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Winter Assault is a high quality, terrific expansion for Dawn of War!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 62 / 65
Date: September 26, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Introduction:
If you love computer games with ferocious combat, terrific graphics, exciting animation and some real tactical challenges, then you will love Warhammer 40,000: Winter Assault, the expansion to last year's Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (DoW). Fans of the original DoW will NOT be disappointed as Winter Assault brings improved graphics and an expanded universe to your computer, along with some enhancements to the game options as well. If you are a tabletop miniatures gamer, then having nicely painted Warhammer miniatures, a game table, and a friend to share it all with is still more fun, but Winter Assault (WA) is way too cool for of a computer game and you will really enjoy the way that THQ and Relic have made the Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 (40K) universe spring to life. And that is largely the joy of DoW and WA, the developers really have made 40K spring to life! It's so good, it's like an interactive 40K movie and you get to direct much of the action. To borrow a quote from Games Workshop (GW), you will feel as if you've been dropped right into the "grim darkness of the future" where "there is only war."

Problems:
After installing Winter Assault, I had a terrible time at first getting it to run because of a "spooge error" (no, I am not joking, though the programmer who created the error message must have been a little twisted). To make matters worse, DoW no longer ran after installing WA and I'd never had a problem with it before. Some hunting on the Internet revealed that many other DoW players have had this problem in the past and that it is related to display drivers. Although a quick check in Device Manager on my PC revealed that I had the latest driver for my video card (I had downloaded that recently in order to run Lego Star Wars), a visit to the NVIDIA website revealed the presence of a new driver for all computers running Windows XP with GeForce video cards. Obtaining this driver fixed the problem, but be forewarned, the graphics in WA have been enhanced above the level of the original DoW, so you may encounter some issues with it even if DoW ran without any problems on your machine prior to installing WA. In a nutshell, be sure that all your drivers are up to date, especially if you have any trouble running WA.

The New Army, Imperial Guard:
The new "race" for the game, the Imperial Guard, is as intricate and fascinating as the other races in the game. The units are modeled with exacting detail on the miniatures produced by GW, and the voice acting and animation are as high in quality as in DoW.

The Imperial Guard units themselves are each loaded with character drawn straight from the 40K universe. The infiltrating Vindicare Assassin is a very cool customer; he's the soft-spoken, laconic hero of a killing machine from every action movie made since Clint Eastwood made the type popular. The animation when the Hellhound flamethrower tank spews huge gouts of flame at the enemy is frightening and devastating! The attention to detail on each unit, based on the original GW miniatures, is amazing as always. For example, the Basilisk self-propelled artillery unit has an animated crew on the loading platform at the rear. Ogryns (large mutated ogre-like humans that excel at close combat), fast Sentinels (think AT-ST from Star Wars), Kasrkin (elite storm troopers), Psykers (wizards), Commissars (as in the old Soviet army) and more are all here in their dark, fanatical, dogmatic 40K-style glory.

A unique feature of the IG army is that their units can hide inside their buildings for protection, which can be an important tactic for these (mostly) ordinary humans as they face the terrifying monsters, aliens and mutants of the other races. Even better, they can "tunnel" between (i.e., move quickly between while NOT exposed) their buildings.

Game Play:
As with the original DoW, I've been playing my early WA Skirmishes against the CPU on Easy difficulty and backing off the enemy so that I have lots of time to examine all the units, sound effects and wonderful animations. The developers have again created a rich playing experience with a huge variety of units, animations, voiceovers and sound effects. It will take quite a lot of zooming the camera on each unit and structure and paying attention to all the different voices and sounds before you'll feel you've seen and heard them all. WA has lots of replay value and should stay fresh and exciting for quite a while. New battle maps and campaigns refresh the DoW experience even more (see below).

New Game Options and Features:
Winter Assault has two new game setup options, persistent bodies and persistent scarring, which allow the casualties and terrain scarring that take place during game play to persist onscreen rather than automatically fade away within moments of the time they occur.

More importantly, there are many new maps on which to fight your battles and two new single-player campaigns: an Order campaign and a Disorder campaign. Single players and those who enjoy multiplayer games should both be pleased with the amount of new material.

Each existing DoW race also has a new unit added to the troops available to their roster. Chaos Space Marines get Khorne Berserkers (close combat maniacs in powered armor), Space Marines get Chaplains (a powerful commander unit with the power to inspire his troops), Eldar get Fire Dragons (a warrior "aspect" that carries powerful short range fusion guns) and the Orks get Mega-armored Nobz (extremely powerful and heavily armored elite troops).

Conclusion:
If you love RTS (real time strategy) games, Warhammer 40,000, or Dawn of War, you will really enjoy Winter Assault. It does not disappoint!

