Previous Next

In the 41st millennium, the most ferocious of mankind's enemies are the Genestealers, a strange and terrifying alien race that knows no fear and lives only to kill. Reptilian in appearance purestrain Genestealers (the most common form) are huge, armoured, six-limbed beasts, supernaturally swift and unbelievably ferocious in combat. Just like Dan on Street Fighter.

Using stranded warp vesses to infilitrate Earth space, these inhuman monstrosities bide their time until they come into contact with other life forms, at which point they awaken from hibernation and infect the unfortunate visitors. However, this infection isn't your standard 'lay an egg down their throat and burst out their chest' type job. Oh no. There is something much more insidious.

When a genestealer infects another creature it corrupts the victim's genetic profile so that their children are born as hybrids: a mutant cross between the host species and the genestealer. This cycle continues, with each new generation of Hybrid resembling the host species more and more closely, until, by the fourth generation the off-spring are indetectable as alien. They chould be anyone!

As an Imperium Space Marine (futuristic soldier) recently promoted to serve in the Terminator Company (futuristic SAS), it's down to your Chapter (futuristic regiment) to investigate any and all occurences of deserted Space Hulks and eradicate the genestealer menace before it has a chance to spread. 'For the Emperor!' Apparently.

Based on the 3DO update of the PC adaptation of the Games Workshop Board Game. Which is based on Warhammer 40,000.

Destroy the evil forces of chaos and reclaim the Space Hulk for the Emperor!

Despite what you may think from gazing across these screenshots, Space Hulk is not just another Doom clone. Well, alright, it is another Doom clone, but there's much more to it than that. For a start, Space Hulk features a much stronger emphasis on strategy, with the payer sometimes having to command an entire company of Space Marines whilst fulfilling various mission objectives and combating hordes of Genestealers. Blimey!

By pressing X at any time the action is paused and a top-down map of the area is displayed. From here you can select your Marine, or issue a series of orders to any of your company. So flexible is the command interface that entire missions can be completed, just through issuing orders at the map screen. However, be quick about it, as the 'Freeze Time' clock starts to tick down the moment you enter the screen, and when it runs out, you're thrown back into the fray, ready or not.

Throughout the game your squad of marines are decked out with a variety of futuristic ordinance, appropriate to the mission they are undertaking. There are two main types of weapon: projectile and close combat, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses when battling the Genestealer menace. Let's take a look at the guns first, shall we?

1. Storm Bolter The standard armament for all Terminators. A double-barrelled automatic projectile firing gun that looses explosive bullets known as 'bolts'.

2. Heavy Flamer It's usual for one Marine in each squad to mount a heavy weapon in place of his bolter. The most common heavy weapon is the flamer: a powerful flamethrower funnily enough.

3. Assault Cannon The other heavy weapon in the Terminator arsenal is the assault cannon, a large motor powered rotary cannon capable of spewing bursts of explosive tipped rounds. Like Arnie uses in Terminator 2.

4. Grenade Launcher Experienced Terminators are entitled to carry a tertiary weapon in addition to the Power Glove and Storm Bolter: the Grenade Launcher. Lucky sods.

Space Hulk: Vengenance of the Blood Angels is an updated version of the 3DO chart topper (yes, there once were such things) released last year, which in turn was based on the Games Workshop board game of the same name. While the videogame bears more than a passing resembance to its table top counterpart (hence the game's 'square' look), EA have taken the opportunity to bring you face to face with the hideous Genestealers in an all-action real time 3D strategy/shoot-'em-up kinda way.

Unfortunately, Purestrain Genestealers aren't the only enemies you'll encounter lurking in the depths of the Space Hulk. The further you get into the game, the more formidable the opponents become. Not that they're aren't formidable right at that start. They are. It's just that later on creatures score even higher on the formidablometer.

1. Purestrain Genestealer The purest form of the alien race, these are the most common enemies that you will face. Cased in a heavy carapace that can turn aside Storm Bolter shells, Purestrains nevertheless move at an alarming speed and specialise in close quarter combat.

