The story that began with Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is coming to an end. Soulstorm is the third and, apparently, final expansion to one of the most striking RTS of its time. Relic, however, has not worked on the game for a long time, which is almost four years old, so the work was entrusted to Iron Lore Entertainment, known for Titan Quest. It so happened that this project was its last. Something went wrong: funds for its own development were apparently never allocated, and a couple of weeks before the release, THQ quietly closed the “unnecessary” studio.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm Free Steam Account

Earthly concerns have no effect on the cruel universe of Warhammer 40,000. The warp storm still tears space apart and makes long-distance travel almost impossible. Therefore, a new battle for power unfolds around four planets connected by a network of ancient portals. In terms of the number of available territories, Soulstorm only slightly exceeds Dark Crusade, and the goal remains the same – to crush your opponents and see the final video, which is unlikely to surprise. The main additions to the ranks are two new armies. The veterans have been joined by the Sisters of Battle and the Dark Eldar. The former take a long time to gain strength, but once they reveal their full potential, their enemies will be purified by the fire of faith. In Soulstorm, even the Space Marines and the Imperial Guard are among the heretics worthy of the punishing hand. The atmosphere of the Inquisition spills over the edge here: temples reminiscent of monasteries, armored vehicles with organ pipes, a walking tank with a crucified sinner on its armor and an angel with a sparkling blade. The sisters can rely not only on metal and fire, but also on their faith – a unique resource that strengthens the army and allows them to bring down the Emperor’s fury on their enemies.

The Dark Eldar make no less an impression. These “vampires of the future” feed on other people’s life energy and are therefore doomed to eternal war. It is not surprising that the game got a “Mature” rating: here you can see slaves after torture, and mountains of bodies, and masks made of human skin, and half-naked captives in collars. But in battle, they maintain their brand: rangers work at a distance, fast squads go behind the lines, and witches converge in fierce battles. The Eldar have a special witchcraft – the price for it is the lives of enemies. Six spells are activated directly: from acid that corrodes armor to lightning that incinerates everything around. And the “storm” in the name is fully justified – a sparkling cloud sweeps away infantry instantly.

And yet, the main highlight of the series was earlier. It was much more exciting to play for the Tau in Dark Crusade, and the Necrons still remain the most unusual race of Warhammer 40,000 on PC. The new flying units are not impressive: you can ignore them and calmly go through the campaign. The only thing that is memorable is the Orc Fighta-Bomma, smoking like a dozen locomotives. The Necrons never got aviation due to the restrictions of the “codexes”, but their leader received the ability to transform into Deceiver, one of the gods of C’tan. Fans of the universe will appreciate it, although, in my opinion, the good old Nightbringer looks both more impressive and more dangerous.

When another enemy is defeated, the game returns us to the strategic mode. Alas, it is hardly deeper than a puddle: the same interface flaws, primitive economy, expensive “honor guards” and gradual commander upgrade. The campaign is diluted by capitals, where scenario scripts try to add spice. Victory gives not only the disappearance of the faction from the map, but also a new global bonus: the orcs get free fighters, the tau – artillery shelling of the landing zone, and the sisters can build bases right on enemy territory.

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Is Soulstorm worth buying along with Dawn of War and its expansions?

If Dark Crusade could be recommended to every fan of real-time strategies, then Soulstorm is more like a game “for our own”. Those who have long been accustomed to online battles and have proven their skills more than once will certainly be able to appreciate the fresh mechanics and features. But the project is unlikely to give anything truly new to beginners or casual players. It seems that we have come to the end of the chapter and are turning the pages, opening the second volume. It is believed that THQ will not abandon such a strong brand and new encounters with the heavy tread of space marines, the roar of the orc “Waaagh!” and the crazy excitement of battles, where the bloodthirsty legions of Chaos go on the attack, await us ahead. I want this to happen as soon as possible.

The tradition of the series has remained unchanged: in Soulstorm, only new factions are available for online play – the Sisters of Battle and the Dark Eldar. And if you want to collect the entire army of the past, you will have to buy Dawn of War, Winter Assault and Dark Crusade.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm System Requirements

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

To immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is to feel the breath of war itself, where there is no peace or compromise. This is a game that makes you forget about everything around you and completely immerse yourself in battles for power over entire worlds. Here, every step of the army is a story, every fight is a small legend, and victory is given only to those who can think strategically and are not afraid of sacrifices.

Soulstorm takes you to a dark corner of the galaxy, where planets are connected by a network of ancient portals. It is there that endless wars rage: the Sisters of Battle cleanse the earth with the fire of faith, the Dark Eldar weave their insidious webs, and the servants of Chaos bring destruction for the sake of the gods of the warp. Each army lives by its own rules, and only your determination will determine who will conquer these worlds.

To start the journey, you do not have to waste time on long settings or searches. We made everything as simple as possible: just register, log in to your profile, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm is ready to meet you. And if you want, you can use a free steam account to find yourself on the battlefield without any hassle and immediately feel the taste of a real galactic war.

After the first battles, be sure to share your impressions – your feedback is important and will help other players better understand what to expect. If you want to stay up to date, subscribe to our Telegram channel: fresh accounts, updates and the hottest news from the world of Warhammer are published there. And if you have any difficulties or questions, you can always look in the section “How to play for free – Complete guide” or write to us in the chat, where they will help you figure it out.