Dawn of War 2 flared up brightly, but quickly faded. The first couple of months there was a lot of noise around it, but over time, the interest of players quickly faded. There were plenty of reasons. In multiplayer, there was an eternal search for a new “imba”: either the Tyranids became so strong that in matches it was easy to meet half of the teams filled with their heroes; or the Space Marines suddenly turned into an almost invincible force. Added to this were technical rough spots that prevented you from enjoying the game.

The situation with the single-player campaign was no better. It made an impression, but few people were drawn to it again – there was almost no replayability. As a result, the project, which started as a noticeable event, quickly ceased to be discussed even in the fan community.

And here Chaos Rising comes into the picture. A logical question arises: will this add-on be able to breathe new life into Dawn of War 2 or will it give the game just another extra month of popularity? And most importantly, do we really need such an extension of existence?

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising Free Steam Account

In case the original campaign has suddenly faded from memory, I’ll remind you in a few words: several squads of Blood Ravens flew across planets and methodically burned out the Tyranids. Endless landings, thousands of killed bugs, and all this against the backdrop of some story that the paratroopers themselves would probably be embarrassed to retell to young recruits around a campfire – it was so dull and devoid of fire.

The gameplay, however, felt more lively. But one thing really caught the eye – over and over again you had to land in the same sector. The map is the same, the enemies are different: sometimes Tyranids, sometimes Orks, sometimes Eldar. It seemed that the developers simply shuffled the deck with opponents, and left the battlefield the same. From this repetition, the excitement melted before your eyes.

The battles were also not particularly unique. Each battle was reminiscent of the previous one, and it was difficult to single out any truly bright moments. It’s not that I wanted to run to the forum and write: “Guys, the author of the review is wrong, I had such a battle in DoW 2 that it took my breath away!” — no, that effect did not occur. If there was an interesting episode, it quickly sank into repeating patterns.

That’s how the experience of the first part turned out. I may be exaggerating, but the campaign really seemed bland. Therefore, when the expansion came out, I really wanted it to be more fresh and less of that same endless routine. After all, forcing the player to stomp around in circles is definitely the prerogative of Korean MMOs, but not the large-scale universe of Warhammer 40,000.

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Gameplay

At first glance, the add-on did not change the usual gameplay too much. The scenery simply changed: the Tyranids left the stage, and the forces of chaos took their place. Along with them, old acquaintances returned – the Eldar and Orcs. The essence remained the same: you receive a task, land on the planet, step by step fight your way through hordes of opponents and eventually reach the final point on the map. Along the way, if you’re lucky, you can capture a couple of control zones, where your squad is replenished. However, the structure of the tasks quickly makes itself felt – they are too similar to each other. Yes, now we are not driven around the same map ten times, but there are still few special, memorable events. It’s as if the developers were afraid to give the player something truly non-standard.

Let’s take mission #7, for example. Landing, a request for help, and then the usual marathon: a hundred Chaosites in buildings, another hundred at the point, then another two hundred on the road to the north. In the finale, of course, there is a hero-boss. Or mission #12 – all the same, only the enemies are different: instead of Chaosites – Eldar. The scenery and background change, but the process itself is repeated painfully familiarly.

At the same time, of course, each mission is framed by some kind of story: destroy the portal, save allies, crash into a crowd of orcs who have arranged a meat grinder with the Chaosites. But the feeling of déjà vu does not go away – you still act the same way. In the original game, additional tasks were performed rather at will. They could slightly facilitate the passage, but even without them, you could easily reach the end even on high difficulty. In Chaos Rising, the developers revised this mechanic: side quests have become almost mandatory and noticeably affect what is happening.

For example, you helped the guards – you received loyalty points to the Emperor. You showed indifference – and your soul gradually slides into the arms of chaos. This choice is now really important. Moreover, it affects not only the heroes’ abilities, but also their equipment. In the previous part, cool armor was unavailable only because of the level. Here, everything is much more interesting: some items are not suitable for heroes with an “alien” worldview.

And here comes the most delicious part. In the inventory there is armor that looks amazing and gives powerful bonuses. But only those who accept at least a little chaos can put it on. Therefore, before each mission, you think: is it time to play along with the dark gods a little? Especially since such tempting options appear almost immediately. You seem to have come to save the scouts, but they whisper to you: “Let them die – the reward will be generous.” And now you are wandering around the map, trying not to interfere, although your allies are screaming for help.

There is just one nuance: the developers sometimes go too far, interpreting evil as banal inaction. To do good, you have to actively get into a fight. But chaos missions often require… doing nothing. Not helping, not interfering, just waiting. Sometimes this drags out the process and turns a tense fight into a boring wait.

Customization and Squad Management in Warhammer 40,000

The developers have significantly expanded the possibilities of the game in “dolls” – now you can not only change the heroes’ clothes, but also select the best weapons, armor and skills for them. Moreover, interesting things start to come across already in the first missions. The soldiers are initially of a high level, so the choice of available equipment is impressive.

The army is immediately in full force, and each mission easily turns into a small experiment. Today we take snipers and machine gunners into battle, tomorrow we assemble a squad with rocket packs and a dreadnought. The same composition can be changed beyond recognition: in one battle, the fighters swing a hammer and increase speed with the force of the blow, and in another they already pour flamethrowers on the enemy and throw stun grenades at them. This element is really excellent. Preparing the team before the fight is exciting in itself, and then it is even more interesting to check in action – how the new sword feels, how effective the sniper rifle is and what results the combination of selected abilities gives.

