You can say that Warhammer, unlike the AD&D franchise or the Battletech world, never really got off the ground in the gaming world. There were turn-based games before (Final Liberation). There were some pretty good PC real-time strategy games (Dark Omen), but none involving the Space Marines. There was the inimitable Space Hulk action game. But there hasn't been much else. So in spite of all those previous titles, Relic is treading a bit of new ground here.

Relic has decided to base the entire single player campaign around the Space Marines. The missions will be long and subdivided into different segments. Changing objectives will reveal parts of the story during gameplay. It will be interesting to see how this design decision plays out. It certainly is a departure from the Blizzard-style campaign, which typically features a continuous story but told at specific junctures from different species.

In multiplayer, there will be competitive and co-operative game modes. Relic is promising to add as much built-in functionality as they can to provide services for tournament play. You can customize squad colors and different insignia. There's also an observation mode, which is important to tournaments. For multiplayer, all races are selectable and you'll have full access to the units and technology trees.

Speaking of games, when real-time strategy titles were first created, half of the strategy was devoted to resource gathering and setting up the logistics of the domestic. In many ways, it was a nice gimmick. Instead of letting players focus on the battle, your focus is a little distracted and the inevitable 'tank rushes' don't come so quickly if you have to spend half an hour harvesting or gathering resources. Dawn of War leaves this gimmick behind. Like the recent Ground Control II, it incorporates the capture and hold concept typically found in wargames. Holding key points will allow you to requisition troops, weapons and vehicles. The better you do in battle, the more points you hold, the more resources you get.

Dawn of War also adds depth to the concept of a unit. Soldiers and vehicles aren't just cannon fodder to be sent into the fray. You can do some micromanaging of them by equipping them with specialty weapons: anti-personnel, anti-vehicle, etc. This flexibility allows you to tailor units to your battle strategy. A unit, moreover, can be influenced by a commander. These commanders have different traits that can boost the offensive or defensive capabilities of the unit. Combined together, these features will let you wield a customized army on the battlefield. It goes one step further than previous real time strategy games where a generic upgraded increased the statistics of all the units. Now you can choose when and what to upgrade.

In terms of graphics, Dawn of War is no slouch. One of the things I like most about Relic games that are based on the ground: you never have to worry about adjusting the camera. The graphics engine features vehicle physics, dynamic lighting and the maps come in a variety of different terrains. A competent engine allows you to use physical properties like elevation to gain an advantage on your foes. It also doesn't hurt that Dawn of War looks pretty sharp. Warhammer fans should be pleased with the authentic look and feel of the game.