Dawn Of War: The Verdict On The Biggest Strategy Game Of The Decade

After playing all three factions and hours of multiplayer, here’s why I love Dawn of war III.

- Samuel Roberts

Dawn of War III’s spectacle is extraordinary. I’m in a 3v3 multiplayer match where too many players have picked Eldar (two on each side). The enemy’s Wraithknight—a gigantic walker and the Eldar’s super unit—is patrolling near the central lane where I’ve been gathering a small ambushing force, that includes my own Wraithknight. I send my army after it, thinking this is an ideal opportunity to soak up its fire with my super unit while my squads of melee-focused Howling Banshees, basic Dire Avengers, and heavy Wraithlords get to work on taking down its enormous health bar.

Unfortunately, I follow the sprinting giant into a trap: Two huge Eldar armies are waiting for me just north of my base, including an enemy Wraithknight and a slew of fire prism tanks. Against two armies, my walker crumbles, and I watch my unit count (and self-esteem) drop to basically nothing in seconds.

I try to start my army from scratch, but I overreached, and the opposing armies now push down the central lane. The combined Eldar force, including the two walkers, power through and open fire on the power core at the centre of our base—it’s gone in seconds, and the game is over. I’m bummed we didn’t put up a better fight, but I also just watched one of the most impressive battles I’ve ever seen in an RTS. When super units and large armies collide in Dawn of War III multiplayer, it’s a cathartic, OTT sci-fibeatdown. Even if you’re on the losing side.