Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War

Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War is a turn-based strategy game based on the Panzer General 2 engine by SSI. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. It was produced by Games Workshop in 1999, and concerns the invasion of a Tyranid Hive fleet and the Eldar and Imperial efforts to defeat it. The game was re-released in 2015 on GOG.com.

Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War
Cover art
Developer(s)DreamForge
Publisher(s)Strategic Simulations, Inc.
SeriesWarhammer 40,000
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
ReleaseJune 30, 1999
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

The game has three modes. In the "campaign mode" the player controls the Eldar forces and follows the efforts of the Craftworld Iyanden to conquer a Maiden World, a lost colony of the ancient Eldar race. During the campaign an additional and far more dangerous foe, the alien Tyranids, emerge and the Eldar and Imperial forces unite to defeat them. In "skirmish" mode the player can play as the Imperium, Eldar or Tyranids. The Imperial forces include the Imperial Guard, the Red Hunter chapter of Space Marines, and Sisters of Battle. In multiplayer mode the player can battle other players online.

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings65%[1]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSP[2]
CGW[3]
Next Generation[4]
PC Gamer (UK)65%[5]
PC Gamer (US)75%[6]
Electric Playground7.5 out of 10[7]

PC Gamer US's William R. Trotter praised Rites of War's art and interface, and called the game "an agreeable marriage of the Warhammer license and SSI's tried-and-true concepts." However, he greatly criticized its high difficulty, which he found "obnoxious".[6] In PC Gamer UK, Jason Weston was more negative, writing that the game "plunges straight into this abyss" thanks to its dated engine and bad artificial intelligence. He concluded, "Time to buy an 8x4ft table and paint it green. Could offer much more tactical depth."[5] Conversely, Jeff Lackey of Computer Gaming World called the game "thoroughly engrossing".[3]

William Abner of Computer Games Strategy Plus wrote that Rites of War "feels incomplete and unfinished", and found it to be derivative of Fantasy General and Panzer General II, but "as fun as neither." Despite these criticisms, he argued that "the game is fun to play—while it lasts."[2]

John Lee reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "If your PC has the muscle, you may enjoy this one for several days. Especially if you've got a good pair of sunglasses to mute the glare from those uniforms."[4]

References
  1. "Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War for PC". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. Abner, William (August 12, 1999). "Rites of War". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005.
  3. Lackey, Jeff (November 1999). "Respect Your Eldars". Computer Gaming World (184): 148, 157.
  4. Lee, John (November 1999). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 2 no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 124.
  5. Weston, Jason (December 1999). "Ritual". PC Gamer UK (76). Archived from the original on February 19, 2002.
  6. Trotter, William R. "Rites of War". PC Gamer US. Archived from the original on October 18, 2006.
  7. Grant, Jules. "Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War". Electric Playground. Archived from the original on June 1, 2004.
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