Excellent expansion for a great game (4.5 stars)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 19
Date: October 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Winter Assault is one of those expansions that adds a lot of new content to a game. Since I have already posted a review of Dawn of War at this site, I won't go into too much detail here about this game. However, overall, this is a wonderful addition to one of my favorite games ever.

The biggest change is the addition of a new race, the Imperial Guard. The Guard stresses entrenched defense as a tactic, backed up by strong vehicles and artillery. While not quite as flashy or alien as some of the other races, the Guard is a nice addition to the game. Also, the other four races each get a new unit, as well as modified tech trees which are well thought out.

The single-player campaigns in Winter Assault are very well done. They allow you to play each of the races (except the Space Marines), and each mission has multiple parts and objectives. There is also a surprise appearance of another alien race in the last mission, which adds a nice twist to the story. Additionally, there are about 20 new multiplayer maps that come with Winter Assault. The AI has been improved so that it's more aggressive, techs faster, and uses a diverse array of units. There are some minor pathfinding issues for some units, but the game is just a blast to play.

This game still looks great, and Winter Assault adds some new environments and weather effects. It's still a shame that the developer did not release modding tools with this version of the game, although I suspect that they will update the tools that can be downloaded from their website (www.dawnofwargame.com). The sound effects are also quite good, and most of the new voices are done well, along with the new music.

If you have any interest whatsoever in strategy games, then I highly recommend both the original game and this expansion. This is one of the best real-time strategy games I've played and is easily in the same league as Rise of Nations, Warcraft 3, and the Age of Empires series.

Unleash the hammer of the Eldar?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ok so I was waiting with baited breath like a good Games Workshop nerd for this exspansion. Everything, and I do mean everything, I read about Winter Assault says it's chock full if Imperial guard goodness. Even the box is covered in Imperial Guard goodness. However...Once you get good and into this game you're suddenly realize you're spending just as much time playing the eldar as you are Imperial Guard. The whole game you're switching between Imp. guard, and smeldar. The end of the game is kind of un-imperial in nature, but I won't ruin it for those that haven't played it yet.

Game play is much like DOW, however there is little to no base building in this one, you get started out with a ton of req. points, and power. So taking strat. points and building generators is kinda pointless. I don't really like that part of it very much, it kinda takes some of the fun out of the game, as most of the battles, you pretty much have your army from the get go.

It's not a bad game overall, but I was expecting alot more from it.

Very Disappointing Expansion

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 11 / 18
Date: November 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

First let me explain something about myself; I almost never play computer games. I make my living on one, and in my off time I'd just as soon do something else. That said, I'm a total fan of 40K and decided to give Dawn of War a try. I was hooked. To lure this non-pc gamer into the fold it HAD to be a powerful gaming experience. And it was. I even bought a second copy, and my son and I played head to head (cooperative and adversarial) on our two computers.

So given that, I was SO stoked that an expansion was in the works. I was like a kid again, counting the days till it's release. So was my 12-year old son!

Well, it just doesn't cut it on so many levels, where to start?

Forget the new race. They did a nice job on the Imperial Guard, but it won't matter.

Forget that the graphics are slightly better than before. So what if it looks just a little better, it won't matter.

Forget about the new campaign game. They did a nice job on it, don't get me wrong, and the cool twist is you can play it as either the forces of good or evil. Nice. But it's not going to matter.

Why? Well, after you do the campaign, what's left is playing the game either against online opponents or against the computer's AI. The former is still the same, and I have no complaints, but I find I spend most of my time versus the AI.

And THIS is where they totally messed with Dawn of War. They didn't just add the IG to the game, with a new campaign. No, they totally messed wit the AI. Now, in "easy" mode (not a mode I EVER used with the original game) the various computer opponents simply turtle-up and wait for me to advance. I've played 8 player free-for-all games and simply knocked them each off one by one. How dull.

And in "Normal" mode, they are so aggressive, beyond the smallest maps I don't stand a chance. And I've logged many, many games, and I'm no novice. I know what to do and when to have a good chance, and it matters not one little bit.

So beyond the additions, they gutted the suporb AI of the original game, thus turning a splendid game with hundreds of hours of repeat playability (as I can personally attest) into a game that, once you play the campaign, you won't want to ever put this disc back in your computer. I find myself time and again STILL reaching for my DoW disc, while the WA disc sits there unused.

I asked my son if he still plays WA and he said no. The AI makes it either too easy or too hard, no middle ground. I can't imagine what Hard or Insane are like in WA (modes I've tried with some success using DoW).

I really don't understand why they did this. They could have simply added a fifth race and left us with a much better product.

So my advice? If you are tired of playing Dawn of War and want a little something extra, google free ad-on maps, and you will find several dozen high-quality (I would say professionally done) free maps to download. The best have been bundled up into sets that download and install beautifully. These new maps have recharged the game for me and my son, and they will for you to. And they don't cost a dime.

