Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series is one of the best for the games of the real-time strategy. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is the fifth installment in the series and a sequel to the 2006 game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, a massive hit. Just like the previous game it is developed by Relic Entertainment who are famous for their real-time games for PC like Company of Heroes, Homeworld and The Outfit. The game is published by THQ for only on Microsoft Windows. It is based in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. Dawn of War II was released on February 19 in North America and on February 20 it was released in Europe. It use the Essence Engine 2.0 and advance version of Essence Engine, first used in Company of Heroes. Single player and Cooperative Multiplayer are the two modes featuring in the game.

For the initial released version of the game four playable armies as Orks, Space Marines, Eldar, and Tyranids. Gameplay of Dawn of War II is different from the previous Dawn of War and its expansions. Game’s lead designer Jonny Ebbert has described the gameplay of Dawn of War II as it takes everything that was great about the original and combines it with the best that of Company of Heroes had to offer. Cover is the main focus giving more substantial defensive bonuses. Dealing of units fro cover is more stressed. Some weapons can destroy the cover like explosives and grenades, while some like flamers will ignore the cover bonus. Other differences from the previous game includes more realistic vehicles, improved physics engine and improved AI units. Dawn of War II is the first game to be released on Live server of Games of Windows – Live. Now player can connect to the Windows Live Servers in order to play the multiple features.

The game features a non-linear interplanetary campaign, can be played as Space Marines. You can play the campaign either as single-player or cooperatively with another player through an online connection. It starts with Sergeant Tarkus is send into Calderis to aid Captain Davian Thule and his initiates. After fighting away the Orks they are tackled by Mek Badzappa and his army. Mek escapes and Mine destroys the mine from where they were coming and take a victory. After these events they travels from Armageddon to a hamlet where Sergeant Avitus is waiting for them. After these events they travel to planet Typhon to stop Eldar activity. Orks are stirring up into a revolt and must be eliminated. Just as they were leaving Thule asks them to go back to Calderis because Mek Badzappa is back and launching an attack against the capital and citizens. Space Marines and finally kills Mek but as soon they are attacked by Tyranids. Thule is mortally wounded and Techmarin Maretellus gets them back to safety and Marines destroys the Tyranid force. The Space Marines return to Typhon leaving Apothercary Gordian in charge of Thule and kill the Eldar ranger Nemeran who has been stirring up trouble.

Reception for the game is generally positive, not as great as the previous one. Average Maetacritic score for the game is 86%. It was praised by the gamers for its good graphics fast paced tactical gameplay. Criticizing points were for lack of variety of single player campaign missions and very few multiplayer maps. One more complaint was for the True Skill ranked matching, with many complaints as less experienced player are pitted against those with higher skills at the game. However this was improved to great extent in 1.2.1 patch for the game.

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