Battlesector is a faithful re-imagining of Warhammer 40K tabletop. The game is a turn-based strategy (TBS) game in the same vein as XCOM, Sanctus Reach, Armageddon, Deathwatch or Panzer General. The game runs atop the Unity graphics engine and has beautiful, if albeit poorly performing/optimized visuals. Hopefully BlackLab will help AMD users which are still suffering through lousy graphics performance (they're focusing on Nvidia users first due to overheating issues). The gameplay is fantastic with rich tactical consequences. The voice acting, music and plot are all *excellent*. The campaign is fulfilling and will require the average user between 18-24 hours to complete.

However, the game isn't all roses and it has quite a few flaws. While the game presents phenomenal foundational potential for future expansions/updates, the current release has minimal content, with only two factions: Blood Angels & Tyranids. Both factions lack many well-known units and popular characters/units. While the game has the Adepta Sororitas as a partial faction class, the SIsters of Battle are only usable in the campaign. There are no morale components, complex environmental destructibility, veterancy for units that survive missions (beyond some seal icons in the army screen) and the game only has one simplistic multiplayer mode in skirmish (VS).

Battlesector desperately needs more modes (both VS and campaign coop), as well as veterancy/various skins/army painters, which encourage army customization. While I'll be buying the new faction/campaign DLCs, the game's excrutiating lack of content means that BlackLab *must* also show good will by releasing more content post haste. It also needs a real modding community to hit critical mass.

The game is a joy for Warhammer 40K fans. Let's hope this takes off.

Recommended.

***I amended the review after pumping 5 hours into the new DLC. It's an overtuned car wreck and it absolutely sullies the memory of this title.***

7.5/10.

Battlesector is a faithful re-imagining of Warhammer 40K tabletop. The game is a turn-based strategy (TBS) game in the same vein as XCOM, Sanctus Reach, Armageddon, Deathwatch or Panzer General. The game runs atop the Unity graphics engine and has beautiful, if albeit poorly performing/optimized visuals. Hopefully BlackLab will help AMD users which are still suffering through lousy graphics performance (they're focusing on Nvidia users first due to overheating issues). The gameplay is fantastic with rich tactical consequences. The voice acting, music and plot are all *excellent*. The campaign is fulfilling and will require the average user between 18-24 hours to complete. However, the game isn't all roses and it has quite a few flaws. While the game presents phenomenal foundational potential for future expansions/updates, the current release has minimal content, with only two factions: Blood Angels & Tyranids. Both factions lack many well-known units and popular characters/units. While the game has the Adepta Sororitas as a partial faction class, the SIsters of Battle are only usable in the campaign. There are no morale components, complex environmental destructibility, veterancy for units that survive missions (beyond some seal icons in the army screen) and the game only has one simplistic multiplayer mode in skirmish (VS). Battlesector desperately needs more modes (both VS and campaign coop), as well as veterancy/various skins/army painters, which encourage army customization. While I'll be buying the new faction/campaign DLCs, the game's excrutiating lack of content means that BlackLab *must* also show good will by releasing more content post haste. It also needs a real modding community to hit critical mass. The game is a joy for Warhammer 40K fans. Let's hope this takes off. Recommended. ***I amended the review after pumping 5 hours into the new DLC. It's an overtuned car wreck and it absolutely sullies the memory of this title.*** 7.5/10.