but it should have taken place on one planet and involved the same number of space marines. Instead, we got a rather hilariously abstract invasion scenario where you hop from planet to planet using ten space marines to fight off legions, again supposed legions... of enemies.”
- “Sure, the series does lose some of the intrigue and atmosphere of the original.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
13%
63%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent among users; while some report smooth performance with no issues on their systems, others experience significant bugs, glitches, and freezing, particularly when using certain features or during specific gameplay scenarios. Overall, the game seems to run well on capable machines, but many players express frustration with its erratic stability and AI pathing problems.
- “Playing on my normal Windows machine, it runs great with no problems.”
- “No glitches or bugs.”
- “3 hours later, no crash, no glitches, nothing.”
- “Buggy mess that wastes your time.”
- “I'm so fed up with the glitches in the game.”
- “The AI pathing is absolutely terrible, along with half of the special weapons and abilities being so buggy that they only work half of the time.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on less powerful systems. The graphics are considered impressive for its age, and the game runs well without crashes, although some players noted occasional performance drops in specific situations. The native version enhances performance further, making it enjoyable across various platforms, including Linux.
- “Graphically, the game has aged very well; it runs smoothly and does not crash to the desktop.”
- “War torn: I love this game’s graphics; they could continue to launch expansions for this game and I’d be very happy with the level of graphics. The optimization is amazing, as my computer easily breaks 60 frames on the highest settings with high resolution.”
- “I don't like the art style even though the graphics are not the worst, but the game drops like a rock in terms of performance in some situations and I have a semi-decent rig.”
- “You are going to scum, you are going to abuse certain combinations and you will use an extremely optimized path because the game is tuned in such a way that you cannot play it otherwise.”
- “The game is well-optimized due to its age.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the hilarious voices of the orks and the absurdity of the storyline, which features a comically chaotic invasion scenario. Players appreciate the blend of funny characters and situations with the action-tactical gameplay, making for an entertaining experience despite its serious undertones. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm that enhances the game's appeal.
- “Brilliant game, a little different from the previous Dawn of War, but still a great game. Plus, the Ork voices are hilarious.”
- “Hearing orcs talk is funny as hell.”
- “Intriguing story, funny characters, balanced action-tactical gameplay.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as subpar, yet it is effectively enhanced by RPG elements and character progression that keep players engaged. The focus on character development, combined with an intriguing story and loot mechanics, successfully shifts attention away from traditional resource gathering and base building, creating a more dynamic and combat-focused experience. Overall, the integration of these elements has resonated positively with players, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The RPG elements for character development work great, adding depth to the gameplay experience.”
- “It removes the monotony of resource gathering and replaces it with character development, an intriguing story full of twists, and badass loot.”
- “One of the cool things this game does is take the focus away from resource gathering and obnoxious base building, and replace it with character development and loot.”
- “Character development is subpar, but the character progression covers for that in my opinion.”
- “One of the cool things this game does is take the focus away from resource gathering and obnoxious base building, and replace it with character development with RPG elements and loot.”
- “This is what you get when you combine ultra violence with small infantry squad-based tactics, loot drops, and progressive character development.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
Reviews indicate that while some players found emotional depth in the character development and plot twists of the first game, the sequel is criticized for its lackluster storytelling, repetitive gameplay, and uninspired cutscenes, leading to a diminished emotional impact.
- “Furthermore, dow1 actually attempted to characterize the protagonist through its cutscenes, including a last-minute plot twist that I found truly touching!”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel incredibly real.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the story's exploration of loss and redemption; it left a lasting impact on my heart.”
- “The story is dull and uninspired, with lackluster voice acting and minimal emotional engagement. The gameplay feels repetitive and fails to evoke any real feelings.”
- “The cutscenes are uninteresting and do not contribute to the emotional depth of the game, making the overall experience feel flat and unengaging.”
- “There is a significant lack of emotional connection throughout the gameplay, with repetitive mechanics and a story that fails to captivate.”