Melee weapons help to finish off the last few aliens of an attack, whilst the bigger guns spray bullets and feel weighty when firing – one of SHDW’s finest attributes.
You get a couple of weapons to choose from, which can be upgraded, but you can also purchase new ones as you progress. You can sprint, but not for long periods of time, so often I found myself at the mercy of an enemy attack. Manoeuvring around the levels is tedious, many because of the hulking armour you wear. I played a fair amount with headphones just because I loved the work the game did with creating a terrifying atmosphere. The sound design is also spectacular – the Genestealers’ screeches are deafening and unnerving, meaning a frantic fight to gun them down plays out in intense fashion. The environments may be bleak and dark, but the architecture is stunning, and whilst the levels can take a while to trudge through, there are a lot of fine details for you appreciate. That doesn’t mean newcomers won’t find enjoyment in it. If you’re familiar with the Dark Angels or the Horus Heresy, this game will do a great job of putting a smile on your face, if only for the story and the obligatory references to the franchise.
Along with two other soldiers, you hop on board and uncover not only secrets thought lost forever, but Genestealers: xenomorphs with extremely violent tendencies – those tendencies to rip you limb from limb. You find yourself as part of the the Dark Angels 1st Company on an exploration mission to unearth whatever is aboard the abandoned Space Hulk (thing big ass space ship). Space Hulk: Deathwing – Enhanced Edition falls between fun and tedious, and the best way to enjoy it is via the multiplayer, but again, it’s only ever good if your team is working together. Warhammer 40K is an iconic franchise for nerds like moi, but its transitioning to video games hasn’t always been smooth, or successful.