And there are folks out there working on various mods to the original Dawn of War game (including Tyranids and Necrons). I can't wait to have a go with those races in the original DoW game. But Winter Assault? Save your money. It's not worth it at any price. It could be FREE and would still not be worth it, because they tampered with the AI.

Doesn't measure up to the original

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: September 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Let me start by saying that I have enjoyed this game overall. However, it is rather disappointing in comparison to the original game. The campaign missions feel very linear and scripted, giving the player minimal choice in how to progress to victory. This is partly because, as mentioned by the first reviewer, base building has virtually been removed from the campaign. There are some play balance issues, as well, which lead to some rather absurd events, such as an eldar avatar that stands around in my base for half an hour neither attacking nor taking damage, while I figure out how to progress to the next step in the script to destroy it, and without any real fight. Overall, the game feels like the developers rushed through it, and didn't pay enough attention to things like play balance and making it challenging. I haven't played with skirmish or multiplayer much yet, but hopefully that will be better than the single player campaigns. Overall, it is not a bad game, but it could have been so much better.

Not for the casual RTS gamer

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: December 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

To put it simply, the campaign in this expansion is ridiculously difficult for all but the most experienced RTS gamers. If you're tired of the typical gameplay that this genre has historically offered, you'll definitely appreciate what Winter Assault brings to the table. However, if like I, you enjoy the standard gameplay - building armies, executing well-planned assaults, digging in and expanding slowly - you'll find this campaign frustrating, demoralizing and downright unenjoyable.

Unlike the original Dawn of War, this expansion does little to introduce you to how to effectly use the new units available. Many of the missions don't grant you the ability to build structures, so even after completing the campaign the technology tree isn't well understood. To further the frustration, you are under assault from a superior force nearly every second of the game. The stress never subsides and becomes tiresome during the longer missions.

Probably the greatest achievement of the game is also my biggest complaint. Many campaign missions are won by the skin of your teeth - on the third mission I had a single unit alive by the end. How Relic engineered this is truely impressive and they deserve recognition for it, but personally, that's not what I'm looking for in a game. I find that there's something inherently disheartening about a game where the desired experience is to barely survive hour long beatings.

Even if you're not interested in the campaigns and look forward to the new units and maps for skirmishes, be forwarned that the AI is a completely different animal than that from Dawn of War. The computer opponent will definitely test your sanity as it is as resourceful as it is relentless. Winter Assault's "Standard" difficulty exceeds the old "Difficult." Unfortunately, "Easy" is just too easy which limits your choices to equally distasteful experiences.

I do need to say that despite all my negative comments, this game is certainly well made and delivers all that it claims to. If you enjoy the genre and are seeking intense challenges, you will not be disappointed. Regardless of the fact that I have yet to really find it enjoyable, it is an excellent example of the RTS genre and deserves a solid overall rating.

Winter Assault is simply not for me. I don't spend a lot of time playing games, and when I do I'm looking for that certain challenging but obtainable experience. I just get a beat down by Winter Assault, and in the rare cases when I'm victorious I'm too frustrated to revel in it. Most of the time, after hopelessly holding the line against wave after wave of inevitable defeat, I find myself asking "why am I playing this?"

Never bring a snowball to a blaster fight.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: February 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

You may have heard of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, which blasted away the competition back in 2004 to take Game of the Year honors in Computer Gaming World. Relic has been making RTS games long enough to know not to fix what ain't broke -- which is why Winter Assault improves by degrees rather than reinventing the proverbial wheel.

One glaring flaw in Dawn of War (depending on your play style) was the unforgiving "the best defense is a good offense" multiplayer, in which victory inevitably went to whoever could produce the largest number of cheap units the fastest. Winter Assault levels the playing field with the addition of a new faction: the defensively-minded Imperial Guard. They may be less exciting to look at than the four other races, but the role they play in balancing the game makes up for it. With the Guard on the roster, heedlessly rushing into combat at earliest opportunity is now a risky proposition at best.

While their cousin Space Marines are trained killing machines who live only for combat, the average Guardsmen probably has a wife and kid they write home to -- which means they won't part with their lives unless they absolutely have to. Couple this with the fact that they're no match one-on-one with any of the other races (even the puny Eldar), and you can see why they prefer to shoot from behind the relatively safe confines of a bunker or ATV.

Not surprisingly, this means your squads can be relied on to turn tail and run at the first sign of trouble. If you absolutely can't allow your troops to head for the hills, the Commissar unit has the ability to execute a friendly soldier in order to scare the rest into staying put. Or you could go up the tech tree and produce some Ogryn, who are too stupid to do anything but what you order them to.

