The Case

So, Space Hulk. Anybody familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 miniature wargaming hobby has already probably pulled out their aging, battered copy of the board game at the mere mention of it, eager to show it off to the young upstarts plaguing the battlefields these days. In fact, I have to admit I do still own my copy of Space Hulk somewhere, yellowed with time and memories. It created a huge following back in the day, especially amongst those already enamoured with the wonderful setting created by Games Workshop - a setting that only now is becoming more and more popularized thanks to the work of companies such as Relic and now Full Control. Yet, the first instinct of any veteran is to feel trepidation, for any company taking hold of a treasured memory must indeed tread carefully lest they destroy the fond memories of something beloved. Does Space Hulk toe the line? Or does it transcend into something even greater?

The Trial

For the uninitiated, Space Hulk is essentially a game about an elite team of genetically engineered super-human Space Marines, who wear environmentally sealed battle-armour, exploring an abandoned space-ship called a Space Hulk. The Space Hulk itself is the size of a small city, perhaps even larger, and is filled with narrow corridors, most of which can only be traversed in single file. And, of course, there are bloodthirsty, deadly aliens in the form of the Tyranids (to be more specific their advance parties known as Genestealers) each possessing claws that can rend apart metal with ease. The missions are thus always objective based, with the Space Marine player starting with a team, progressing towards the goal, despite losing his men one by one, commonly only achieving his aim with the lone survivor of an entire squad.

The gameplay itself is the classic isometric turn-based tactical fare with the inclusion of the age-old mechanic of action points. However an interesting addition is 'command points', where a pool of randomly generated extra action points, ranging from a measly one to a tidy six, could be split amongst your brave warriors. This was vital as you never really have enough points, with simple actions such as turning on the spot taking a vast number of your precious points - the cumbersome armour proving to be a huge detriment. Combat was equally brutal, with melee being pretty much suicidal for your Space Marines, unless you were the power-sword wielding sergeant. Ranged combat was tricky too with weapons tending to go miss or, more importantly, jamming. A crucial jam on a Space Marine on over-watch could pretty much end any hope of successfully completing the mission. Thus it becomes a frantic game of managing points and possibilities, where tough decisions are made at every turn.

On one hand, it is a tried and tested system, one that has garnered a multitude of fans for the specific reason that it is a brilliant one. It creates heart-pounding moments every turn, with agonizing choices on who to advance and heroic sacrifices having to be made when you place a single marine in the corridor in the hopes that his corpse shall block the alien advance. On the other hand it is first and foremost a war-gamers' game and that means something very specific. It means a rigid adherence to rules, an obsession with possibilities and mathematics, a brutal system that grants no mercy and rewards only the most excellent of plays. It is neither forgiving nor is it easy to learn, featuring a proud if arcane system.

Furthermore, while it is commendable how thoroughly this game is a tribute to its predecessor, it does feel like a missed opportunity that no innovations were added - after all, the only reason the original board-game had a mere two units was because of the costs of producing more than simple Terminators and Genestealers. Why not introduce some of the normal Space Marines? How about Scout Squads? Maybe a Tyranid Lictor, stalking the darkened corridors? It could have been a flop or it could have been a huge success, but at least they could have tried adding some new elements. Still, at the end of the day, we do have a perfectly functioning digital analogue of the board-game and that was enough back when I first got it and is enough right now. I still had a tremendous amount of fun, screaming at my screen in rage and jumping from my chair in joy, reliving the good old days of the board-game.

As for the design of the game, it is glorious as expected from something that was allowed into the treasure vault that is Warhammer 40,000's art direction. With deliciously over-the-top Space Marines, decked from head to toe in gothic battle armour, horrendously evil aliens perfectly captured in the dark and dank corridors of the sparking, fizzling space wreck. The atmosphere created by the art style is amazing. But that is not the crowning glory. No, that belongs to a simple little feature that sealed the deal for me - a little camera view in the top right corner of the screen, showcasing what the currently selected Space Marine is able to see from his helmet. This little mechanic just opened up so much of the world, expanding the player's viewpoint as the omniscient tactician, placing them in the heavy boots of the lumbering soldier, trudging through the narrow hallways, claustrophobia and aliens pressing in on all sides.

The graphics are admittedly dated and the audio is not especially innovative or amazing, with the sound of boltguns being tinny and badly translated into the awesome weapons they look to be. The animations are much too slow and choppy, while the sound seems to be cut in somewhat inexpertly - the controls and UI are decent but could benefit from the inclusion of more shortcuts. It is thus nowhere near the perfection that Relic has achieved, but this is expected from an indie developer such as Full Control. However, working with what they have, Full Control has delivered to us something that is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

The Verdict

Ultimately, Space Hulk is an enjoyable nostalgia trip and tribute but it must be taken with a pinch of salt. If you enjoyed the original board game then it is for you. If you enjoy deep tactical manoeuvring then it is for you. Otherwise, you may want to think twice before you purchase. Personally though, they couldn’t have made a more fitting tribute to one of my fondest childhood memories, and I thank Full Control deeply for what they have given me.

Case Review