Below are user reviews of Warhammer 40k: Squad Command and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
The summary of review scores shows the distribution of scores given by the professional reviewers for Warhammer 40k: Squad Command.
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User Reviews (1 - 10 of 10)
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Skimpy but fine for 40k fans who like turn based strategy.
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 9 / 12
Date: November 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User
For everyone who--like me--got really excited about this game because of hours of fun with Dawn of War (DoW, also published by THQ) rather than because you love the table top game BE WARNED. While Squad Command (SC) taps into the darkly religious galactic battlefield that is Warhammer 40k it doesn't convey the frantic ultra-violence so palpable in DoW and its expansions. That's no surprise, however, given that SC is turn-based.
And that's no surprise, either. Turn-based strategy is a genre in the exclusive purview of handhelds these days. This game is no FF Tactics but it does share some vaguely RPG-like characteristics with that title and its progeny. For example, you can micromanage your squad members in terms of weaponry. But this is more about being true to the table top experience of point-building, I suspect (having never played it), than getting you attached to your troops. They do change from mission to mission, after all. I wonder, and encourage someone with knowledge of the table top rules to comment on, to what degree those rules are part of this game a la D&D Tactics.
In terms of music, graphics, and overall presentation, SC is about average or a bit above average for PSP. It will neither knock your socks off nor make your eyes bleed. In that regard, it's not a great introduction to Warhammer 40k. The 40k world relies heavily upon its legendary aesthetic and this platform can't sell it like a beautiful, Pentium-powered PC game. Part and parcel of that aesthetic draw is the wide array of faction-specific designs: you can look at any unit and know which faction it belongs to. This game, which only covers Space Marines and Chaos Space Marines, doesn't mine into that wealth of creativity. But it does cover those two factions in terms of troops, weapons, and vehicles pretty well. I haven't seen them yet but there are even supposed to be Grey Knights in SC!
The biggest drawback about SC, however, is that there are only fifteen missions. I don't know what the capacity of a UMD is but I savor every moment of 40k that doesn't involve incredibly expensive unpainted miniatures. Fifteen missions are too few. There is obviously no skirmish mode against the AI to make up for it although you can play Chaos in multiplayer. Ultimately, thirty bucks for fifteen missions is very price effective when you consider how much dough you'd need to shell out for fifteen missions in table top. The bottom line is that if you really like the 40k universe but can't afford table top, this will make you happy if only for a short while. But if you're looking for more DoW, look somewhere else . . . and tell me when you find it.
Handheld Fallout!
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 6 / 9
Date: November 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User
To start with, I Love fallout and fallout 2 so if you do not like these games you most likely will not like this.
This game uses the AP (action point) system which allows a certain amount of movement, shooting, guarding, etc so long as the points remain.
the graphics are a little bland but (again fans of fallout) if you are into AP turn based games then this might be just the thing for you!
15 campaign missions, many unit types, and great multiplayer via adhoc or infrastructure mode (for friends games or ranked games) I really like this game and I think most of the fallout fans will enjoy playing this type of game again.
it's no where as deep and has little of the customization like titles such as FF: Tactics but with turn based combat how can you lose? matches in multiplayer are timed to keep a fast paced flow going and also if you go into the menu while your enemy takes their turn you may reoutfit your Reinforcements with new weapons!! can't stress this enough it will help you to get through Tough missions. A.I. is a little dense at times but generally decent. a bargain at 30 bucks.
Graphics: isolinear aand similar to fallout 4 stars.
Sound: death screams and gunfire are ok but do get annoying. 3 stars.
Fun: this game is a blast with friends and is really fun alone or via infrastructure for Ranked Matches! 5 stars!
Overall: after the above star handout this score hits 4 stars by a nose.
Buy Warhammer 40,000 Squad Command Here!
Warhammer 40k: Squad Command
**INFO** The game comes with a mode called "game sharing" and with this you use only one game disc to play a limited weapon set for 2 player mode with only ONE GAME! yep I have tested it and you have the player with no disc go to game sharing mode and you (the player with the game) does the same and voila! 2 player mode and it's not bad a nice inclusion that other games should offer!
What goes up, must come down....
2
Rating: 2,
Useful: 6 / 10
Date: December 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User
Ok, first off, I've been playing table-top WH40K since 2nd edition...back when Squats were an army. If you know what that means, you know that is a REALLY long time! So I was stoked when Dawn of War came out, and man, it didnt disappoint! So here I am stuck in Iraq, and I heard this game was coming out...sweet, right? So I order it, greedily unwrap it, play it...and I felt excited at first. Sure it's awesome to blow away a heretic with a shotgun, but, slowly but surely flaws arise...as in, you move forward, a bit at a time, covering other units, but your teammates seem to consistantly shoot each other if they happen to be in each other's sectors of fire. Also, and this is why it gets a low rating, is it's so damned unrealistic. with the AP system, an enemy will run at you, shoot you point blank, then run behind a wall. Excuse me? Ok I got it, it's turn based, but what the hell??? It becomes a crude game akin to running up to someone, kicking them in the groin, then running and hiding. When the guy finds where you hid, he kicks you back then runs, etc etc etc. So if you're a big WH40K fan, AVOID THIS GAME. It only got a 2nd star because I love 40K so much. If you need to waste time here and there between activities in life (in my case patrols), try Sudoku. Seriously. Dont buy this. You know Bill from King of the Hill? This game is the Bill of Warhammer games. A good guy, but damn, what a loser.
