The classic Commodore Amiga game, Space Hulk, is finally available for Windows PC. Released in the early 1990’s, Space Hulk was a sci-fi, first-person role-playing game similar to Dungeon Master by developer FTL. I was overwhelmed with excitement when I first heard that Space Hulk was coming to Steam.
There have been some changes to Space Hulk; mostly cosmetic. But even after all these years, Space Hulk is still the compelling strategy sci-fi game it was years ago. While the original game relied on a first-person perspective for its gameplay, the remastered edition uses an isometric environment.
The first-person view is displayed inside a camera in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, allowing you to see your terminators’ movement in a 3D environment. Combat is strictly turn-based, requiring the player to plan their moves before executing them. While the game is based heavily on strategy, combat is brutal. Battles can be rather intense, so having a plan in place is vital to your survival.
Gameplay is divided into multiple missions; each mission has its own briefing and objectives that must be completed. Some missions require you to rescue other terminators that are trapped, while others have you terminating (no pun intended) the enemy. Space Hulk has a steep learning curve that requires the player to adapt quickly to new situations. Combat can end as fast as it starts if you’re not careful. Space Hulk can be extraordinarily difficult to play at times. Each terminator unit has CP (combat points) and AP (action points). If you do not manage these points correctly, you will find yourself in serious trouble.
As mentioned earlier, combat is challenging and very unforgiving. And since the game doesn’t really include a health system, your units will likely die if an enemy comes in close enough to attack. It doesn’t take much to kill your enemies either, so combat is balanced and never in the CPU’s favor.
Sometimes a random cinema will play during combat; these are phenomenal to watch when they occur. They give the player an up-close and personal view of the action. I absolutely love this feature; it adds to the game’s overall appeal.
Each mission is explained to the player in great detail with full narration. This helps the player prepare; it gives them an idea of what they’re up against. However, I will offer a gamer tip – always save your progress after each encounter to guarantee a successful mission.
Space Hulk offers an extensive and very lengthy single-player campaign. Once you cut your teeth with single-player, you will be ready to move on to online multiplayer. There are two different multiplayer features to choose from: Boarding Prequel and Sin of Damnation. You can randomly select online missions at will. Boarding Prequel is more of a beginner’s introduction to online multiplayer. Sin of Damnation is for advanced players as it gives you more of a challenge.
The only drawback to Space Hulk is the lack of an online lobby. You have to search through a plethora of missions and then wait for someone to join the game. If you happen to have friends, you can invite them to join you. Otherwise, the wait required to start a match can be quite lengthy. I would like to see some kind of online lobby added where you can select from different online games. The current configuration is perfectly fine as long as you have enough online friends.
Space Hulk allows the player to create a banner that represents their ‘space clan’. Additional colors and designs unlock the further you progress through the single-player campaign. There is an add-on (i.e. DLC) available through Steam that increases the content for the banner creation process.
Space Hulk offers gamers everything they could possibly ever want from a sci-fi strategy game. And thanks to the immersive gameplay and intense strategy-based combat, gamers will find more than enough content to keep them busy for hours.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC
PC System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP
Processor: 2 GHz Dual Core
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT / ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT or greater
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Drive: 2 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Developer: Full Control Studios
Publisher: Full Control
ESRB: N/A
Price: $29.99
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |   |
| Beautiful isometric graphics that remind you of dungeon crawlers from back in the day. | |
| Sound | |
| Incredible voice acting and sound effects. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Space Hulk relies heavily on tactics, meshing old-school gaming with a modern twist. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| A fantastic space strategy game that will take you to the depths of the universe and back. | |
