It’s usually powerful to construct on a formulation that largely works as-is, however a brief hands-off preview of Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II final week confirmed us that even small tweaks can really feel monumental. Mechanicus II seems like an improve to its turned-based predecessor in the entire proper methods, with some good new additions that make its fight loop really feel much more approachable to every kind of gamers.
The sport revolves round a single planetary battle, a struggle between the Adeptus Mechanicus, a machine-worshipping cult, and the Necrons, a race of robotic skeletons that basically awakened after thousands and thousands of years and selected violence. In contrast to the primary Mechanicus, gamers can select which faction they wish to management and may change at will between the 2 campaigns. The campaigns have the identical core story arc, however the developer tells me there’ll be gameplay and narrative variations for every faction.
The sequel builds on Mechanicus, a meaty turn-based tactical affair the place you play solely because the titular Adeptus Mechanicus faction. Right here, you possibly can take management of quite a few factions, customise and improve their talents, and make distinctive choices that influence the end result of the story. In Mechanicus II, the story’s conclusion additionally is dependent upon participant alternative – the crew is maintaining the narrative below wraps, however does affirm that there’s a canonical ending to the primary sport, which is the Videx ending, for many who’ve seen it.
The demo showcased a important narrative siege seen from the attitude of each the Necrons and the Adeptus Mechanicus. Every faction has a roster of leaders, with the Mechanicus getting back from the primary sport – however, this time round, they’re all playable characters with their very own distinctive skillsets. Their talents might be tweaked to swimsuit a specific playstyle – you possibly can spec them out to deal large injury on their very own, or house in on extra support-based actions that may buff your crew as an entire, which seems nice for supporting totally different approaches you might wish to take.
There’s a faction spoiler developing, so if wish to go into Mechanicus II with as little data as potential, look away now!
Mechanicus II may even see different factions make an look in battle for the primary time; our demo exhibits off some fiendishly highly effective House Marine allies, and we discovered earlier this yr {that a} comparatively new Warhammer 40,000 faction – The Leagues of Votann – may even seem throughout the campaigns in some unspecified time in the future. These teams are usually not playable, however they may carry out good, computerized actions in fight, both alongside you or in opposition to you.
One main change that Mechanicus II makes is inside its Cognition system. Cognition factors (or Dominion factors, should you’re enjoying on the Necron aspect), are basically a foreign money collected by your chosen faction that can be utilized to improve or unlock weapon actions or abilities hearth one-off assaults, or carry out different helpful actions in battle. Mechanicus II seems to supply far more flexibility in the way you acquire Cognition factors – each particular person unit can acquire them by finishing smaller targets or taking sure actions. This variation is small, nevertheless it permits for a lot much less rigidity in the way you strategy a skirmish, and the models you employ.
Every part seems a lot nicer, too – unit fashions and their environments are crisp and vibrant, the maps are dynamic and may change all through the course of the battle. There’s additionally a brand new cowl system, which permits the Mechanicus models to guard themselves from oncoming hearth, however these components are destructible, which suggests their use is restricted. It’s a pleasant contact that makes you contemplate your positioning in another way to realize an edge, nevertheless it received’t final eternally.
Mechanicus II seems like a promising iteration on the primary title – bringing again its signature complicated technique gameplay, with considerate adjustments and additions that actually really feel just like the sequence is evolving with participant alternative on the forefront of its design. For brand new gamers, there’s a way more cheap barrier to entry, and much more flexibility in the way you select to do battle. It’s a formidable path, and one which Mechanicus followers – and Warhammer 40k fanatics generally – can sit up for.