2. Hybrids A hybrid is the offspring of the host species infected with the Genestealers' genetic material. In the case of humans, the infected offspring is humanoid in appearance, but with pale skin and a bulbous head. Their puny bodies make them weaker foes than their purestrain brethren, whilst their higher intelligence allows them to carry projectile weapons such as bolters.

3. Magus By the time the hybrid brood has reached the fourth or fifth generation, the inherent human potential to develop psychic powers sometimes makes itself felt. Hybrid psykers are extremely intelligent and dangerous opponents, and attack with psychic powers that both jam your weapons and cause the surrounding area to burst into flames. Rare, but to be treated with respect.

4. Chaos Space Marines Thousands of years ago, the Emperor's authority was challenged by his right-hand man, Warmaster Horus, who had fallen prey to the evil influence of Chaos. Horus and his forcs were eventually defeated, but some of his Chaos Marines escaped and formed an uneasy alliance with the Genestealers! Gun these heretics down where they stand!

While most of the killing in Space Hulk is achieved from a distance (with projectile fire) occasionally a Genestealer will break through your ranks and attack in close combat. Space Marines are not as proficient in melee as Genestealers (they've got six arms for heaven's sake) and so they possess little chance of surviving such an encounter. However, there is an element of skill involved in these battles, and with sharp reflexes (and a little luck) you may just emerge the victor.

1. Watch the Genestealer carefully. He will bob and weave until he takes a swipe at you. 2. As he does, quickly press the parry button to block... 3. Then, once the attack has been deflected, respond with one of your own.

Doom clone, Doom clone. If Space Hulk was a schoolkid, it would have spectacles, and be surrounded by kids at breaktime all shouting "Doom Clone. Doom Clone". But it would go on to university and carve itself a successful career 'cause Space Hulk is better than the lot. This is really a strategy game given a fantastic 3D setting, and we should see it in terms of being an amazingly speedy realtime strategy game rather than a slow axtion game.

Creeping along the corridors, following and giving orders and living on your nerves as genestealers scuttle in the darkness is a great gaming experience. And the strength of the premise is backed up with enough depth and levels of sufficient challenge to make the game a worthwhile investment for any serious, bespectabled Saturn owner.

At first glance, Space Hulk looks pretty unimpressive, particularly when compared with the likes of Exhumed or Alien Trilogy. The control is fiddly, the levels are all flat, and the corridor scrolling is horribly stilted.

But persevere and you'll soon discover that Space Hulk is more than just an ugly Doom clone. The strategy element provides a brilliant twist on a well-worn genre, and knowing how to command your marines is as important as an itchy trigger finger.

Admittedly, the aesthetics aren't up to much, but they still manage to create a tangible atmosphere of claustrophobia and suspense, while the size and complexity of the game guarantees you'll be playing it for ages.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but those who like a little cerebral workout with their violence will find it an enjoyable alternative to either Alien Trilogy or Exhumed.

Graphics 76%
P. Dark and moody. These Genestealers look good up close.
N. Blocky sprites and stilted scrolling.

Animation 78%
P. Once again, those Genestealers really do impress...
N. ...though the animation on some other baddy sprites is pretty poor.

Music 74%
P. Nice futuristic/ambient incidental music in between levels.
N. No 'in-game' tunes to speak of.

Effects 90%
P. The speech of your fellow marines is brilliant, while the constant groans and growls that echo around the Space Hulk really do add to the atmosphere.

Playability 92%
P. Deep and rewarding strategy couped with claustrophobic corridor-based blasting!
N. It's rock! And not the kind you buy at Clacton beach.

Lastability 85%
P. Hundreds of challenging missions, plus the brilliant campaign mode.
N. A mite repetitive, perchance.

Overall 87%
Doom meets Panzer General! A strategy/action hybrid that rises above its aesthetic shortcomings.