Warhammer: Rites of War

by Dream Forge

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001X4ZF
• Media: CD-ROM
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,887 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the award-winning Panzer General 2 game system, this turn-based strategy game is easy to play but filled with deep strategies that are a challenge to master. Substantially upgraded from its famous predecessor, Rites of War has units that are twice as large and are animated when they move, attack, and die. And when it comes to battle, you won't be alone--cooperative and head-to-head multiplayer support will inspire you to hone your survival skills.

Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Warhammer 40K Eldar come to the PC, November 19, 2002

By 

"ulthran" (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warhammer: Rites of War (CD-ROM)

I consider this game the sister to the also very good Chaos Gate. In Rites of War, you lead Eldar in epic battles first vs guardsmen and spacemarines, and then against tyranids. The interface is easy and intuitive, while the turn-based pace allows for much thinking and planning for those of us, who value finesse and calculations over blind rushing and brute force of numbers.

As you progress in the story, newer and more powerful units become available, but your old soldiers are just as good or better, since they gain experience and improve their characteristics. For successful missions, you gain prestige, which can be spent on buying new units or upgrading the old ones. Towards the end of the game, your oldest surviving soldiers will be the most powerful, and you must chiefly count on them to win from then on. This produces natural continuity and a heroic feel. By the end, you will be VERY attached to your great veterans, almost like old friends! This is the proper feel the Eldar should have in view of the WH40K background story.

There are artifacts to be found and used by every race, which further boost the carrier units. Extra experience is to be had for optional (unnamed) objectives. Sometimes, powerful rescued units join your camp for free. Non-campaign games from any side are possible. A nice encyclopaedia allows you to do some homework in planning your unit upgrades and in learning about your units, enemies, and allies. Once the tyranids are revealed, you gain access to Guard, Space Marine, and Sisters of Battle units.

The graphics is very beautifully drawn and the animations are very believable. The music and sound effects are quite atmospheric too. The opening cinematic is absolutely breathtaking in style and quality.

Now that I have given much praise, I must explain why I did not give 5 stars. The reasons are minuscule taken apart, but together they add up to minus one star:

1)The game needs a better tutorial.
2)More possibilities should have been included for the non-campaign game.
3)Sometimes the graphics can produce ripple effects around some units, which must be a code bug.
4)Some scenarios could have used a better design
5)The game may be a bit too tough for inexperienced farseers
6)The game would have benefited greatly from more cinematics to increase even further the density of the atmosphere.

All-in-all, great game. I played it the minute it came out, and it is still one of my all-time favorites. I play it even nowadays.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rites of War is computerized Miniatures Wargaming, April 13, 2000

By 

Scott T Jones (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warhammer: Rites of War (CD-ROM)

I was very pleased to find a real miniatures wargame in Warhammer: Rites of War. The pictures of the units in the documentation are color photos of painted lead figures. If you like both turn-based wargames and miniatures wargaming, this program is for you.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Warning to WH40K fans: This is NOT Chaos Gate with Eldar., June 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Warhammer: Rites of War (CD-ROM)

While the computer game Chaos Gate is a faithful translation of the tabletop game, Rites of War is a radical departure. The combat is nothing more than a WH40K mod to Panzer General 2. In my opinion the combat is dumbed down and overly simplistic. However, I am a fan of the tabletop game, and play Elder. So my disappointment is stems from disappointment that the game is not what I wanted it to be (faithful to the tabletop game).

The game does have a few redeeming qualities. It explores the rich culture of the Eldar race developed for the tabletop game Warhammer 40K. It is also fun to watch your units gain experience and improve.

While my expectations kept me from loving this game, I was able to play it through and can say that I did get something out of the game.