Single player boasts some marginal improvements, but still remains less satisfying than the thrill of combating a human foe. To summarize the plot: a Titan (a weapon of unspeakable power crafted by the Imperium) has crash landed on resident ice planet Lorn V, so the race is on between the various Warhammer 40,000 factions to take control of it before anyone else can.

With a mediocre story poorly told through weak voice acting, chances are you're not going to care about much more than grinding your AI opponent into the dust. There are ten missions total, divided up evenly into an Order (Imperial Guard, Eldar) and a Chaos (Orks, Chaos) campaign. On the fifth and final mission you're forced to choose a faction, so I suppose the grand total can be boosted up to twelve if you're motivated enough to play through the last mission again.

Also, each race has received a new unit to to make up for their inherent weaknesses: Chaplains can be attached to a squad of Space Marines for a boost in ranged attack power, Chaos Space Marines can augment their close combat abilities by upgrading into Khorne Berserkers, Eldar Fire Dragons quickly take down vehicles and buildings, and Ork Mega Armored Nobz can soak up a great deal of punishment so the rest of the horde doesn't have to.

While Winter Assault doesn't mess too much with formula or add a flashy new alien race, it makes an already great game even better. If you ask me, that's all you can really hope to get out of an expansion pack.

Its still fun

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I liked this expansion to the original DOW. It was more of the same and since I liked the original game I knew I would like this expansion. I felt it was overpriced for an expansion pack that was on the short side for the single player campaign. Some of the criticism I see here on the Amazon page is justified. I felt the story was well thought out and the voices were beliveable. The graphics and sound were the same as DOW. I saw where some one said the Imperial Guard should have AT weapons, they do its the rocket launchers. It is true the scenarios feel a bit rushed, as if you do not have enough time to really think about your strategy. The problems is I think that is a fair criticism of all RTS games. Once again when installing the game the software secretly tells my firewall to let the game phone home, a very annoying feature.

What was the point again?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: October 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

DoW is fun, no arguments. Perhaps the best RTS I've ever played. Winter Assault adds Imperial Guard which is nice. It's the execution that falls short.

Take for instance the addition of the Chaplain for the Space Marines... what is the point of it again? He's a mega-apothecary. Did we really need another healing unit for the marines? And where in the literature, game, and lore does it ever hint that chaplains have any healing capabilities? Why not put in Bikes, or Razor Backs, or have chaplains effect moral some how. Same for the guard, where are the heavy weapons crews? The medics? The variation of guardsmen (Catachan's, Iron Gruard, etc.). And what's with the unit size? Limited at 10 just like the marines? Shouldn't the guard have larger armies of weaker units?

With the addition, it feels more like lots of other RTS Games and less like Warhammer. The Tech trees are now more similar, the armies capabilities more balanced (My basic assault unit = your basic assault unit).

Other annoyances - few new voices, new scenery is a bit of a drag, IG don't seem to be not as animated as other armies. The "campaign" doesn't really allow for base building and exploration of new units.

It's still fun, but not as much fun, and certainly a lot less like Warhammer.

A distinct disappointment

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: October 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Pros:
1) a new army - IG
2) a bit more streamlined upgrade tree
3) two new campaigns

Cons:
1) only one new army yet full price?? Ridiculous!
2) game balance is really messed up now
3) difficulty levels in skirmish have an enormous gap between easy and standard
4) somehow your ally AI is dumb as a rock (wasting resources on buildings when having no units to defend himself; not backing you up; stealing your resources) while the opposing AIs are smart cookies (always gang up to rush one of you).
5) All IG is just Cadians?? Their colors look like crap.
6) IG has no anti-tank until you get sentinels. Meanwhile you are SOL.
7) Annoying guardsmen voices. They are not all juveniles, you know.
8) Marines can build just ONE landraider??
9) Stationary defences seem significantly reduced in effectiveness. Without meaningful fortifications, the game becomes a grunt rush festival and armies like IG won't survive in a skirmish.
10) The Marines get a hero unit that cannot join other units??
11) Only six missions for each of two sides?
12) No meaningful learning curve on the new missions at all. Just a jumble of units and mission objectives that often are completely cryptic as to ways of implementation. I often found myself wondering "What the hell does this mean and how the hell am I to implement it in terms of the game?"
13) Automatic routing is horrendous. Units just sit there wondering how to get where you told them to go. Why the hell is this so difficult to do right?
14) On some of the new maps, you can actually box yourself in by your own buildings!! Once you do, there is no visible way to demolish your own structures to get out.

A big disappointment. After finishing the new campaigns, I find myself playing the original far more often than the expansion. Relic should be ashamed. Instead of becoming the new Blizzard, they have decided to cash out by offering inferior products at the lure of an excellent first work. The same thing happened with 14 East. Guess what, I have not bought a single 14 East product after they went down that road.

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