In addition, a new character appears at your disposal – the Librarian. This is a fresh hero who, instead of direct damage in close combat, relies on spells. He can be compared to a “mage”, although fans of Warhammer 40,000 will probably wince at such a definition. He strengthens allies, helps them deal more damage, move faster, heals and replenishes energy. Sometimes he is able to arrange a real “miracle” for the enemy with his abilities. But if the pressure is on – and with a staff in his hands, he will rush into the thick of the battle, where, thanks to the buffs, he will feel no worse than a real monk from D&D, handing out deadly slaps.

It is important that the Librarian does not turn into an irreplaceable figure. And this is a huge plus: if you want – use him, if you want – leave him on the bench. He fits into tactics perfectly, but at the same time does not become a mandatory choice. Relic deserves credit for this – they introduced a new hero, made him useful and interesting, but didn’t force players to play only with him all the time.

Multiplayer in Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising

When talking about Dawn of War 2, the story campaign is rarely mentioned. The real highlight of the game is the network mode, in which the developers have perfected the ideas that were born in Company of Heroes. That is why the appearance of the add-on aroused the main interest: what new will it bring to the multiplayer?

The first and most noticeable innovation is, of course, the addition of the Chaos race. Now there are four sides of the conflict on the battlefield, and this immediately made the strategy deeper and more diverse. The changes are especially impressive in 3 vs 3 matches, where the interaction of heroes and units becomes decisive.

If you try to compare Chaos with other armies, then it is closest to the Space Marines, especially in the early stages. It has its own machine gunners – almost doubles of those in Space Marines, and even its own detachment of “paratroopers”. At the second level, dreadnoughts appear, and by the final stage – tanks. But this similarity is superficial.

The thing is that chaos has its own unique commanders and fighters, which change the approach to tactics. Instead of the usual medic, there is a sorcerer who plays a support role: he strengthens allied units, weakens enemies and is capable of delivering powerful blows with spells. The Techmarine has been replaced by a creepy risen dead, which machine gun fire simply cannot suppress. These nuances open up space for special strategies.

The Bloodgiver deserves a special mention – a real monster against infantry. It can only be killed with heavy weapons designed to combat equipment. But at the early stages, the enemy usually does not have such means, and then the Bloodgiver turns the battle into a bloodbath, leaving behind only the remains of enemies. A cruel, but extremely effective warrior.

It is too early to judge the strengths and weaknesses of chaos: players need more time for testing, and the first patch is still ahead. But the main thing is already clear: the new faction does not look imba or useless. Playing for her is exciting, interesting, although in some places it feels secondary – many decisions are borrowed from the Space Marines, Eldar and Tyranids. Nevertheless, even such a hybrid turned out to be successful, and the chaos organically fits into the overall picture of the game.

Dawn of War 2: Chaos Rising – Is the DLC Worth Buying for the Campaign?

Now it’s time to ask ourselves honestly – how long will this add-on be able to hold our attention and will we forget about Dawn of War 2 again in just a couple of weeks? Alas, the developers from Relic did not dare to seriously rework the multiplayer. Yes, a new faction appeared in the game, each race got one more unit, and this is where the list of changes in the online almost ends. Matches take a long time to find, lags have not gone away, and tactics have remained just as simple. Fights are familiar, without any noticeable depth.

And yet, in single-player mode, the situation is much more interesting. The campaign has received more branches, there is more fussing with the heroes, and less monotony. Now, when there are dozens and hundreds of enemies on the screen at the same time, the battles feel more intense and spectacular. In such battles, you really feel the weight of what is happening.

Therefore, if for the sake of the original campaign I would not recommend buying Dawn of War 2, then the add-on for it is quite worth it. It is especially nice that you can transfer your old heroes to Chaos Rising, and if this is not possible, it is still okay: there is enough pleasure. In the end, the main thing is that the game has become really more fun.

Pros

• The ability to let chaos into the souls and minds of soldiers
• More forks in the campaign
• A lot of weapons, armor and new skills
• It is interesting to experiment with heroes
• A new faction for the network mode
• The add-on can be launched without the original (but only chaos will be available in multiplayer)

Cons

• In the campaign, you still have to thoughtlessly destroy crowds of enemies too often
• Not enough bright, memorable episodes (although the first steps in this direction have already been made)
• The network mode has not really changed – they only added a new race

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising System Requirements

How to play Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising for free on Steam via VpeSports

In the endless darkness of the future, there is no peace, no hope – only eternal war. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising plunges you into the very center of this merciless reality, where even the most loyal brothers in arms can fall victim to the insidious whispers of Chaos. Step by step, you will walk through the ruined worlds of the Imperium, hear the roar of cannonades and feel the cold breath of the Warp, as if it were looking straight into your heart.

Each battle is not just a fight for victory, but a test of your faith, fortitude and determination to remain human where thousands of voices call you to betray the Emperor. When the bolter thunders and the chainsword bites into the flesh of the enemy, you understand: this is more than a game. This is a story where you decide who you will become – a savior or a fallen warrior.

We have done everything to make your path into this dark universe easy and without unnecessary obstacles. All you need to do is simply register on the website, log in to your profile, and Chaos Rising will be waiting for you. For added convenience, you can use a free steam account so that you can immediately find yourself in the thick of things without any unnecessary settings. Everything is extremely simple: put on power armor, grab a bolter in your hands, and go meet your destiny.

Don’t forget to share your impressions after the first missions – every review is valuable. If the comment does not appear immediately, slightly change the text, and it will be published. All the necessary data will be sent to your email, and if you want to be among the first to know about fresh updates, subscribe to our Telegram channel. New accounts, patches, news, and live discussions with players who, like you, feel the call of the Imperium are published there. If you have any questions, feel free to visit the “How to play for free – Complete guide” section or contact us in the chat, we are always there.