This game was cool
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 2 / 5
Date: December 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User
I got theis game because i am a big fan of RTS games and the warhammer40k world. What could be better than warhammer in an RTS format for the PSP. This game Rocks and is a must have for any fan of the 40K realm.
Noob Review
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 3 / 4
Date: December 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User
I've never played any of the Warhammer video games or table top games, so I definitely went out on a limb when getting this game. I did a little research online by looking at demo videos and reading some reviews. I've just started playing and finished the first mission. I also played an online game. For someone who has only played a couple strategy games (Command and Conquer 3 and The Battle for Middle Earth II), I found this game to be intriguing, visually appealing, and just plain fun. The controls are pretty intuitive and easy to pick up. It can be a little tricky moving your cursor around with the d-pad. The camera control with the analog stick is pretty worthless. Finding an online game can take time (if you are lucky enough to find someone else out there at all). Graphics look great and the sound effects are pretty much what you'd expect. Selecting weapons is easy and learning the action point system (AP) takes no time at all. For those who are hardcore Warhammer fans, this game might leave something to be desired (I realize that the Warhammer universe is huge and well-traversed). However, as far as handheld turn-based strategy games go, Squad Command satisfies.
Great Game!
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 1 / 4
Date: January 03, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I love this game! Turn based combat game with good graphics set in the Warhammer 40k universe, how can you go wrong? My only complaint is that it's too short, more missions and maps would be cool. I'd like to see them come out with some sequels to this using different space marine chapters like the Space Wolves or Blood Angels.
Complicated.
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 0 / 4
Date: January 05, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I've come to love strategy games, and Warhammer 40K: Squad Command is a cool looking, turn-based strategy game. Once I started to play it however, I found that it was kind of hard to learn, hard to get a good feel for the combat environment, and pretty slow going. Even after I learned how to control more than one guy at once, I found the combat process clunky and frustrating. I bought this for my brother's PSP and am unsure whether to give it another try on my DS...
40k PSP - Great gameplay, but short.
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User
Warhammer 40k: Squad Command (PSP version)
Quick Review....
I'm already a big fan of 40k, and this game fits the bill for instant and portable 40k action. The turn-based, semi-realtime control works well with the action point system. In-game graphics and cut scenes are great. The missions are pretty straight forward (kill all enemies or get to a destination alive or survive x turns/waves of baddies). My only complaint is the overall all game is pretty short (only 15 missions I believe). There is some replay value in replaying the missions, to try to get a higher score, but more missions or playing the same maps as the enemy would have added more value.
Overall: 4/5
I loved this game
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User
I just finished playing this game and felt I should write a quick review. I bought this even though it was paned in the gaming press. Most reviews I read commented on the movement system and that it interfered with enjoyment of the game. I found the system a little quirky, but it was a minor annoyance in what was a spectacularly fun game. I liked everything about this game from the cut scenes to the dark murky graphics. It is turn based which plays much more like a good game of chess than an RTS. Every move, every shot needs to be planned in order to finish the missions. The AI opponent was quite good and could easily turn the tide of battle with a single mistake. My only complaint is that it was a little short. I would have loved 5 or 6 more missions, but I will wait for the sequel.
Mostly for the WH40K fans.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User
This game is a pretty simplistic version of the WH40K game. It will certainly appeal to the fans of the game. Despite the game mechanics being fairly simple, the tactics you'll use to complete the missions are not. You are generally swamped by enemies who, mostly, aren't very smart, but occasionally do incredibly lethal things. Your troops are critical, and to lose even one can make the mission that much more difficult. An unseen enemy can round a corner, fire off a plasma cannon, and wipe out two of your Marines leaving you sitting there trying to think of exciting and colorful ways to express your dissatisfaction at how the events have unfolded.
You have to plan your movements carefully, utilize your fields of fire, and often have to think outside the box -- why run your armor up the street where it will be slaughtered by enemies in cover? Why not have it shoot through a few buildings and end up behind the enemy line to dole out the Emperor's justice? Can't hit an enemy because he's in good cover? Bring up a plasma cannon and level the entire area. Taking too much fire? Run a Marine with a chainsword around back and absolutely shred the source of the trouble. A wall in your way? Have one of your Terminator Marines use its power fist to knock the wall down and pepper the enemy behind it with shrapnel!
The game definitely ramps up in difficulty, and mostly by increasing the number of enemies, and upgrading some of those to more difficult opponents. When faced with Chaos Dreadnaughts you really will get a sense of fear as any of your troops caught in the open will be a smoking pair of ceremite boots in the blink of an eye. The first time you see a Chaos Marine run across an open space to shove its chainsword into your Marine's chest will be the last time you let a flank go unprotected.
Overall, it's a really fun play for what it is and if you are any form of a Warhammer 40,000 fan you'll be tickled pink with the attention to detail, the sounds, the explosions, the feel, and how the game makers brought the WH40K universe to life in your little PSP.
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