This previous weekend Warhammer 40,000: Darktide launched it’s Closed Beta. Here are some first impressions.

Did you get to play within the Closed Beta for Darktide? I did. And it was just about what I anticipated — which is to say it was a blast! But I kinda figured that the studio behind Vermintide I & II would have a deal with on the way to make a 40k model. It’s visceral, gory, and Grimdark. Fatshark just about nailed it.



Darktide – First Impressions

Let me simply get this out of the way in which as properly. This isn’t a sponsored factor and Fatshark isn’t paying us to speak about Darktide. I signed up for the Close Beta similar to everybody else and waited for my entry. Eventually I bought in and had a run on the sport. I solely bought in just a few video games with a full squad but it surely was numerous enjoyable. I gave the Zealot a go in addition to the Psyker — But my teammates performed the Sharpshooter and the Ogryn.



So I did get a superb vibe of the totally different lessons. I nonetheless need to return and check out the others out and I additionally need to get extra into the build-crafting/unlock system as I didn’t get an opportunity to essentially dive deep into the sport — however extra on that later.

My first impressions are all good. The solely “bad” factor was the shortage of a mini-map within the nook. But that’s actually extra of a sport model selection than a detriment. Oh and the social house was type of odd…however I’m certain that’s simply because it was a beta. It was unusual to see random gamers pop in and even should you have been with a squad you didn’t get in the identical occasion for that house (so far as we might inform).



Aside from these two minor issues the core sport loop itself is numerous enjoyable. If you’ve by no means performed a co-op shooter like Dead Island, Vermintide, and even Left4Dead…properly, these video games all type of affect this one. And that’s a superb factor. You and your squad are dropped right into a mission and must proceed by way of waves of goons to the assorted aims. Once you full the aims you then must extract. This all sounds waaay simpler than it really is.

I’m a veteran of plenty of FPS video games and this sport isn’t precisely simple. You may also scale up the issue as wanted/needed by taking up more durable missions. The rewards are usually new gear, numerous character upgrades (like potential unlocks/auras) and credit which you’ll be able to spend on extra stuff. Keep in thoughts this was the Closed Beta so I didn’t get an opportunity to essentially discover all that stuff — however I can’t wait to return.

Unsurprisingly, this sport does borrow fairly closely from the core mechanics of Vermintide — once more, not a nasty factor! There is evident development and that’s nice. This sport does have that “end game” of progressive character improvement after which tougher and tougher missions.

But how was the precise gameplay? Fun! You’re mainly going to face off in opposition to hordes of Poxzombies/cultists at first. And scattered all through these hordes will likely be more durable enemies with weapons/armor/skills. The Netters have been notably annoying (however in a difficult manner). They might launch a web that knocked you over and your mates needed to launch you earlier than the horde pummelled you down. There are numerous foes like that within the combine.

The fight is visceral. You’ll have a gun however you don’t have infinite ammo. So, whereas it’s very tempting to blast every little thing, you’re going to need to swap to your melee weapon. And that’s the place the sport will get numerous issues proper. FPS Melee fight generally is a unhealthy expertise…But not in Darktide. Fatshark has achieved their homework and actually made the Melee really feel impactful, brutal, and enjoyable.

Melee has numerous assaults/blocks/counters/skills all primarily based on the category and the weapons. I can’t actually get into an excessive amount of element as I had restricted time with them however simply swinging your weapon felt enjoyable. Blocking permits you to shove enemies as properly. You’ll use your stamina bar but it surely’s an effective way to “break the tide” of the horde as they’re charging. This creates some house and permits you to swing away.

The gunplay can also be fairly enjoyable. I want I had extra time with the assorted weapons as properly. The ones I used have been the SMG and the Pistol. The SMG was very a lot a “spray and pray” gun whereas the pistol rewarded accuracy and endurance. I actually needed to check out the Ogryn’s single shot shotgun, however I’ll have to attend till subsequent time.

One of the issues that actually stood out to me was the well being system within the sport. You mainly have two well being bars: One is your “toughness” and the opposite is your precise well being. Depending on the issue your well being bar could have totally different sized “chunks” and once you get KO’d you’ll lose a “chunk” to corruption. This could be eliminated at a Medicae station however these have restricted costs. While your well being bar is corrupted you’re max HP is proscribed.

The toughness bar capabilities extra like a “shield” mechanic. What’s actually cool about it’s the way you refill the gauge. The first manner is simply by moving into for Melee kills. Each kill grants you “toughness” again. It rewards aggressive, in your face-gameplay. The different manner (and the one I assumed was actually neat) was for sustaining “coherency” together with your squad. While you’re inside vary of one other squad member (or members) you regained toughness. The extra members close by, the quick you gained it again. You even have buffs you give to your squadmates for being in coherency. The mechanic actually emphasizes staying collectively and dealing together with your workforce. Can you go off by yourself and discover? Sure. Will you pay in your solo mindset? Probably. I preferred this commerce off!

So what occurs should you get KO’d? Well, your workforce can rez you — in the event that they get to you fast sufficient. If they will’t, you’re “Captured” for a bit. Your character is taken out of motion for a bit and ultimately you respawn at a distinct location. Your workforce then has to get to you and free you out of your bonds. Then you’re again within the battle. So simply because your down doesn’t imply you’re out completely.

The surroundings was incredible. There have been terrain items that regarded precisely like terrain kits from GW. All of the environments I bought to take a look at have been suitably Grimdark and it felt nice to wander round. Darktide has that air of oppressiveness that you must count on in a sport from the 40k setting. Overall, I believe Fatshark completely nailed it.



Darktide is slated for a November thirtieth launch. You can pre-order now if you want.  Personally, I’m  going to select this one up. I believe it’s going to be an excellent online game night time possibility for me and my crew. You can play solo (there are bots) but it surely’s much more enjoyable with associates!

This is Grimdark GTFO with extra motion and a Vermintide underbelly — It’s a winner in my e-book!

Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and Austinite for 15+ years, Adam covers all issues Tabletop Gaming. Which contains Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and every little thing else that includes cube, boards, playing cards and a desk.
A hobbyist, participant, and collector of miniatures and video games, Adam’s present obsession are his Death Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, and his ever rising Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.

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